Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ - Ted's Q&A

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Addicted to ACV?

Posted by W on 12/29/2007

Hello Ted, thank you for all your incredible information.I have been using 2tbls acv with 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and mixing in I tblsp black strap molasses 3 times a day on empty stomach for 4 months now with amazing results..i am currently experiencing flu like symptoms and in researching earth clinic I realized I may have done some wrong by never taking even 1 days rest. I then tried to take 2 full days off and couldn't stand how I felt. I had to give in and have a dose. I also do oil pulling at least 5 days a week first thing in the morning. my questions are, have I done any damage?? must you always take 2 days rest? and is the blackstrap molasses mixed in ok?? Thanks again

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

Dear W: The dependency issue may likely come from the acid forming sugar component of the black strap molasses that prevented you from stopping the ACV+ baking soda. So if the black strap molasses was done every two days or three days, it might be possible to give the ACV+baking soda a 1 or 2 day break.

There are certain hidden reasons why I employed a 2 day break, one of the reasons is as a self-controlling mechanism to discover hidden cause (or problems) to show itself during the two day break, which should show you what's wrong. There are many others reasons, but the discussion is beyond this email.

In this case it might be the black strap molasses that was causing the acidity. In another case it might show that the person in question is suffering from metabolic acidosis not due to dietary cause. Under both instances, acv and baking soda may be needed throughout without a break, at least in the short term, but this is not solving the CAUSE of the problem. Here I need to find the cause.

In the event of a simple black strap molasses and other sugars or vegetable oils were causing the problems, the situation would be remedied by simply doing it less frequently OR taking at 1/2 of the original dose, and if not I try 1/4 of it.

In the event of another cause, metabolic acidosis, which I do have from time to time, accidentaly taking aspartame (they sometimes add them in supplements, but most people are more familiar with them adding in diet colas). The metabolic acidosis, which causes the urine to be extremely acid within hours, hence probably you find out why you took it three times a day helped the most. It also raises the urinary sugar sky high in these events, in case you are wondering.

There are several causes of metabolic acidosis that is rarely discussed in medicine, other than methanol alcohol poisoning, which can kill you, but subtleties exists in when aspartame breaks down in the body in presence of the body's enzyme called the chymotrypsin to form methanol alcohol, which further degrades inside the body to form formaldehyde, and causes my urinary acid to be so acid as to burn my bladder and the urinary pH can be as low as less than 4, which is almost as acid as vinegar! Certain other chemical toxins, such as hydrocarbons, benzene, kerosine, oil firing, carbon monoxide (from oil heating and water heating) can lead to metabolic acidosis. People do not know that sometimes carbon monoxide even a tiny amount can lead to metabolic acidosis, and may lead to diabetes. The connection is simple, cells when they are poisoned, cannot burn fuel, and sugar are acid forming. A glandular functions that control blood sugar can't function in presence of toxins, such as carbon monoxide. I remember one case of a woman to be so sick of all kinds of "disease" that I had assumed to be coming from either the hot water tanks, or the oil heating. Apparently a small amount of carbon monoxide was emitted from the oil heater and it permeated the entire apartment. You can probably guess the state of health and how doctors think it's psychosomatic, when in this case were sublethal dose of carbon monoxide from heating oils or hot water tank heating systems. Hydrocarbon emissions as well as excess free fatty acids, or oxidized polyunsaturated vegetable oils can also lead to metabolic acidosis too. The way it does that is quite simple: people tend to use high temperature cooking on low boiling point vegetable oils. I think that's a big mistake. The oils become oxidized and damages the biological system (they get absorbed very easily) and damages sensitive organs. I kills the beta cells in the pancreas, it causes multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other things too. The explaination here is beyond this email again.

However, a simple remedy to at least get some control of metabolic acidosis is taking some granulated lecithin (it drives out toxic oils) such as taking one tablespoon a day (at least) with meals preferably, or without, if not convenient. Vitamin B complex B50, especially B1, B3 niacinamide, B6, and B12 are important, perhaps 2 or 3 times a week.

'If metabolic acidosis is known plus high urinary sugar (or blood sugar), then a sodium vanadate, a vanadium supplements, usually 100 mg may be needed now and then, with perhaps some ocassional chromium polynicotinate, manganese sulfate 50 mg, to help control the blood sugar easier. Most supplements in my opinion don't provide sufficient dose for it to work, and in this instance, I might just be forced to take more of them, or make my own if I am in this situation. It should be noted that vanadium and B3 niacinamide helps regenerate beta cells in the pancreas which controls the blood sugar.

In case it is still not possible to do so, then I might try just taking apple cider vinegar with baking soda for 5 days, plus 2 days of just baking soda. Another factor I might consider is to add 1/8 teaspoon of potassium citrate to the mix, and this might enable to discontinue 1 or two days.

The two day break gives a chance to discover hidden problems that shows up during those two day break, but it also allows the body a chance to relax and detox too. That's basically the beauty of the 2 or even a 1 day break.

On some days, I might consider taking some three times a week chlorella or even chinese parsley to remove heavy metals which might have contributed to some metabolic acidosis as they do generate free radicals. However, if I did live in the United States, my major worry is the carbon monoxide as hot water tanks and oil heating system are quite defective. A sublethal dose of carbon monoxide can lead to metabolic acidosis too, or even hydrocarbon emissions and careless use of paint thinners, which goes right through the skin.

Even a simple viruses can lead to metabolic acid, in which case the flu like symptoms you mentioned can easily be resolved with zinc gluconate 50 mg supplements taken three times a week, plus some ocassional magnesium citrate 500 mg, until the problems go away, I might then discontinue the zinc gluconate and in some cases, take only a maintenance dose, of maybe once every two weeks. It works out differently for most people. A viruses causes metabolic acidosis simply by causing inflammation of glandular functions, much like the body experience fever and rashes, but when a glandular functions does that such as the pancreas, the beta cells can't produce the insulin, the adrenal glands can't produce the DHEA, and the thyroid becomes hypothyroid. When glands don't function efficiently the body's immune system becomes problematic and I would experience a flu like symptoms just the same.

Hopefully I have answered some of your questions here. I am further observing other things at this moment and investigating other suitable remedies as I write this email.

Replied by Trisha
La Marque, Texas
04/25/2009

Hi all, I really enjoy these posts. Many let me know that I am doing the right thing.

#1) I can't tell you how much LESS pain I have with my knees, back and heel spurs from using ACV. It is a TRUE BLESSING in disguise!!

I too had SEVERE flu- like symptoms the 1st and 2nd times I took it. I swore I would NEVER take it again though because who among us WANTS to get sick like that. If i wanted to get sick, I would take a flu shot!

BUT, I later learned that the sicker you get from taking ACV...the SICKER your body is with toxins and impurities.! The ACV just kind of starts stirring up all that 'junk' that has been sitting there for years in my case and helping to me to get rid of it.

I mean, the body is like a toilet in a way. It holds all kinds of bacteria, toxins, impurities and such, but if we never add water and give it a stir...it definitely IS NOT going to flush on it's own, right?

Boy, that ACV had me spitting THICK, THICK green junk,coughing and coughing and coughing to get it up...I even had chills and fever at times...BUT, the thrid time when I just rode it out and kept taking it ,I sure felt so much better after it was all over.

The flu-like symptoms lasted about 4 weeks, but hey, I sure felt better and it was only then that I realized that my heels spurs and especially my knees were not killing me any longer!

So, I took my friend out that first told me the benfits of this stuff and took back those awful things I said to her the first 2 times I took it...and if I could say anything to anyone about ACV...it would be that I feel like everyone should be taking it!

Yes, I have CHF, diabetes, high cholesteral,enlarged liver x4, (although I have never drank/smoked/drugged???) I'm severely obese...you name it...I WAS on 11 different kinds of medication including blood thinners and lasix...but now...the only thing I take are ACV...EVERY DAY, and Co-Q-10 (a suppliment) Magnesium which definitely helps with joint pain, and my vitamins.

I'm still obese, but at least I can actually walk with my walker so who knows what the future may hold since I have come so far already...and it all started with the ACV as nasty as it may taste, it's well worth it!

Replied by Bogan
Kanyakumari, Marthandam
12/09/2011

mm.. I just started Apple Cider Vinegar for my acid reflux.. Although it improved reflux I got flu like symptoms with my sinuses fully inflamed (I have sinusitis too.. Had surgery for that) with green thick mucous coming and almost asthma like gripping in my chest.. Just like W here.. Maybe I should persist with it a little longer?


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