All About ACV 7 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits Your Foot Health
The health benefits of apple cider vinegar can do a world of wonders for your feet, helping Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, foot odor, aches and more.
It seems the world has gone crazy for apple cider vinegar, a previously unassuming pantry staple that has recently exploded into fame as one of nature’s “wonder drugs.” From clearing up skin issues to improving diabetes to assisting in weight loss, apple cider vinegar seems to do it all. And helping your feet is no exception.
Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries to help numerous conditions like aches and pain, dry skin, Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus and more. Click through the gallery above to find out how ACV can help your feet as we head into fall. Just make sure you use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar when trying any of the methods, as the inexpensive, processed varieties don’t deliver the same health benefits. And please discontinue use of ACV if you notice a rash, redness, itching or other skin irritation.
For Fatigue, Aches And Pains
If you frequently experience achy, swollen feet, then apple cider vinegar may become your new best friend. ACV contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it a perfect addition to foot baths that can ease pain, swelling and discomfort. Just soak your feet in a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar, two parts water and a couple tablespoons of Epson salt for about 20 to 30 minutes to help your feet feel soft, pain free and relaxed.
For Smelly Feet
Apple cider vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant and helps dry out moist, stinky feet thriving with bacteria. Just fill a foot basin with one part ACV and two parts water and soak your feet for 20 minutes. Repeat the foot soak on a daily basis for two weeks to help eliminate foot odor.
For Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that can be cleared up soaking your feet in a mixture of ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a basin filled with warm water for 10 minutes per day. The combination creates an acidic environment that Athlete’s foot finds unfavorable. You can also wipe your feet with the mixture when you get out of the shower to further battle the foot fungus.
For Dry Skin and Calluses
The slightly acidic nature of apple cider vinegar helps breaks down tough foot skin, including corns, heel fissures and calluses. You can either soak your feet in a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar and two parts warm water for half an hour to help break down the tough skin, or you can apply it directly onto tough patches of skin. To do the latter, soak a cotton ball in pure ACV, and apply it to the callus with a bandage or tape, being sure not to let the cotton ball touch the surrounding skin, as the acid can be quite irritating. Leave on overnight and then exfoliate the area with a pumice stone in the morning.
For Toenail Fungus
Apple cider vinegar is both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, making it a great choice in the battle against toenail fungus. To help keep a toenail fungus infection from spreading and to possibly rid the infection completely, soak your feet in a solution of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water for 20 to 30 minutes per day. If done daily, mild cases of toenail fungus should clear up within a couple of weeks.
For Plantar Warts
Plantar warts can be tough to get rid of, and apple cider vinegar can help. The acid in the vinegar helps break down the wart and exfoliate the infected skin. As with ACV removal of corns and calluses, you can either soak your feet in a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar and two parts warm water for half an hour to help break down the warts, or you can apply it directly onto the warts. To do the latter, soak a cotton ball in ACV and apply a small part to the wart with tape or a bandage. Be sure not to let the piece of cotton ball touch any healthy skin, as the acid can be quite irritating. Leave on overnight and repeat until the wart is gone.
For Gout Prevention
Numerous studies have shown that consuming 2 to 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar each day can greatly decrease your chance of developing gout, a painful type of foot arthritis, and it can reduce your chance of having gout attacks. The acetic acid in ACV helps maintain an alkaline pH level in your body. Additionally, apple cider vinegar helps break up urate crystals, purify the blood, increase circulation and reduce inflammation and swelling in the joints.
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