Apple cider vinegar is a powerful, natural home remedy made from fermented juice. Over the years, people have found the ‘said’ vinegar categorized into two types: apple cider vinegar with the mother or unfiltered apple cider vinegar and filtered apple cider vinegar. So you might ask: what is the mother in apple cider vinegar or filtered apple cider vinegar?
The mother is the strain of beneficial bacteria that gives rise to apple cider vinegar. As yeast is added to the fermented apple juice, breaking down the sugar and resulting in alcohol, and adding the bacteria known as the mother transforms the alcohol into acetic acid. Finally, the resulting solution would be apple cider vinegar.
Do you wish to discover more about the mother in the apple cider vinegar? Stay in the loop because, in this article, we will explain everything you need to know about this beneficial bacteria!
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV, is another kind of vinegar or fermented juice mainly produced from crushed apples, sugar, and yeast. Usually, this vinegar is utilized as an essential ingredient in various foods like pickles, salad dressings, and marinades. On top of everything, apple cider vinegar holds potent compounds like acetic acid and nutrients such as vitamins B and C.
Over the years, people have turned to apple cider vinegar as a powerful remedy for treating or preventing heartburn to fighting dirt and bacteria inside the household. Today, studies highlight that ACV has health benefits, from reducing blood sugar levels to aiding weight loss.
What Is the Mother in Apple Cider Vinegar?
The production of apple cider vinegar mainly consists of two crucial steps. First, manufacturers add yeast to the fermented apple juice, breaking down sugars into alcohol. Next, they add a specific kind of bacteria to finally convert the alcohol to acetic acid, otherwise known as the main foundation of vinegar.
This bacteria, which appears to be a spongy, cloudy, or stringy mass, is called the “mother” because it is the primary catalyst that led to the rise of vinegar. In short, the mother in ACV is a by-product of combining bacteria and yeast.
Why Is the Mother in Apple Cider Vinegar Important?
The mother in ACV is quite crucial because of its essential health benefits. Studies show that the mother contains dozens of good bacteria, commonly known as probiotics. These, in turn, help the digestive system to run smoothly, helping us to maximize the nutrients we get in every food we consume.
In addition, research proves that the mother in ACV has antibodies, keeping and boosting our immune systems to function well. Further, the mother also consists of enzymes, which are a powerful aid in breaking down food, aiding our bodies to absorb the essential nutrients we need.
Is It Safe to Drink the Mother in Apple Cider Vinegar?
Every bottle of unfiltered, pure, or raw ACV containing the mother is generally considered safe to drink and consume daily. In fact, studies prove that people who drink ACV with the mother are less likely to feel unwell or ill since the compound contains large dozens of antibodies.
However, medical doctors advise you to consume at most 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar daily. While ACV with the mother is relatively safe in smaller quantities, too much might cause an upset stomach or tooth enamel erosion in some people. So, ACV with the mother is safe when consumed in moderation. However, too much of it might irritate the gut.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother?
Indeed, apple cider vinegar with the mother holds potent health benefits beyond your imagination. But did you know this vinegar solution can be used in a variety of ways? It can go beyond its usual or traditional use, below are fantastic ways to get the most out of apple cider vinegar.
Salad Dressing
Apple cider vinegar can be your salad’s next match made in heaven. Try whisking the apple cider vinegar with other salad ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and honey and trickle it over crisp, fresh green leaves. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with garlic, grapeseed oil, and seasoning for a fantastic salad dressing.
Daily Supplement Drink
You can incorporate apple cider vinegar as a supplement or boost drink for your everyday diet. After all, it can significantly help improve your immune system and digestion. Before nighttime, stir about two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. However, it’s always best to dilute the apple cider vinegar because its acidic nature might irritate the teeth and the throat.
Steam Facial Treatment
Another way you can make the most of apple cider vinegar is by turning it into a steam facial treatment. After all, facial steaming effectively opens the pores and helps clear impurities. Add around two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a bowl of hot water for better use. Then, wrap your head using a towel and sit over the apple cider steam for around fifteen minutes. Finally, wash your face with cold water when done, and let your skin dry.
Which Is Better, Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother or Without?
Apple cider vinegar has been around for years as an effective dietary supplement. People use it to relieve the common symptoms of diarrhea, indigestion, and heartburn. It also has been a great success in being an efficient weight-loss supplement. In general, ACV can help you achieve many health benefits with or without the mother. However, choosing from the two all boils down to personal preference.
Since it contains many nutrients, apple cider vinegar with the mother is much more expensive compared to the other. Because of its natural vitamin C ingredient, apple cider vinegar with the mother truly helps in strengthening the immune system. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar without the mother promotes weight loss due to its increased amount of acetic acid. But if you want to gain all the excellent health benefits you seek, you should pick apple cider vinegar with the mother.
Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother v. Filtered Apple Cider Vinegar
There are few but significant differences between the apple cider vinegar with the mother, otherwise referred to as raw or unfiltered and filtered apple cider vinegar. While culinary speaking, the two kinds of vinegar are interchangeable, have an acetic acid level of around five percent, and possess mild sweetness; there are distinct qualities that characterize the two.
The filtered apple cider vinegar has a much weaker apple taste. Since this type of vinegar already undergoes a filtering process, it loses some of its natural flavors. So, you want to use a dash of vinegar for cooking purposes. In that case, choosing the unfiltered version is best since it can produce fantastic flavor.
Unfiltered apple cider vinegar retains natural probiotics. Since the mother is already removed in the filtered apple cider vinegar, chances are the threads of enzymes, antibodies, and probiotics reduce significantly.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother
Since ancient times, it is believed that Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, has used apple cider vinegar to treat common colds and clean wounds. So, why has this old but valuable remedy remained popular up to this modern day? Well, it’s because apple cider vinegar with the mother has proven beneficial to human health.
It Supports the Immune System
Research showcases that the bacteria found naturally in ACV with the mother dramatically helps your body to recover more quickly if you fall ill. The apple cider vinegar’s antibodies and anti-bacterial properties reportedly fight off the pathogens in the body and eventually boost the immune system.
It Improves Digestion
Like other fermented foods, unfiltered apple cider vinegar has gut-friendly and healthy bacteria that aid in keeping your digestive system working correctly. It lets you make the most of every food intake and keep dangerous bacteria at bay.
It Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Experts said that the natural acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar proves to be beneficial in blocking the enzymes, which in turn, digests the starch. As an effect, your blood sugar might not fluctuate as much after you eat regular starchy meals like bread and pasta.
Conclusion
Indeed, apple cider vinegar is a practical, natural home remedy we should keep around our house. And once you consume the apple cider vinegar with the mother, the health benefits are more profound. From supporting the immune system to aiding weight loss and curing indigestion, apple cider vinegar with the mother packs a mighty punch of benefits beyond our imagination.
However, while apple cider vinegar with the mother is helpful in many healthy ways, it’s still best to drink and consume it in moderation. After all, the amount of natural acetic acid found in unfiltered apple cider vinegar might cause the teeth to erode and upset the stomach.
To learn how to use apple cider vinegar to clean in your home, read our article – “Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Cleaning?“
To learn more about apple cider vinegar, check out our article – What everyone needs to know about raw apple cider vinegar