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Apple Cider VinegarBenefits |
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To truly understand the origins of apple cider vinegar, we must explore vinegar itself, and how it has been used for thousands of years. Vinegar has been used in one form or another for over 10,000 years. It is currently used for many purposes and throughout the ages has served as a preservative, condiment, beauty aid, cleaning agent and medicine. The word vinegar comes from the Latin word vinum meaning wine and acer meaning sour. These two words were combined to make vinegre. In 5,000 B.C. the Babylonians fermented the fruit of date palms and created a date vinegar. The Romans made vinegar from grapes, figs, dates and rye. The Julius Caesar and his armies would drink vinegar and water for its antiseptic properties. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine", recommended vinegar for his patients who fell ill. Vinegar is mentioned in the Bible a number of times in both the Old and New Testament. Many ancient cultures used vinegar and valued it for its medicinal benefits. It was used for disinfecting wounds and for insect bites and snake bites. Vinegar compresses were useful for healing bruises. As modern medicine evolved, people began looking for an equally effective, yet better tasting alternative to the sour, bitter taste of straight vinegar. The ancient Egyptians are commonly recognized as the inventors of apple cider vinegar, or at least they were the first to realize it's medical benefits. Records show that as far back as 3000 BC, the Egyptians were using apple cider vinegar not just as an antiseptic, but as a weight loss agent as well. Today, apple cider vinegar is almost exclusively used by people who are looking to shed a few pounds. To avoid the taste - which is much better than vinegar, but still very bitter - most pharmaceutical companies have condensed the liquid into a pill or capsule. This still provides the benefits, but makes it much easier to swallow.
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