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

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The Five Day Rule ?

Posted by Robert (Chula Vista, Calif) on 12/17/2007

I read that Ted recommended ACV only be taken 5 days a week in treating acid reflux. Is it safe to take ACV 7 days a week with other conditions or does the 5 day a week recommendation apply to all conditions and to everybody? Please post this question on the site, regardless if Ted chooses to answer it or not (though I sure hope he does!).

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

The 5 day rule for ACV is not really that strict, and 7 days may be taken, but be aware that a flare up may occur on the 8th day.

I prefer, the results using ACV plus baking soda in for acid reflux, as some people are sensitive to the acid, and this can be taken for 7 days also. The body somehow needs a space or discontinuation for about 1 or 2 days so that the body will have time to relax or detox enough, so as to avoid the so called Herxheimer effect. It should be noted that the ability for the body to control pH is related in someway to lactic acidosis which can also be made worse or initiated to be worse if the food or drinks contain certain excitatory additives such as aspartame (from artificial sweetener) or even monosodium glutamate (MSG). In certain cases, the body's lactic acidosis can be lessened as I have found out later that a B1 (only thiamine mononitrate, 100-300 mg) and taurine (1000 mg) as it lowers the blood sugar causing the body to achieve alkalinity better by controling this variable too. Obviously this additional variable may be useful if the body goes into acid relatively quick, or that taking the ACV baking soda remedy did not raise the urinary pH long enough (for 1 day) and plus possible high blood sugar, or have consumed large amounts of aspartame and alcholic drinks in the past, which may make the condition of acid reflux harder to budge.

Hence taking 7 days can be done, but be aware that a possible flareup may occur on the 8th day, or perhaps on the 9th day. That's the problem about taking continuously and not giving time for the body to relax, as the body's ability to detox have a limited capacity and hence a 1 or 2 day break might be needed. The 2 day break hence is not really strictly applied in acid reflux, but additional OTHER supplements may be needed in case things don't work as well from the problems of high urinary sugar, and blood sugar, or consumption of aspartame, alcohol or monosodium glutamate. The rule of 5 days however is strictly applied if chelation or detox program are used, however. Thus it depends on the condition and seriousness of the condition. I wish I can answer in more detail, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

The most important variable to consider in my opinion is to carefully monitor urinary pH to make sure it reaches near 7 (6.8 or 6.5 I am happy too), if not taking more frequent dose, such up to 3 times may be needed. If the body is either stubborn or the pH goes up not for long, than there is a possibility of lactic acidosis that is preventing a good acid reflux where ONLY B1 thiamine mononitrate is used, NOT thiamine hydrochloride!). It make this distinction to make sure such mistakes don't occur on supplements, so read the labels carefully. If this rule applies, then I might consider starting 100 mg of thiamine mononitrate on second or third week should I find urinary sugar to be high or that the body has very high acidity. This does happen, in many people, just that this point people don't seem to observed, at least for me, its more important than the 5 day rule.


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