How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar

Requires:

• 4-5 ripe apples without worms or blemishes (there is a high content of sugar in ripe apples)
• 1 package of cake or wine making yeast
• Optional - Honey or sugar syrup

How to prepare:

1. Wash and core the apples, cut them into small pieces.
2. Blend the apples and mash them to release the juice.
3. Strain the juice with a cheesecloth to remove the mash.
4. Pour the juice into a non-metallic (preferably glass) container - note that vinegar reacts with metal
5. Keep a cup of apple juice aside and stir in the yeast until it is completely dissolved. Add the mixture into the rest of the apple juice and stir it in.
6. Cover the container with a cheesecloth and place in a dark place at room temperature (65 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). 
7. Stir the mixture every two days (use a wooden ladle) for about three to four weeks.
8. After three to four weeks, taste the Apple Cider Vinegar for the desired flavor; if the flavor is not up to par, wait a few days and try again. 
9. Once you find the taste you like, filter the vinegar to strain the yeast. Transfer the vinegar into a large Heavy bottom pot.
10. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit  in order to pasteurize it. 
11. Let the mixture cool, then pour the cider into a glass bottle, secure the lid and place the bottle in a hot water bath. 
12. Let the bottle cool and store it in a dark, dry, cool place.

 For some medicinal uses for Apple Cider Vinegar which have been around for centuries, see my previous post: Benefits and Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

Benefits and Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar can and has been used for centuries for such ailments as:

• Relieve the pain and discomfort of heartburn - take spoonful before each meal to avoid heartburn
• Relieve diarrhea - 3 spoons with an 8 ounce glass of water (apple cider vinegar contains pectin which helps to thicken the stool)
• Relieve constipation -  3 spoons with an 8 ounce glass of water (it is the fibrous pectin when consumed with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables which will help with the constipation problem)
• Control Diabetes - Apple Cider Vinegar helps to keep the blood glucose level in check and the acids in the vinegar help to absorb the nutrients from food better and help improve digestion overall
• Strengthen bones - Apple Cider Vinegar contains minerals (including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous) that help maintain and build bone health
• Sore throat - gargle with Apple Cider Vinegar to get rid of the infection- the Apple Cider Vinegar absorbs the infection and germs in your throat
• Cure colds - sprinkle the Apple Cider Vinegar on brown paper, dust it with a little black pepper and then place it on the chest, cover it with a cloth and relax for 15 minutes or so
• Cure coughs - splash a few drops of Apple Cider Vinegar on the pillow
• Relieve hiccups - slowly sip from a glass of water with a spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
• Lower blood pressure - combine 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in glass of water (the magnesium in the Apple Cider Vinegar helps to relax the walls of the blood vessels and the potassium in the Apple Cider Vinegar helps to maintain the sodium level in the blood)
• Insomnia - mix 1 spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of honey - take one spoon of this mixture before settling down for the night
• Relieve sinusitis - mix 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of warm water - put a little of this solution in your palm, close one nostril and sniff the mixture into the other nostril, repeat with the other nostril
• Acne - mix 2 spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass of water, dab a cotton swab soaked in this solution on the acne
• Burns and insect bites - pour straight Apple Cider Vinegar on the affected area - this may be a little painful, but let the Apple Cider Vinegar absorb into the skin for the body to absorb the nutrients
• Bruises - add 1 teaspoon of salt to a half a cup of warm Apple Cider Vinegar and apply on the bruise
• Underarm odor - wipe the underarm with Apple Cider Vinegar once a a day to reduce odor causing bacteria
• Foot odor - 1 pan of warm water and 1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar - soak your feet in this mixture three times per week
• Dandruff - apply pure Apple Cider Vinegar to the scalp, let it sit for half an hour then wash your hair thoroughly (this will not only relieve the itch but will remove the bacteria and fungus)
• Nail infections - combine Apple Cider Vinegar with hydrogen peroxide, olive oil, or other cleaning agents - apply to the affected nail for several days to reduce the fungal infection
• Relieve headaches - inhale the vapors from Apple Cider Vinegar (through a vaporizer) or drink a Apple Cider Vinegar tonic to relieve a headache

 There are plenty of other uses for Apple Cider Vinegar (as if this list wasn't enough). I should note, however, that the above uses involve the use of organic Apple Cider Vinegar (the brown kind). See my related link on how to make your own apple cider vinegar.