Vinegar Fridays

TGIVF!

Once again, I can't believe it's time for Vinegar Fridays already. These late spring weeks are flying by. I wish they'd slow down a bit so I could enjoy more of this beautiful time of year.

One thing I don't like about this time of year is the clothing. For me, the more clothing covers up, the better! I love, love, love fall and winter clothes! Once I hit 50, I started noticing weird things happening to my skin. Veins that used to be invisible no longer are. And what are these age spots all about?! I'm not liking this part of aging.

So what does all this have to do with vinegar? Well, it just so happens, there are some vinegar remedies for these little skin problems we all might face sometime or another.

Let's start with varicose and spider veins. Research shows that approximately 2/3 of all women and 1/2 of all men on the U.S. have some of these somewhere on their legs and feet. And of course, as with most ailments, it seems, one of the solutions is weight loss. Plus you should try to avoid constipation, as that as a direct link to swelling up those veins. So having your morning cocktail of 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar added to a glass of water is your first step in preventing those unsightly veins.

If your legs already are starting to look like a topographical map, then ACV can come to the rescue. Supposedly, applying apple cider vinegar directly on your varicose and spider veins twice a day will help to make them disappear. I say, supposedly, because I haven't yet given this the 30 days recommended time to start to see the results. But I plan to be faithful with this one. Here's hoping...

Okay, so let's talk warts. When I was growing up, my best friend faced a losing battle with plantar's warts every summer. Doctors visits, painful treatments, etc. were a regular part of her routine. Too bad she didn't know what I'm about to tell you. Here you go: add equal amounts of glycerin and ACV and apply it to your warts daily until they disappear.

Sandal weather reveals beautiful pedicures...or not. If your toenails are hosts of a nasty fungus, try this: Soak your tootsies for about 15 minutes every day in some water with some distilled white vinegar added (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water). According to the Vinegar Institute, this is a slow, but affective process.

When I was a kid, I HATED my freckles! I spent a lot of time in the sun and my face would just erupt in those dreaded spots. If you're one of the people who does not like the freckles that emerge in the summer sun, there are some who believe you can lighten them with horseradish vinegar. However, this is to be used on the body only and not on the face!
So if you view your facial freckles as a curse, grab some concealer, 'cause vinegar is not the answer to this one!

In my 40's I thought it to be quite an injustice that I had to battle acne as I was developing wrinkles. Wrinkles and acne do not belong on the same face. Period. At least that's my opinion. In actuality, over 17 million adult American women suffer from acne -- in their 20s, 30s and 40s. And unfortunately, it's genetic (sorry kids!). But if you mix 2 teaspoons of ACV in a cup of water and apply it to the breakouts after you wash you face morning and evening, you'll watch them vanish...without spending a fortune on infomercial remedies!

Now if I could only figure out what to do about those darned age spots! If you know of anything, anything at all, post a comment and let me know. I'll be grateful beyond measure!

Check back next Friday for more tips on summertime conditions (like poison ivy, swimmer's ear, etc.)

Keeping it green with vinegar,

Hana