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Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits for Gout

Gout is a genetically-linked condition that is aggravated by diet, especially alcohol and fattening foods. It is characterized by the accumulation of uric acid in the joints, most commonly in the toes. There are a number of apple cider vinegar benefits for gout that you can take advantage of.

  1. Function

    • Apple cider vinegar is believed to be beneficial for as well as gout because of its malic acid content. Malic acid is believed to dissolves the uric acid that accumulates in the joints and flushes them from the body. Other beneficial compounds it contains include potassium, which removes toxic waste and excess water, as well as amino acids, which also reduce toxicity and have an antibiotic effect.

    Effects

    • Apple cider vinegar benefits for gout sufferers include less inflammation, swelling and throbbing, as well as greater flexibility in their joints. This relieves, and may even eliminate pain, making it easier to walk. Some gout sufferers experience the benefits of taking apple cider after only a few hours, while it may take a few days for others to notice an improvement.

    Dosage

    • To get the full benefits of apple cider vinegar, you will have to take 2 to 3 tbsp., two or three times a day. Although some people can take their vinegar neat, others do not like the taste and the burning they feel in their throat, so they mix it into a glass of warm water. To make it even more palatable, a spoon or two of honey may be stirred into the water. Fruit juice, such as elderberry, blueberry, strawberry or cherry, have been known to offer health benefits to gout sufferers, and may be substituted for the water. Alternatively, the vinegar and honey may be mixed together rather than dissolved in water or juice.

    Topical

    • Rather than take the apple cider orally by drinking it, you may also apply it topically. To do this, soak a clean, dry cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it round the affected area. Leave it on for 15 minutes or longer. Alternatively, make up a mixture of 3 cups of water with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, and soak the joint in this. The soak is both beneficial and soothing.

    Considerations

    • There are two types of apple cider vinegar: the clear variety you find in supermarkets and the un-distilled, unfiltered raw version. This raw type of apple cider vinegar offers the most health benefits for gout. This is because although the clear variety has been heavily processed to produce a more attractive appearance, processing removes many of its benefits. The unfiltered version is not a clear liquid, and has a thready appearance known as the "mother." This lack of clarity indicates that it still contains all of its natural nutrients and enzymes and, therefore, its benefits for your health.

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