Hey you guys! How’s it going? It’s finally starting to get cold here in Louisiana, so I’ve had to dig out all my cold weather running gear. I don’t believe in excuses, and the cold is no exception- I refuse to let it hinder my fitness goals!
Anyway, if you’ve kept up with us, you may already know that a while back, I discovered my cholesterol was slightly elevated. I was told that I wasn’t a high risk, though, so it wasn’t a huge deal- just to keep monitoring and increase my fiber. But, that wasn’t good enough for me- having had a stroke, I immediately took steps to lower that number.
I already lived a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I decided to go even further. For several years, I’ve been exercising regularly, and had plateaued, and still had the elevated cholesterol. I used to do bodybuilding (natural, no drugs), so I went back to some of those habits. The problem is that with new birth control after having the stroke, the hormones cause me to retain fat. So I started using natural adaptogenic supplements to combat this, and I looked into other options, too.
One thing I found that kept coming up consistently in my research was apple cider vinegar. I know, I know, I know, I don’t really get into trendy bandwagon fads, but there seemed to be something good about this. Could it really be that good?
Well, there’s conflicting research regarding some claims, while other claims are solidly backed. The good news is that it’s not harmful, as it’s a common kitchen staple. After finding out several people I know have had great results with using ACV for regulating blood sugar, I jumped onto that bandwagon!
When blood sugar is regulated, it can have a “trickle down” effect, and result in other positive changes. Some people swear by the ingredient for weight loss, cholesterol, indigestion, and even wart removal. Well, I’d sure like to lose some belly fat, and I really wanted to lower my cholesterol.
I consulted with my own provider, and also asked a childhood friend turned physician for some nutritional advice. After revamping my diet and continuing with weightlifting and cardio, I added in a few new supplements- one of them being organic apple cider vinegar with “the mother.”
After making these lifestyle supplement changes, I also noticed significant changes with my body and health. While I didn’t lose much weight (I don’t care about weight, as muscle weighs more than fat), I did lose enough body fat to go down a couple sizes in clothing. My cholesterol also went down thirteen points! Plus, I found I craved sweets a lot less. So, how did I use the ACV?
It was recommended to drink anywhere from a teaspoon to a few tablespoons of ACV per day. Omg. That stuff was disgusting! I tried so many ways of making the stuff palatable, adding lemon juice, raw honey, you name it, I tried it. The only way I could find to make the stuff taste “un-yucky” was to use it to make coleslaw. But, I couldn’t eat coleslaw every day. Well, I could, but it would get old really quick!
I resorted to mixing the ACV with water, holding my nose, and just chugging. I would have just chugged it straight without the water so it would be over with quicker, but health care professionals advise against that because the acid can burn your esophagus. You also have to make sure to rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth so your enamel doesn’t wear away.
Thankfully, I found out about a company that makes an apple cider vinegar supplement in capsule form! I was pleased to partner with NutraStore to test out their Ultimate ACV. The neat thing about this formula is that you’re getting much more than just ACV.
Each capsule contains 25mg of Vitamin B6, 400mcg kelp (iodine), 25mg potassium, and a 700mg proprietary blend of apple cider vinegar powder, spirulina, soy lecithin, kelp, apple pectin, and bromelain.
I love that these capsules contain more than just ACV. Vitamin B6 helps with energy and metabolism, potassium also helps with metabolism, as well as muscle aches, in addition to myriad other issues. Iodine contributes to healthy thyroid function; spirulina and kelp are multivitamins in and of themselves; apple pectin is an excellent source of fiber that can help create a sense of “fullness” as well as reduce cholesterol. Finally, bromelain is an enzyme from pineapples that can aid in digestion, in addition to helping the body get rid of fat (WebMD, 2017).
While I’d known of the benefits of most of these before, I’d heard of people using bromelain for their sinuses, so I checked with WebMD. Sure enough, the enzyme helps with inflammation, particularly in the sinus cavities- so it’s often used to aid in relieving the symptoms of sinusitis (WebMD, 2017). Having chronic sinusitis and severe allergies, this was welcome information!
The best part of Ultimate ACV? No need to drink icky, yucky, disgustingly gross vinegar! My apologies to those in the vinegar business, it’s fantastic in salads, dressings… as an ingredient. But, by itself- it’s horrible. So, with Ultimate ACV, you get all the benefits, without the yuck factor- so you can save that bottle of vinegar for cooking!
I also appreciate that the website doesn’t market Ultimate ACV as some sort of miracle. This honesty lends credibility, and makes me trust the brand more. It specifically mentions that it “can be a great supplement to a healthy diet and exercise regimen” (NutraStore, 2017), which is exactly how I have been using it.
Overall, I really wish I could go back in time, so I could have used Ultimate ACV much earlier on. If you’d like to reap the benefits of ACV, along with other superb ingredients, without actually having to drink vinegar, then you really NEED to check out Ultimate ACV from NutraStore.com!
Sources:
NutraStore (2017). Ultimate ACV. NutraStore. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from www.nutrastore.com.
WebMD (2017). Bromelain. WebMD, L.L.C. Retrieved December 15, 2017, from www.webmd.com.
*This is a sponsored review, all experiences and opinions are my own. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Advanced Nutraceuticals and NutraStore.com make no claims other than what is on the label and website. As always, be sure to consult with your health care provider regarding any supplements.
