We started using apple cider vinegar mainly in my two children’s baths, to detox and flush out the toxins during their topical steroid withdrawal, and eczema flares. It would soothe their itchy, dry skin too, as well as balance the pH level on their skin.
Gradually, over time, we found more and more uses for this golden liquid at home. A previous article details the benefits of apple cider vinegar, how it is made, how we use it in the bath for my children’s eczema, as well as the many other uses we have found for it at home. Hop over to read more about it.
In this article, we are going to look at what makes a good apple cider vinegar, and recommend the best apple cider vinegar brand in the market.
What is in a good apple cider vinegar?
To get the most benefit out of apple cider vinegar, it has to be with the mother, which is the term given to the good bacteria that converts the apple cider into vinegar. This means that the apple cider vinegar will actually show quite a bit of suspended solids, which would settle down at the bottom of the container over time. This may seem gross, but it is precisely this ‘gross’ substance that would allow us to reap the most benefit from this miracle tonic.
So we should be looking for the words ‘unfiltered’, as that would mean the mother is still in the vinegar. Another important word to look for is ‘unpasteurized’, as the process of pasteurizing, meant to get rid of harmful bacteria, will kill the good ones as well. ‘Raw’ would also tell us that the product as gone through minimal processing, and is in its most natural state.
A last criteria for assessing how good an apple cider vinegar is, is whether it is made from organic apples or not. This will ensure that we minimize exposure to chemicals and toxins found in pesticides and such.
In short, the best brand of apple cider vinegar should be labelled as ‘raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and organic’.
The Shortlist
If you do a quick search, you will come up with numerous brands of apple cider vinegar that meet the criteria of ‘raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized and organic’.
These are the brands, to name a few: Bragg, Heinz, Vitacost, Viva Naturals, Eden, …
They differ in prices, countries of origin, colours of the vinegar itself, the apples used, the bottling containers used, etc.
But one brand stands out strikingly from the rest, and it is…
Bragg – the unequivocal champion
We have been using Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar for a few years now, and we swear by its quality. Just by taking in its smell, you could tell the fullness and richness of the vinegar. The murkiness of the liquid also gives a strong indication of the amount and quality of the good bacteria.
The US company sources its apples from within the States, so as to ensure better control over their requirement that the organic apples should be free from arsenic and pesticides.
More importantly, Bragg is one of the oldest and the most trusted brand of apple cider vinegar around. If it weren’t good, it would not have lasted so many years, since 1912. Paul C. Bragg founded the company, and his daughter now runs it. The company continues to spread the gospel of health by providing natural healthy products, and many self-help books.
We will be sticking to this brand for a long time to come.
Get Yours Now
So make sure to grab a few bottles of Bragg apple cider vinegar the next time you visit the supermarket.
Or maybe a more convenient option would be to do your shopping right here! That would get the fragile glass bottles delivered right to your doorstep, and you can save your muscles for the other groceries, like watermelons, instead!
No refrigeration of the apple cider vinegar is required. So you can store them in your pantry safely.
Do drop us a note below, if you would like to share your own experience, or anything related to apple cider vinegar!
Have never used any of brand of apple cider vinegar, not even knowing it’s the highest quality! Thanks for sharing
Hi Sergio,
Thanks for dropping by! I hope you found this article useful. Do give apple cider vinegar a go if you have the chance. Its benefits are numerous and far-reaching.
Joo,
I was not aware of the difference in the brands/types of apple cider vinegar available. Definitely better educated and a better shopper now. This is the first I have heard of using the cider vinegar as a way to relieve dry, itchy skin. What is your recommended ratio of water to the apple cider vinegar foe an adult to soak in? And for how long?
Thanks for a great article and the education.
Sanders
Hi Sanders,
Glad that this article has been useful to you. For an adult, I would suggest anything between half a cup to one and a half cups of ACV in a full bathtub. Adjust accordingly to how your skin feels in it, whether it is soothing for you, or it stings. As for duration of soak, no more than 20 minutes, else the toxins that flush out may have a chance of going back in. Enjoy!