This is a guest article from  Nick Lewis.

Apple cider vinegar is one of those innocuous products that may be sitting in your cupboard gathering dust, despite containing a myriad of health uses and benefits. Yes, it can be used as a salad dressing or in a pickle sauce but it has also been touted as a folk remedy for nearly everything you can think of for decades at least.

In keeping with the current vogue for organic produce, it is more likely sold as organic apple cider vinegar and one would be advised to stick to these, as many apple cider vinegar products contain other ingredients that may actually diminish the health benefits to be garnered from using pure apple cider vinegar.

Among the many health uses its supporters lay claim to, apple cider vinegar is said to help with muscle cramps, hair loss, colds, flus, sinus congestion, dermatitis and weight loss. Various less verifiable claims have been made on its behalf over the years, and apple cider vinegar has been sold as a genuine ‘cure-all’ by more unscrupulous sellers for serious conditions.

It would be a shame if organic apple cider vinegar was tarnished by these salesmen as recent scientific research has verified many of the more sensible claims for the benefits of taking apple cider vinegar, and has thrown up some interesting, and perhaps unexpected benefits.

Apple cider vinegar first rose to prominence as a weight loss aid in the 1970s, but a recent study showed that taking apple cider vinegar before a meal can increase satiety levels, meaning that participants felt more satisfied following a meal, which could combat tendencies to over-eat, lending credence to this claim.

Another recent study has shown that organic apple cider vinegar can lower post-meal glucose spikes which may contribute to weight loss, but is perhaps more interesting for diabetics who may also benefits from taking apple cider vinegar before bed to lower morning glucose levels.

Organic apple cider vinegar is also touted by proponents of the alkaline/acid balance theory as a way of alkalinising the blood, thus contributing to overall general health. Supporters of this theory claim that an acidic blood PH level can lead to all sorts of negative health effects ranging from anxiety to sluggishness. Coupled with evidence that apple cider vinegar can help lower blood pressure and strong anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and its use as a daily tonic seems sensible.

One word of warning though: pure apple cider vinegar is very strong, so it is advisable to dilute it before imbibing as it can lead to throat damage otherwise. Typically the advice is to mix 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a full glass of water for a simple tonic, although there are many different recipes for apple cider vinegar drinks out there. Hippocrates himself is said to have prescribed apple cider vinegar with honey for many illnesses.