Why apple vinegar?
You can use apple vinegar in your salads and in plenty of dishes. However, I recently discovered this ingredient is not only tasty, it is also a goldmine of healthy properties:
– It prevents or alleviate arthritis, arthrosis and muscle stiffness (it’s toning and remineralising and provides good amounts of potassium);
– It reduces the excess of calcium in the kidneys and stone formation (enhancing digestion);
– In the treatment of type 2 diabetes it moderates blood sugar levels (it contains chromium, which can alter blood insulin levels);
– It contains antibacterial and antifungal properties;
-It helps weight loss;
-It’s a skin care remedy for dry skin and atopic dermatitis (eczema).
How to make apple vinegar?
To make your own apple cider vinegar you just need three ingredients: apples, water and sugar. For the quantity, you need ¼ of sugar (where 4/4 is the volume of apples and water, so for example 1 kg of sugar for 4 kilos of apples and water).
You can add also the Mother of vinegar, fermentation fungus that develops on fermenting alcoholic.
Here’s the recipe:
1) Cut the apples into 4 pieces and remove the stem and the rotten parts;
2) Add water to the apples;
3) Boil some water, then remove it from the fire and use it to melt the sugar;
3) Add the sugar to the apples and mix all together.
Let it ferment for at least 1-2 weeks at a room temperature of 18-25 °C. Leave the lid open, in order to let oxygen help the fermentation of the sugar into alcohol. Better to stir it once per day for the same reason.
Vinegar is ready when the apples precipitate to the bottom and the vinegar acquires a slightly acidic note. At this point, decant it and store it in glass bottles or barrels in a cool place (in the fridge or in the cellar).
Bonus tip for the joints
If your joints creak, you can try this remedy for 40 days:
Add two spoons of homemade or biological apple vinegar and one spoon of honey to a glass of water. Drink it in the morning and remember always to put honey: it’s sweet and important to balance the acidity of vinegar for avoiding damages to teeth and oesophagus. It’s easy, cheap and tasty. And it’s especially healthy: try it and you will notice the benefits to your bones after!