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

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Dosages

Posted by Mie (Detroit, MI) on 08/30/2007

Hello Ted, I always enjoy reading your expertise at earthclinic.com. I have a very simple question. The book "Folk Medicine" and Bragg's ACV bottle recommends "2 teaspoon of ACV with 8oz water...." but earthclinic.com recommends 2 tablespoon of ACV. Do you know why earthclinic.com recommends 2 tablespoon instead of 2 teaspoon? Thank you

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

Dear Mie:

The book recommended two teaspoon of pure apple cider vinegar diluted 8 oz of water because that's the maximum tolerable dose without having a major side effects from the acidity of the apple cider vinegar. Actually that dose if used alone is still way too strong in my own experience for people who are sick.

I used 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar because it was the baking soda that' helped neutralized the solution and hence it is possible to use a larger dose. The reason why that dose was set is simple. My own observations is that the body needs a minimum of 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonates per day at least for the body to maintain normal pH and sufficient buffers, which is divided into two equal dose of 1/4 teaspoon each. The apple cider vinegar is determined to get the pH of about 7 and this works out to about 2 tablespoons.

To further weaken the solution I used at least 1/2 glass of water, as 8 oz. of water can be too much for some people so a 1/2 glass is the minimum. Most healthy active people actually needs more than this, and the body needs about 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda a day. However I hold the apple cider vinegar constant (but can be added more) since it seems the body needs to maintain buffers much more than the need of acetates and malates to help detoxify.

Of course more apple cider vinegar can be added to about 4 tablespoon ACV plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, but its effect (from my own very small samples of feedback) is not as great as the 2 tablespoon ACV plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda on the maximum dosage side. It is obviously seen that an athlete can need much more bicarbonates, but in such a situation, bicarbonate used is not effective for sports medicine, a more compact form is the citrate form, such as sodium citrate or potassium citrate, which can effectively alkalize the body much much more better. Although this is not feasible as citrates are much harder to find than a simple baking soda, which is more available in most supermarkets.

It should be noted that biochemically the solution of apple cider vinegar does more than meets the eyes, it buffers the body's fluids, increase the body's antioxidation Oxidation Reduction Potential, it effectively alkalizes, reduces excess serum calcium which cause blood clots and heart attacks, malates reduces aluminum accumulation in the brain helpful for alzheimer, alkalization increases the body's need to unload toxins by sweating more easily, and the list goes on an on. However the use of strictly apple cider vinegar is problematic and causes the body to go acid whenever the body's bicarbonates is already lacking and this may not be helpful in the condition of candida, or at least temporarily helpful.

In my opinion most booklets to promote certain supplements will only promote that and nothing more. This can be a problem since every supplements will have a weakness. In case of apple cider vinegar, it is too acid for some people's digestive system to handle. A middle ground therefore is where the solution's pH is at least neutral or if the solution is fairly close to the body's fluid between 7.3-7.4


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