Skin Care

Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits {Health}

Swathy · April 1, 2011 · 5 Comments

Some days back, I posted on how drinking Apple Cider Vinegar helps with breakouts. In the post, I had mentioned very briefly that even people who do not suffer from breakouts can drink it. Why?? Because of the various health benefits it poses.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar???

As the name says, it is made from apples. It is actually made from apple skin and apple cores but not the meat and then it is actually double fermented using yeasts or bacteria. So, it is especially rich in nutrients and minerals due to the presence of apple and the enzymes created during the fermentation process. It is golden brown in color and has really high levels of acidity so it is used only in garnishing instead of intaking it raw.

Apple cider vinegar contains valuable minerals such as Phosphorus, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, and Chlorine. It also contains Sulfur, Copper, Silicon, Fluorine, Provitamin beta-carotene, Pectin and malic acid. (Source: Wikipedia)

Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Weight Loss – It suppresses the fat accumulation in the body especially around the tummy
Skin – It prevents against breakouts and acts as an anti-inflammatory
Improves immune system
Controls the cholesterol levels
Increases the stamina
Increases metabolism
Improves digestion
Prevents stone formations in the body

These are just a subset of the health benefits which can be acquired from drinking Apple Cider Vinegar regularly. You will get plethora of results when you google it so I have just summarized a few here.

Risks of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Acetic Acid (present in any vinegar; ACV has high concentration of acetic acid) can lower potassium levels in the body and reduces the bone density making the bones weaker in the process
Since ACV has high acidity, it shouldn’t be taken raw

How to drink Apple Cider Vinegar??
The above mentioned risks are associated with intaking of ACV on a regular basis for a very long time. Thus, keeping this in mind, I had advised to intake ACV during breakouts and dilute only a tablespoon of ACV per day in a liter of water.

To reap the benefits of ACV, drink ACV only once in three days (when not facing breakouts; during breakouts make it once a day) diluting only a tablespoon of ACV in a liter of water. This is safe and would give the amazing benefits of ACV.

P.S.1: Happy April Fools Day!!! Sorry for the belated wish. In fact, I had totally forgotten about it. So, how many of you got fooled today???? Do share your amusing experiences 🙂
P.S.2: Finally, the world cup is here. So, lets hope India wins!!! All the best guys 🙂

Lotus Herbals WHITEGLOW Oatmeal and Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub {Product Review}

Swathy · March 31, 2011 · 2 Comments

This is one of the best products I have been using lately. So, lets proceed to see why it works??

Price: 145 INR for 100 gms (affordable!!)

Ingredients

Lotus Herbals is a herbal brand but not free of chemicals so it has its own share of them as you can see in the pic. The active ingredients include oatmeal and yogurt as stated in the name though they appear in the middle of the ingredient list (not the highest concentration of the active ingredients).

My Experience

So, in the pic, you see what the company says about the product and its method of usage. Of course, you all must already be familiar with how to use a scrub. I like to use this scrub after cleansing my face and I generally use it in shower. There is a reason to that which I’ll tell you in a minute.

So, this scrub is very yogurty in look and feel too. For the first time, a scrub has looked so different to me. Its just as if you have dried the yogurt and powdered it. It is quiet granular and the granules are not at all spiky or ragged that they will tear at your skin. They are just enough granular to provide a good exfoliation. And, its smell is kinda weird. I donno how to classify it but you can like it or you might not like it but it is definitely not overpowering. Instead, the smell is quite subtle.

Now, coming to the claims of this scrub, yes, it does pass all the tests you can hope. No, it will not turn you white and into a fairy after a single use. But, it considerably makes your skin brighter and removes tanning to quite an extent. The reason I am saying this is coz I have used it on my arms and this one is one of the few products which actually showed a difference (not a lot but yes better enough to be considered). That’s the reason I like to use this in the shower and it is easy to apply on the neck too in the shower.

My Recommendation

I do not really end up falling for many products and this is one I like. So, yes, you will like it too and its pretty much affordable and lasts quite long if used only on face and neck. Since I am using on the arms, I think it might go away soon. So, go ahead and give it a try!! And, for the record, almost all the bloggers (wherever I have read till now) have given it a thumbs up.

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar to avoid breakouts

Swathy · March 21, 2011 · 36 Comments

Hey guys!! I have been missing since a long time and have been giving you all a really weird collection of on and off posts which are not at all close to skin or hair care. I shall remain MIA for some more time and sporadic posts might continue. I am not ill or traveling or anything of the sort, just that I am having blogger’s block 😀

So, getting on with the post,this post is for all those people who suffer from mild to heavy breakouts. And, also for the people who do not mind taking extra steps to keep their skin in good shape from inside out. We are all aware that skin care starts from inside and continues outside. So, how to avoid the breakouts? Drink Apple Cider Vinegar. I have been doing this very lately coz I had a really bad bout of breakouts (actually cystic acne!!) and this has helped me so much.

How to drink Apple Cider Vinegar??

Ok, do not drink this vinegar raw ever. I am sure it will upset your stomach for a very long time. Add a table spoon of the Apple Cider Vinegar in one liter of drinking water. Yup, it is that simple and keep on sipping it regularly. Do not take more than one bottle in a day and avoid it when your skin is behaving properly. This remedy will work even when the inflammation or the breakout has already started on the skin.

One caution here: When water is mixed with vinegar, it has a really weird flavor. Apple Cider Vinegar tastes somewhat bitter with flavor of apple juice. It can be a bit difficult in the starting but it becomes fine when one gets used to it. Keep a separate bottle of water to quench your thirst when you desperately need water because this vinegar mixed water cannot quench your thirst.

Apart from this slight discomfort, making this a regular habit will yield you results in a day. Since the vinegar has to act on the inside so be a little patient. I did see results in a day but giving it time will do no harm and it will definitely improve the skin condition. Apple Cider Vinegar is anti-inflammatory thus cure the inflammation in the body immediately. It also helps with weight loss and tones up your skin from inside. I will do another post on benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar but till then you can enjoy freedom from any kind of a minor or a major breakout.

Where to buy Apple Cider Vinegar??

I am not very sure if this vinegar is available very widely in India. I checked out for it in Hyper City so you might want to go there or go to a really huge supermarket. I bought the one available – American Garden and it costs 110 bucks.