Vinegar Fridays

TGIVF!

So, did anyone try any of last week's ACV remedies? Would love to hear how they worked, or didn't work, for you.

I'm going to stick with the apple cider vinegar this week. I've been reading some fascinating stuff about the wonders of ACV and am now convinced I will no longer go a day without drinking some.

Last Friday I mentioned the healing properties of ACV for sore throats, acid reflux, constipation, hemorrhoids, IBS, colds, congestion, cough, earache and the flu. This week I want to point to a bigger issue: CANCER. Yes, apple cider vinegar is known to have cancer-fighting properties.


Let's look at the reasons why ACV can be used to help prevent some cancers; specifically breast, prostate, lung, larynx, stomach, esophagus, mouth, colon and cervical:

• ACV contains beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A by the liver. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that works to ward off cancer. Research shows that when you do not have enough beta-carotene in your system, you are at a greater risk for developing cancer of the lung, mouth or stomach.
• ACV contains acid and enzymes which keep digestive disorders at bay, and since acid reflux has been linked to esophageal cancer, this is just one more way to prevent it.
• ACV contains pectin, which is a soluble fiber that speeds up the passage of cancer-causing compounds in your body by diluting them and sending them through the colon before they have the opportunity to be absorbed into your system.

Now I'm not trying to say that if you drink some apple cider vinegar every day, you'll live the rest of your life cancer-free. That would be ridiculous. But you will reduce your risk of developing some cancers, provided you're proactive in other ways as well. For instance, if you're smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, chances are the ACV isn't going to do a lot of good.

In the case of breast cancer, there are several things that factor in. Family history, of course, is a big one. Other factors include: the age you got your period (the more periods you have, the greater your risk), number of pregnancies, abortion, not breastfeeding, obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle.

Back in 2005, Cancer Research UK, named vinegar the "Food of the Week" as part of its Reduce the Risk program because of vinegars' "anti-cancer elements."

Let me give a shout out to another type of vinegar as well -- red wine vinegar is known to help guard against cancer also because it contains flavonoids. Researchers state that pairing red wine vinegar with fruits and vegetables high in antioxidant vitamins C, E and beta-carotene can seriously cut your risk of developing certain cancers. The reason? The vitamins "trap" the free-radical molecules that transform normal cells into cancerous ones.

So, here's the formula. To help in your personal battle against cancer, add one to two tablespoons of ACV to a glass of water (whatever size you choose) and start off your day with a vinegar cocktail. Warning: You need to rinse out your mouth after ingesting vinegar of any kind because the acid can damage your tooth enamel. Lowering your risk of developing cancer is just a part of the benefit you'll reap from doing this. I'll go into more about this amazing liquid in future weeks. All I know is the more I learn, the more I get excited when I'm able to say, Thank God it's Vinegar Friday!!!

Keeping it natural and healthy,

Hana