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

Browse Ted's Q&A

Can I Give ACV to My Children?

Posted by Cathy on 10/06/2006

Hi Ted, Thank you for the incredibly valuable information. I've just started the ACV and 1/4 baking soda for about 3 days. Was feeling pretty good, but feel I've had a slight set back. Will continue, but how long before I feel I've turned a corner? Can I give the ACV to my children? Then are 6,4,2. The 4 year old especially, concerns me. He's tend to be a bit constipated and has runny noses. I think some if seasonal allergies, but since I've had the ACV, the dark circles under my eyes have left and my running nose has stopped. I hate to give the kids medicine, especially if there's a natural treatment. If it's safe to give to them, how much and how often? Should I avoid the baking soda since they don't complain of stomach ailments? Is the ACV going to effect their tooth enamel? Could I put it into something like apple juice so they don't know they're getting it? (They're kinds of picky). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the all the healthy insight. Look forward to more words of wisdom! Kind Regards, Cathy

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

Dear Catherine: but feel I've had a slight set back. Will continue, but how long before I feel I've turned a corner? Feelings are measures of our body's condition. While it is indeed a good way to know if it works or not. A more precise way is to measure your urinary pH, with an electronic pH meter. This way it can tell whether your body's is in either too acid or too alkaline. It tells your which way you to go, instead of doing something's right or something's wrong. For example, sometimes I feel overconfident that my health was just great, but I feel somewhat burned out. With the pH meter, my urinary pH indicate, that my body's is extremely acidic at pH of 5.1. As a rule of thumb if you feel a slight set back, without the pH meter, then you need somewhat of a guesswork, which means taking adjusting by adding more baking soda and see how it goes. My original recommendation is a very conservative one of 1/4 teaspoon baking soda added to ACV. So everyone's requirement will be different. So the best recommendation I can make, is to vary your dosage or get a more precise pocket pH meter. With a pH meter, at least, it can predict things before you get sick by preventing your body from being excessively acidic. Most pocket pH meters nowadays are not that expensive and you might be able to get it at the plant nursery shop or around $50 -$75.

Can I give the ACV to my children?

Yes adding a little, of ACV and baking soda will help.

'Should I avoid the baking soda since they don't complain of stomach ailments?

Adding some will usually get their pH to a value where they are most resistant to sickness. Baking soda does not just prevent stomach ailments, it alkalizes the body and kills of the virus and other bugs.

Is the ACV going to effect their tooth enamel?

Anything that tastes sour, or where pH of the drinks is below 5 will effect their enamel. By raising the pH with some baking soda, the pH will rise and will protect the enamel. Just get the drinks of pH above 5 would be the minimal, this means of course if you have your pH meter handy.

Could I put it into something like apple juice so they don't know they're getting it?

Children are indeed stubborn, so parents have to hide it somewhere so they won't know. If it tastes bad, convincing them otherwise is very difficult. What is important is to lower the sugar by substituting with other sweets such as herbal stevia is a possibility. Assuming of course, if you can find stevia!


NEXT