Your cart is currently empty!
Category: Health
-
Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies vs Liquid
Gummy vitamins and supplements are everywhere these days—and for good reason. They’re convenient, tasty, and easier to take than traditional alternatives. Gummy products are popular because they’re not only easy to consume but also feature flavors that make them more enjoyable than traditional alternatives.
A newer trend in the world of gummies is apple cider vinegar (ACV) gummies. With ACV becoming increasingly popular, it’s no surprise that anyone would make gummy supplements with ACV.
But how do ACV gummies stack up against traditional ACV liquids—a staple in natural health for decades?
We’re about to go into some of the differences between apple cider vinegar liquids and gummies. While gummies may sound alluring, there are some critical points to see in comparison.
What’s Really Inside?
First, let’s look at some of the ingredients in these products. Traditional ACV liquid is a simple product containing only the apples. The naturally occurring yeasts on organic apples begin consuming the sugar from the apple (producing alcohol) once it has been juiced, then the acetic acid enzyme consumes the alcohol and converts it to acetic acid. There is no yeast or alcohol in the final product.
The apples and yeast can be aged to support the conversion process while adding a distinct flavour. You can even get an ACV liquid with no water added, meaning you will get undiluted ACV.
ACV gummies contain ACV as well, but the ACV often comes in a powder form to make it easier to go inside a gummy. While ACV gummies do contain apple cider vinegar, they often include added sugars, acids like citric or malic acid, and water—diluting their benefits.
Many ACV gummy manufacturers will state their products don’t include allergens like wheat, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, or dairy items. But the added stuff inside a gummy can get in the way of the ACV.
What About the ‘Mother’?
The second point to review entails whether an ACV product includes the living mother, the by-products of fermentation. The mother contains probiotics that aid your digestive system, plus it has enzymes that help you break down nutrients more efficiently.
Unpasteurized ACV liquid will contain the living mother, as it is included alongside the rest of the content to provide further health benefits. The mother is what produces the murky appearance of the liquid, and you can tell ACV liquid has the mother when it looks cloudy.
Some manufacturers of ACV gummies will tell you their products contain the living mother, but any mother included will likely become weak/inactive through the process necessary to create ACV powder.
ACV gummies often contain added sugars, acids like citric or malic acid, and sometimes water—ingredients that can dilute their benefits. The effort makes the ACV easier to transport and use in different products, but the risk of the vinegar losing its nutritional benefits is substantial.
What’s the Cost Per Serving?
When comparing the cost of liquid apple cider vinegar (ACV) to ACV gummies, the numbers speak for themselves.
Let’s assume you take 15 mL of liquid ACV per serving, twice a day. A 750 mL bottle of liquid ACV costs about $11 and provides 25 servings at 15 mL. That works out to just 44 cents per day.
Now let’s compare that to Healtheries ACV Gummies. A 75-pack costs $23.45, with a serving size of 2 gummies. Taking 2 servings a day (4 gummies total) means the container will last 18 days, costing you about $1.25 per day.
Cost-per-serving summary
- Liquid ACV: $0.44 per day
- ACV Gummies: $1.25 per day
Liquid ACV delivers better value and greater potency. At less than half the cost per day compared to gummies, you’re getting a pure, unprocessed product with all the health benefits intact—no fillers, no added sugars, just the full strength of nature. If you’re serious about maximizing the benefits of apple cider vinegar, liquid ACV is the smarter and more economical choice.
What About the Health Effects?
You will get the same effects of apple cider vinegar from either gummies or liquids, but you’re more likely to get more efficient results from an ACV liquid.
The greatest concern from ACV gummies involves the various added sugars and acids that come with them. Those acids can stain and weaken your teeth and might influence your blood sugar level. Processing ACV into powder may weaken its potency, reducing its overall effectiveness.
Conclusion – What Should You Stick With?
While apple cider vinegar gummies can be helpful, it’s best to stick with ACV liquids instead. A liquid product is more effective and contains pure apple cider vinegar, plus it costs less per serving on average. With liquid ACV, you avoid added sugars, fillers, and weakened benefits—making it the clear choice for better health and better value.
-
What Is Mother In Apple Cider Vinegar With Mother?
If you’ve been looking around for apple cider vinegar (ACV) products and trying to tell them all apart, you’ve probably seen ones that include “mother.” It sounds unusual to see on a listing – who is this “mother,” and why is she in this product?
Many products have a label stating that they include “the living ‘mother’” inside. It sounds strange, but it’s more than just a marketing slogan.
With that in mind, you’re probably asking a simple question: What is the mother in apple cider vinegar?
We’re here to help you understand what the mother in ACV is and how it works. You’ll find that it’s one of the most essential parts of ACV.
Where Does the Mother Come From?
The mother in apple cider vinegar is a collective term for the byproducts produced in fermentation.
As you might know, the natural yeasts in apple juice are left to break down sugars and convert them into alcohol. After that, bacteria convert that alcohol further into acetic acid.
The production of acetic acid is necessary for many purposes, but that’s not the only thing produced here. Various other minerals and enzymes are created, and these items are called the mother.
It takes a while for the mother to come about. A report from the International Journal of Scientific Development and Research says that the mother is produced when the vinegar is fermented for longer periods. While some manufacturers spend weeks fermenting the vinegar, others will take months doing so, and it’s easier for the mother to develop at this point.
The most essential point is that the mother appears in ACV products where the vinegar hasn’t been filtered or pasteurized. You’re enjoying ACV in its purest form when you have something that still features the mother.
What’s Inside the Mother?
Now that you understand where the mother comes from, it’s time to see what is inside that compound. You’ll find that the mother includes a vast array of different components.
The mother includes a series of bacteria, enzymes, and proteins. These are features that produce the cloudy appearance that ACV often has.
These components are part of what makes ACV so useful. You might even find that ACV with the mother tastes better than ACV without it. The compounds inside the mother help provide the apple flavour you might expect.
What Benefits Does the Mother Provide?
Knowing what’s inside the mother of apple cider vinegar is helpful, but you’re probably curious about what makes the mother so advantageous. We have a few answers about what you can get from the mother.
Breaking Down Foods
One advantage of the mother in ACV comes from how the enzymes inside of it can break down foods. Your body needs the nutrients inside those foods to stay healthy, but it’s not always easy for the body to break them down on its own. Added enzymes with probiotics are necessary for helping you digest foods and absorb their nutrients.
The good enzymes in your body will fight with the bad ones to take in foods and nutrients. The ACV mother enzymes will take in those compounds and help you stay healthy.
The Novel Research in Microbiology Journal further states that the enzymes in ACV can clear out excess bacteria and compounds that might interfere with the body’s natural ability to break down foods. This antimicrobial effect makes it easier for your body to handle its compounds.
One idea we recommend involves adding a small bit of ACV with mother to whatever foods you’re cooking to improve how well the nutrients stay intact. Many cooking methods can cause some raw foods to lose their natural nutrients. ACV can add enzymes that will prevent those compounds from breaking down during the cooking process.
Protecting the Organs
The enzymes inside the ACV mother can protect various organs. You might have already heard about how ACV can support organs like the heart, but there’s a whole lot more to it than you realize.
A study in Veterinary Medicine and Science reports that the enzymes can reduce serum lipid levels in multiple organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. Reducing serum lipid levels is critical for keeping excess cholesterol from interfering with these organs. In addition, those enzymes do not influence kidney function, including the production of creatinine and urea.
What this benefit means is that your organs are more likely to stay functional because their cholesterol levels are under control. The organs will continue operating as necessary, keeping your body functional and healthy.
Keeping Yeast Levels In Check
This next advantage is something that everyone can appreciate, but it’s especially critical for women. Yeast infections are common problems in many people who experience imbalances in bacteria. An infection can trigger burning sensations and even cause discharges in some parts of the body. These infections are concerning for women, as vaginal yeast infections can create intense pain and irritation.
The bacteria inside the ACV mother can help regulate the growth of yeast cells. A Scientific Reports study says the bacteria from the mother will trigger the degradation of various components in yeast cells. This effort causes apoptosis or cell death. Since the body’s yeast production is regulated, the risk of yeast infections is minimal.
Managing Your Blood Sugar
Another point is how well the mother can help you control your blood sugar levels. The enzymes in the mother can neutralise the production of chemicals that can destroy insulin-producing cells. These are all points from the Just Agriculture publication, showing that there’s scientific evidence proving this appealing point.
Your body’s blood sugar levels will continue to rise slightly after a meal, but that’s a natural point you should expect out of your body. The enzymes in your ACV mother will help improve how well the body manages this process.
Why Are So Many Companies Removing the Mother?
You’ll appreciate apple cider vinegar even more when you consider how well the mother can work. But why is it that so many companies are getting rid of that mother even though it’s so advantageous?
The reason for this point is that the mother produces a cloudy or murky appearance in the vinegar. This feature makes it look less appealing, plus customers might suspect that the vinegar has gone bad, never mind the fact that ACV has an extraordinary shelf life.
Conclusion – Look For the Mother In Your Vinegar
Be sure when ordering your apple cider vinegar that you look for a product that still includes the mother. Don’t be fooled by the cloudy appearance of the ACV. You’ll see that the mother in apple cider vinegar will make the product more effective.
The mother adds enzymes, bacteria, and other compounds necessary for protecting your body. You’ll be less likely to struggle with yeast infections, your body can process nutrients more efficiently, and your organs will stay healthy and functional.
Remember to use ACV daily and as recommended. No matter how long you spend using apple cider vinegar in your routine, you’ll find it’s beneficial for your health, but it will be even more advantageous when you consider the health benefits of the mother.
-
Can You Pickle With Apple Cider Vinegar?
At CoralTree Organics, we often get asked whether you can pickle with apple cider vinegar. And, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’! According to nutritionist Lena Fischer, who wrote an article for HealthPost on how to pickle vegetables quickly and easily, apple cider vinegar is a great choice when used with vegetables such as cucumbers and carrots.
ACV adds some additional flavour with just a hint of sweetness that goes so well with a variety of different vegetables that you might want to pickle. This even includes pickled onions and watermelon which already have some sweetness of their own.
You’ll also find that apple cider vinegar is a little less sharp in taste when compared to white vinegar, so the end result is softer on the palate. This means that you can enjoy your pickles without that initial sour pucker as you first bite into one. Although the apple cider vinegar will add a little colour to your pickles, it does provide a much more mellow flavour.
Plus, you’ll get all the additional benefits of apple cider vinegar when you use it in your homemade pickle recipes.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar When Pickling
According to nutrition scientist, Hui Chia, who writes for Dillicious, apple cider vinegar is ideal to use for pickling because its natural sweetness means that you don’t have to add any sugar if you don’t want to. Of course, if you’ve been using apple cider vinegar in the kitchen for a while, you’ll know that it contains high levels of polyphenols, antioxidants and flavonoids. These are great for reducing nasty fats in your bloodstream.
According to Hui Chia, apple cider vinegar can also help to lower blood glucose levels, so you can munch on those homemade pickles as much as you want without worrying about them affecting your blood sugar levels. In fact, those of you who like the benefits of having a couple of teaspoons of pickle juice every day will enjoy using the ACV pickle juice even more thanks to its slightly milder taste
“Once you’ve finished the pickles, don’t pour the brine down the drain”, says Hui Chia. Instead, use it as salad dressing, add it to other recipes or simply drink it straight from the jar.
How Do You Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Pickling?
Essentially, you can just substitute normal white vinegar with the apple cider vinegar in your favourite recipe. We’ve found a very simple recipe on the Food In A Minute website from Watties.
All you need for around 2 cups of pickling juice, is 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of pickling spice and ¼ of sugar (if you want to use it).
Then it’s simply a case of putting all the ingredients in a saucepan and stirring over medium heat until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil and then take it off the heat and allow to cool.
You can use this basic recipe for pickling all types of different vegetables such as beetroot, broccoli, zucchini, sliced onions, cucumbers, carrots and even radishes. All it takes is a little of your imagination and some experimenting to see whether you and your family like the end result.
Another simple recipe we’ve found uses similar ingredients but you just put the vegetables in the sterilised jar and then add the brine ingredients without boiling them first. Instead, you use hot water and then just shake the jar gently to help dissolve the salt and sugar. This is a very simple way to make pickled cucumbers very quickly and will store in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
You can also add sprigs of dill to the jars or use dill seeds instead. Adding garlic to your pickles is another common method used by many but make sure that you don’t add more than the quantity recommended in the recipe. Remember that garlic is low in acid, so it should be used sparingly when making pickles.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Preserve Vegetables?
Apple cider vinegar is just like white vinegar when it comes to preserving vegetables. It might surprise you to learn that ACV has been used for thousands of years as a preservative.
According to an article on the Healthline website, as the vegetables are completely submerged in the apple cider vinegar brine, the acidity works to deactivate any enzymes in the food and this kills any bacteria that would otherwise make the vegetables spoil.
The only thing you have to ensure that the apple cider vinegar you use is of the highest quality and contains at least 5% acidity.
What Happens If You Put Too Much Vinegar In Pickles?
As a general rule, you should stick to a tried and true recipe when making the apple cider vinegar brine for pickling your vegetables. If the pickling solution is too strong or you’ve used too much ACV, your vegetables will shrivel.
If you’ve accidentally added too much apple cider vinegar to your brine, you can balance the acidity by adding one or two pinches of sugar, depending on whether you’ve used one or two cups of ACV. If you do this before submerging the vegetables in the brine, they should be fine.
Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Canning?
It’s perfectly acceptable to use apple cider vinegar for canning. The only difference that you’ll notice is that the taste of the canned goods will be a little more mellow and the colour will be a little darker.
Just use your favourite canning recipe that calls for white vinegar and substitute this with apple cider vinegar in the same quantities. You’ll even find that there are many recipes that call for apple cider vinegar rather than just white vinegar. Or, they may even give you a choice between the two.
Either way, using apple cider vinegar for making pickles or for canning is great and will take your taste buds to a whole new level. And, it’s good for your gut health as well.
-
Feeling Great: Apple Cider Vinegar Is it Acidic or Alkaline
Balance. Doesn’t it seem to be the thing we are all searching for?
Balancing work and play, healthy eating and that good-looking cake, the ups and downs, highs and lows, the good with the bad. But when we find those moments of balance and flow, doesn’t everything feel…well, better?
Our bodies sure think so. The health of your body and skin is directly linked to maintaining the right balance between acidity and alkalinity. So is Apple Cider Vinegar Acidic or Alkaline?
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Acidic or Alkaline
Vinegar is a diluted acid.
Acetic acid is what you can taste and smell. But it has a very different effect on the body than a high-acid food such as sugar. For example, at CoralTree, our ACV is rated at 5.2% acidity.
The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar actually forms alkaline in the body. When the ACV has been fully metabolized, and its minerals are dissociated in the bloodstream, the effect is alkalizing.
ACV is also full of phytochemicals (beneficial compounds in plants) that scientists are now discovering can be our strongest weapons against cancer.
Like other acids, acetic acid can increase your body’s absorption of important minerals from the foods you eat
pH101: Finding Balance
CoralTree believes in the restorative quality of Apple Cider Vinegar. It assists our bodies in achieving a harmonious pH balance. A pH-balanced body is better able to achieve homeostasis–the body’s state of being able to function and heal at optimal levels.
pH stands for “potential hydrogen” and is used to describe the acid-alkaline ratio of a substance. It ranges from 0 (the most acidic) to 14 (the most alkaline). It’s the amount of positively charged hydrogen ions (acid) and negatively charged hydroxyl ions (alkaline) we carry.
We don’t say acid is bad; alkaline is good.
PH varies throughout your body. Our bodies deal with alkaline and acid substances all the time – we wouldn’t be alive without them. Some areas are more acidic to keep bacteria away, such as your skin. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach breaks down food. But life is a balancing act. For optimal cellular health, your blood pH must be slightly alkaline, with a pH of just under 7.4.
But we bombard our bodies with things that raise our acid levels: stress, lifestyle choices, environment, chemicals and food. A diet high in acidic foods, such as sugar, meats, grains and coffee, causes an improper pH balance in our tissues. If pH levels stay high over a long period, normal cell structure and function are damaged
The effects of too high or low pH on the body include:
- Inflammation,
- Nutrient loss,
- Microbes, fungi and yeast all proliferate,
- Problems with the body’s electrical systems that affect our cellular regeneration.
5 ways to use CoralTree ACV for acid-alkaline balance
- Start your day with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in water with a splash of lemon and some honey to sweeten. This daily tonic will put a spring in your step by cleansing your digestive system, firing up your metabolism, and neutralising excess acids.
- Cola cravings? Try the AppleBee range for the refreshing flavour without all that acid-producing sugar.
- Drinking a mild tonic of vinegar and water just before meals will improve your body’s ability to absorb the essential minerals locked in foods. Apple cider vinegar helps you get more out of your leafy greens! Try adding a splash to your green smoothies.
- Apple cider vinegar is a great all-round ingredient in the kitchen a great salad dressing and delicious drizzled over cooked greens. You can even make a vinegar-based coleslaw, rather than the usual mayonnaise-based one. Great on fish and a good tenderising marinade for meat.
- Adding a dash of vinegar into your cooking increases flavours and lessens the need to add (acid-causing) salt. The sourness balances out sweet or salty flavours and can make the flavours in your dish really pop.
Resources
Want to know more about Acid-Alkaline balance? We’ve found these all really helpful:
The Ultimate pH Solution by Michelle Schoffro-Cook
Control the level of acid in your body and reclaim your health with this simple, step-by-step program Beginning a healthier lifestyle can be as easy as starting your day sipping a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon juice. Drinking this simple drink is only one of the many ways, all outlined in The Ultimate pH Solution , that you can change your body’s pH and ward off disease. Too much acid in your blood can cause a host of health problems, but with cutting-edge, medically sound research, this indispensable guide offers an easy-to-follow plan and simple lifestyle changes that will help you kick acid and stay healthy. The Ultimate pH Solution also includes real-life success stories of people who have overcome disease and lost weight by balancing their pH levels, along with 50 recipes for delicious pH-powerful dishes. Learn why high-protein diets may be harmful to your health, why eating dairy may not help you avoid osteoporosis, and how to lower the acid levels in your body for optimal health.
Goodreads: The Ultimate pH Solution: Balance Your Body Chemistry to Prevent Disease and Lose Weight
The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health by Christopher Vasey
This expanded second edition provides the latest information on restoring your body’s acid-alkaline balance.
- Discusses the role of enzyme supplements, prebiotic and probiotic complexes, and antioxidants in neutralizing and eliminating acids
- Addresses the relationship of proper hydration to essential enzyme activity and acid elimination
- Outlines a sample alkaline detoxification diet
Most people consume an abundance of highly processed foods that acidify the body. As a result, they are afflicted with health problems ranging from minor skin irritations, chronic fatigue, back pain, and depression to arthritis, ulcers, and osteoporosis. To enjoy optimum health, the body needs balanced quantities of alkaline and acid substances. In The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health , naturopath and detoxification expert Christopher Vasey shows how a simple change in diet to restore your acid-alkaline balance can result in vast improvements in health.
Healing is Voltage by Jerry Tennant
Every cell in the body is designed to run at -20 to -25 millivolts. To heal, we must make new cells. To make a new cell requires -50 millivolts. Chronic disease occurs when voltage drops below -20 and/or you cannot achieve -50 millivolts to make new cells. Thus chronic disease is always defined by having low voltage. This book tells you how to measure your voltage in each organ, how to correct it, and how to determine why your voltage dropped enough to allow you to get sick.
-
How We Bottle Sunshine
Here in New Zealand, we’ve just passed the longest day of the year. The Summer Solstice on December 22nd seemed like just another day in the rush up to Christmas. But for nature and particularly the apple tree, it’s a significant event. Because rather than our calendar year, it’s the actual year that the tree works to. At CoralTree Organics we pay careful attention to these sorts of things. It’s all a part of our dedication to producing the very best Apple Cider Vinegar by harnessing the power of nature.
How an apple tree grows
Leading up to the Summer Solstice the apple tree is putting itself under a lot of stress, frantically growing. All its leaves are out and the flowers are pollinated. There are so many processes happening, building the fruit around the flower, encapsulating the seed that’s inside.
On the longest day of the year, apple trees stop and breathe. The trees stop reproducing cells. The rampant growth of the last couple of months is over and that leafy growth is done. All of the effort is now on expanding the fruit. As the apples become fuller, the fruit ripens. Photosynthesis is converting all that sunshine into sugars and that’s being stored in the flesh of the apple. The tree is starting to store more energy for the next cycle around.
Planet Earth is driven by the sun giving us energy. Perfectly ripe fruit are the encapsulation of sunshine. When the fruit is at its best, the apples are easy to pick, filled with vim, vigour and nutrition, ready for us to eat. Here at CoralTree, everything we do is focussed on trying to capture as much of those vital qualities as we can. And that determines every step of our organic apple cider vinegar manufacturing.
How we get all that goodness into a bottle
We keep things as simple and natural as possible. The tree starts off in the very simple form and brings the flowers into fruit. The ripening fruit convert sunshine through photosynthesis into sugars. The apples are pressed into a sweet apple juice and we don’t do anything else to it. Unfiltered, unpasteurised, unmessed with – we don’t add anything else. We simply enable that sweetness to be converted through the natural process of fermentation. Juice goes through an alcoholic stage and is converted by living bacteria into acetic acid.
CoralTree Organics store this vinegar in oak barrels to mature it, like a fine wine. This maturation process helps to develop the flavour making a premium drinking vinegar – a health tonic, a condiment, a little burst of sunshine.
We use locally-grown fruit and press those apples in sunny Otaki, New Zealand. Our glass bottles contain the liquid sunshine and nutrients of hundreds of apples.
All the happiness of the season to you from all of us here at CoralTree.
-
Biodynamics: The best of nature for the best apple cider vinegar
We are on a bit of a mission at CoralTree. We are driven to help humanity tune into nature. We produce the very best organic apple cider vinegar and organic fruit juices by essentially bottling sunshine. That is capturing the very best of natural processes and making sure they get to you in the most natural state possible.
Everything we do is driven by this mission. And so we want to give you a bit of a glimpse at how we run the organic, biodynamic orchard, that supplies the fruit, that produces the very fine CoralTree Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Biodynamics: Going beyond organic at CoralTree
Organics growing is great. We want to limit the amount of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides used in the production of our food. But here at CoralTree we are striving to capture the very best of nature, so we go further.
Biodynamics is a step further on from Organics. It is a way of concentrating on the life-force that produces all living things and ensuring we are doing everything to enhance the life-giving properties. We ensure our management techniques support these processes. This philosophy fits in well with the fermentation process used in creating vinegar.
That also means that our growing techniques must compliment the environment. While it is organically acceptable to mow the orchards, we choose the biodynamic approach. To add another layer of life forces into the chain, we use stock to control the grass. This both shortens the grass, manures the trees and keeps the black spot and codlin moth to a minimum, all without the use of chemicals.
Permaculture: Natural whole-systems thinking
I am also committed to the principles of Permaculture. When you do something, make sure it achieves a number of benefits (not just one). So using the example of stock to control the grass, we achieve a number of advantages in our overall management of the orchard, which are all adding to the overall life force.
To help reduce my carbon footprint, I run all of my vehicles on bio-fuel, produced from recycled cooking oils. And sometimes, I smell a bit like a pickle in a fish and chip shop.
Want to know more?
-
Apple Harvest & Processing – Making Organic Apple Cider Vinegar: Video
It’s Autumn time here in New Zealand. Organic Apples are being hand-picked straight from the trees and taken to Coral Tree for processing on the brand new juice press machine. The apples are very sweet and have high brix levels.
From here the apples are pressed to create a rich, flavorful apple juice, which then begins the fermentation process.
Hi, it’s Kim at CoralTree. Welcome back. We’re here at Apple Jack Orchards to harvest the apples and get them ready for the processing. Right at the moment, we’ve got these really cold nights and hot days; it’s the autumn time coming in. It’s what they call diurnal range, so when you get the cold nights and the hot days it’s triggering the apples to ripen, causing the coloring-up process as well as the sweetening process of the apples. At the moment, we’re still harvesting the early-season Royal Galas, but the Braeburns and Fujis are not very far away. We’ve been bringing them into the processing plant with the new machineries being set up now and working well with those early-season apples.We’re still waiting for the later-season apples to start coming through and making sure that the machine is working really well with all of those, but we’re really impressed with everything that’s going so far. There’s some really nice fruit that’s coming through and in particular off one of the orchards, off the Apple Jack Orchard is some quite nice sweet fruit, so it’s got high brix levels. We’ve had that long, hot, dry summer, and it’s just really sweetened the fruit up and given some quite nice and tense fruit flavors.
What we are trying to do is get as many of the apples straight off the tree so that they are tree-ripened and then processing them as quickly as possible. As I mentioned in the earlier video, as soon as you pick something off the tree it’s removed from that life process and it’s starting to deteriorate. Although with apples you’ve still got a fairly large window of opportunity, you’ve got two or three weeks there to process their fruit, it’s nice to be able to process it straight off the tree and capture as much of that freshness as possible. It means then we can actually get the apples really, really ripe on the tree and be harvesting and juicing straight away so we’re getting that maximum fruity flavor coming through.
For me, it’s also part of that whole trying to understand the next stage that nature takes that fruit through. Nature is providing that fruit to the environment, but it’s also a built-in recycling process happening there, that nature will have those apples dropping off the tree and we’ll be naturally composting them back down into the environment anyhow. We are simply trying to take those apples at their premium time and bring those apples in through the processing plant and maximize that whole fermentation process that happens once those apples have been removed from the tree.
It’s looking like it’s going to be a good season. There’s good volumes around and it’s all happening, which is nice.
-
Apple Cider Vinegar: A Natural Remedy for Heart Health and Blood Pressure
Did you know that you could prevent or improve heart disease with just two teaspoons of our apple cider vinegar a day? That’s cheaper than any medication available on the market! But you don’t just have to take our word for it. This fact has been proven by medical studies over and over again.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Bad for Heart Patients?
While apple cider vinegar has shown promising benefits for heart health, it’s important to understand its effects in a balanced context. For heart patients, apple cider vinegar may provide significant advantages, but moderation and proper medical guidance are key. Apple cider vinegar can interact with medications such as blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering drugs, so it’s crucial to consult your doctor before incorporating it into your daily routine. The acidity of the vinegar may also impact your digestive system, so diluting it in water or using it in salads is a safer way to consume it. Overall, apple cider vinegar is not inherently bad for heart patients; in fact, it may offer heart-healthy benefits when used correctly.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for the Heart?
One study showed that vinegar or an acetic acid solution mixed with a normal diet in rats reduced their systolic blood pressure (that’s the top number on the blood pressure reading) by up to 20mmHg! Vinegar lowered the activity of renin and aldosterone by up to 40% and 25%, respectively. Renin and aldosterone are two hormones in the body that work to increase blood pressure. So, lowering their activity would enable better control of the disease.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for the Heart?
Translating this to a human trial, a lower risk of fatal heart disease was reported in the Nurses’ Health Study, a study that involved thousands of people. This particular benefit was seen in nurses who consumed salads topped with oil and vinegar dressings regularly. Now, you might think it could have been the vegetables that produced this result. Or, maybe the healthy oil which was rich in omega-3. But, in fact, it was the vinegar. How do we know? This group of nurses was compared to a second group who regularly ate salads with creamy mayonnaise-based dressings. Vegetables? Check. Oil rich in omega-3? Check. But no vinegar. And also no benefit in the reduction of heart disease.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Cholesterol
Another way apple cider vinegar contributes to heart health is by balancing lipid profiles. High levels of a compound known as chlorogenic acid stop the bad cholesterol from getting oxidized in the arteries. To demonstrate this, researchers investigated the effect of taking apple cider vinegar for four weeks in rats. This was studied on both normal and diabetic rats. In the normal group, the bad cholesterol (LDL) was lowered by 47%, and the good cholesterol (HDL) increased by 34%. In the diabetic group, the amount of triglycerides was reduced and the amount of HDL also increased. In both groups, therefore, apple cider vinegar proved to be of great value in managing cholesterol.
Nutritional Powerhouse for Heart Health
Scientific evidence certainly backs up the fact that fruits and vegetables may decrease the development of chronic diseases including heart disease. Phytonutrients play a key role in this. In particular, apples contain quercetin, catechin, phloridzin, and chlorogenic acid, all of which are strong antioxidants. The phytonutrient composition varies depending on the variety of apple, and processing them can greatly lower the nutrient content. But with CoralTree’s unprocessed apple cider vinegar, you don’t have to worry about any of that. All our bottles of apple cider vinegar are organic (no harmful chemicals on the apple skins!) and unfiltered (why would we throw all the goodies away?!).
CoralTree’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is just so rich in phytonutrients that it’s hard to find anyone who wouldn’t benefit from it. And, improving your heart health is just ONE of its many benefits. It needs to be emphasized that apple cider vinegar is not the same as apple cider. It is also not the same as apple juice. The fermentation process that our apples undergo helps to bring out and enhance its phytonutrient content, the key to all its powers. It’s just pure, delicious health in a bottle that you and your family can enjoy every day.
References:
Boyer J, Liu RH. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutrition Journal 20043:5
2008. Shishehbor, A. Mansoori, A.R. Sarkaki, M.T. Jalali and S.M. Latifi, 2008. Apple Cider Vinegar Attenuates Lipid Profile in Normal and Diabetic Rats. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11: 2634-2638.
Johnston CS, Gass CA. Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect. MedGenMed. 2006; 8(2): 61.
-
Apple Cider Vinegar and Weightloss with Miraculoss: Video
In this episode, Kim visits Fiona and Kimba from Mana Natural Health & Beauty to discuss how they use CoralTree’s Apple Cider Vinegar in their MiracuLoss Weight Loss programme. They also talk about why Apple Cider Vinegar is so important to restoring gut health, balancing digestion issues and resorting the body’s natural processes.
If you would like more information on the MiracuLoss programme visit: www.miraculoss.co.nz or pop along to their clinic at 99 St Andrews Road in Plimmerton.
Transcription
Kim: Hi. Kim at CoralTree here. Just brought you along to Mana Health and Beauty to introduce you to Kimba and Fiona, who run the Miraculoss Weight Loss Program here. Come along and I’ll introduce you to them. Fiona: Miraculoss is a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management. We look at a person’s entire health and well-being, help them to achieve a healthy weight, and balance their body so they can easily maintain their new weight long-term. We love the CoralTree apple cider vinegar for a number of reasons. We incorporate it as a integral part of our weight loss and weight management program. Our aim is to help our clients change habits for the better and develop long-term healthy habits that will help them keep their weight off and to have a healthy, balanced body, and apple cider vinegar forms a very important part of that. We particularly like the CoralTree product because it’s organic, we know how it’s made, it’s very, very high quality, and we get great results with it. So it’s making small changes to our daily lives that make the biggest difference in our long-term health and wellness, and it’s really great to be able to work with a product like apple cider vinegar that’s affordable and that’s easy for people to build into their lives as a daily habit, and it makes such a big difference long-term to their health and wellness. We find our clients love it. Once they get started on it, we find that they stay on it for the rest of their lives, and that’s the whole plan. We want them to, because we know it’s beneficial to their digestion. Once a person’s digestion is working really well, then they can absorb all the nutrients and it helps to eradicate a whole host of escalating health problems that could occur when you have poor digestion. So apple cider vinegar is also really beneficial for detoxing, and that’s a big part of a healthy body and maintaining a healthy weight. Our clients just keep buying it because they know it makes a really big difference to how they feel and how their body works. We also use apple cider vinegar in a range of other ways. We’ve been known to use it to help people with various skin conditions. You can apply it topically for itchy scalp and psoriasis and eczema. We’ve found it very beneficial from that point of view also. We really love working with the CoralTree product because, as a supplier, CoralTree are absolutely fantastic. Their product is always of an exceptionally high quality, consistently always the same. They are there for us if we have any questions, we can just give them a call. They’re our favorite supplier. Kimba: I’ve seen many results with dramatic … People come with very big health issues and they leave with way less health issues. Their doctors are very happy and they just build it into their daily lives after the program. Many of them just keep coming back and it’s a daily, just like we clean our teeth, we do that as well. We’ve seen lots of dramatic results from people, and apple cider is part of the whole picture. It’s a core product for the program. On a personal note, my daughter needs it every day, and if she doesn’t, she builds retention, fluid retention up around her rings and wrists and ankles and she just knows when she needs it. Her body tells her and it just balances her back out. So we have it in our house. I bought a 5-liter one time. Our clients come to us with many health issues. Diabetes, very common. Joint health issues, arthritis, a lot of toxicity-related issues. Headaches, migraines, skin issues, liver issues. Lots of digestion issues. Processed food-related issues. When they finish with us at Miraculoss, their health issues are in quite a different place and they carry on with the habits we’ve encouraged them to do, apple cider being one of them. We see it as a whole food, apple cider vinegar. They also take whole salt, natural unprocessed salt, for the rest of their lives. Their doctors are very happy. Many clients are taken off their medicines. Some of them come in with 14 or 15 medicines and they’re off all of them. We encourage a lifestyle change, and apple cider vinegar’s part of that, and water, and salt, and good probiotics. Kim: So, thanks for watching the video, and thank you Kimba and Fiona for sharing your story. Please share this video around with any of your friends and family. Thanks for watching. -
Apple Cider Vinegar and Allergies: The Evidence
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is such an old adage but still so accurate, even in the modern world. Fermenting that apple into apple cider vinegar? Even better! Vinegar has been used for centuries, all the way back to the time of Hippocrates for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Fast forward hundreds of years and apple cider vinegar has been proven by modern science to be beneficial for MORE than just that. It can prevent a whole array of diseases including allergies.
So, how does it do that?
Making vinegar involves a long fermentation process that brings out the rich bioactive compounds in the fruit. It increases its innate antioxidant and antimicrobial potency. The food that we eat is so important because the intestines are not just a long tube that digests that food. It also hosts 80-90% of our immune system’s cells. Feeding it with healthy bacteria from fermented sources and plant-nutrients is the best way to keep it in shape.
Apple cider vinegar is effective in keeping the pH of the body balanced. In doing so, it provides an overall cleansing effect and helps to clear out lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are organs in the body where bacteria, viruses, fungi and other toxins accumulate. They are the swellings that you feel in your neck and at the back of your throat during hay fever season or when you become ill. Since allergies are basically a way for the body to get rid of acidic toxins, keeping the body pH balanced, or even slightly alkaline, will help to eliminate allergies. In this way, apple cider vinegar helps to reduce mucus production, sinus congestion and sore throats related to allergic reactions.
And, you know what else?
Apple cider vinegar is not just useful for allergies. The polyphenol compounds in it, such as chlorogenic acid, has been shown to prevent oxidation of the bad cholesterol, LDL, and prevent heart disease. Other studies have shown that the amino acids in unprocessed vinegar reduce inflammation after exercise and reduce muscle damage. Numerous researchers have linked vinegar with improved insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients and more stable blood sugar levels making the disease easier to control. It also helps to curb appetite, which helps them lose weight more effectively. Double win! When used in cooking, vinegar is effective in preventing E. coli and salmonella contamination. The list of benefits just goes on and on.
The healthiest kinds of apple cider vinegars are:
- Made from organic produce,
- Unfiltered or unprocessed.
The Environmental Working Group’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of produce highlights the 12 fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide contamination. Apples, unfortunately, have come out as the number 1 produce on that list for many years running.
As with other foods, the more processed something is, the less beneficial it is for us. Unprocessed apple cider vinegars will have a murky appearance and strand-like substances in the bottle called the ‘mother’. Just how mothers all over bring life into the world, this is also what the mother in the apple cider vinegar does. It’s packed with phytonutrients essential to a vibrant life, full of healthy gut bacteria, proteins and enzymes. Other manufacturers remove the mother because they are scared consumers won’t buy a cloudy-looking product. But, we at CoralTree believe that you deserve only the best.
Apple cider vinegar can protect you and your family from allergies naturally. No more drowsiness from expensive antihistamines. By buying CoralTree’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, you are assured that you are getting the finest quality apple cider vinegar. No worrying about toxins from pesticides as only certified organic apples are used in its manufacture. It is naturally fermented and unfiltered, leaving the goodness of the whole apple behind in every bottle.
References:
(1) Budak, N. H., Aykin, E., Seydim, A. C., Greene, A. K. and Guzel-Seydim, Z. B. (2014), Functional Properties of Vinegar. Journal of Food Science, 79: R757–R764
(2) Johnston CS et al. Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Care 2004 Jan; 27(1): 281-282
(3) Ostman E et al. Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;59(9):983-8
(4) Entani E et al. Antibacterial action of vinegar against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7. J Food Prot. 1998 Aug;61(8):953-9.
(5) Yucel S, Karapinar M. Effectiveness of household natural sanitizers in the elimination of Salmonella typhimurium on rocket (Eruca sativa Miller) and spring onion (Allium cepa L.). Int J Food Microbiol. 2005 Feb 15;98(3):319-23.
(6) Schwalfenberg G. The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health? J Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 727630.
(7) Warrington R et al. An introduction to immunology and immunopathology. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology20117(Suppl 1):S1
(8) Ewg.org. (2016). EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. [online] Available at: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php [Accessed 14 May 2016].
-
Infection Prevention with Apple Cider Vinegar: The Evidence
We’ve all heard of the term ‘superfoods’ by now. But have you heard of ‘superliquid’? Well, if someone does come up with that list, we are sure that Apple Cider Vinegar would be on it. From controlling diabetes to preventing heart disease; helping people lose weight by curbing appetites and relieving allergies. The medical uses for apple cider vinegar are, indeed, numerous. Here, we present the evidence on its infection preventing properties.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar helps prevent food contamination
Most of the scientific evidence available talks about its antimicrobial powers in preventing food contamination. In particular, various studies have shown that it reduces contamination with organisms such as E.Coli (which causes diarrhea), Listeria Monocytogenes (which causes listeriosis), and Salmonella Typhimurium (which causes typhoid fever). Vinegars were compared to other methods of washing produce prior to cooking in these scenarios and produced favorable results.
2. Treating fungal infections with Apple Cider Vinegar
A more recent study published by researchers in the 2011 Thi-Qar Medical Journal revealed surprising properties of Apple Cider Vinegar against the fungus, Candida Albicans. This study was performed in the laboratory to compare the effects of Apple Cider Vinegar to traditional antifungal drugs of Western medicine, in particular Fluconazole. They targeted patients with otomycosis, a condition where the ear canal is infected with a fungus.
Otomycosis is on the rise worldwide because of the widespread use of steroids and other medications that can suppress the immune system. Ear swabs from these patients showed that the 2 most common fungi colonies were Candida Albicans and Aspergillus Species. They then tested the response of the fungus to both treatments. Amazingly, results showed that the effectiveness of Apple Cider Vinegar against Candida was even better than Fluconazole. Both were effective against Aspergillus, but Fluconazole did not inhibit the growth of Candida. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar did!
Based on these study results, it was suggested that apple cider vinegar could prove to be a safer add-on therapy or substitute treatment for fungal infections. Granted, this was only a small study involving 18 patients, but results like theirs can’t be refuted and this will surely lead to bigger clinical trials soon.
3. Using Apple Cider Vinegar to treat infections
Apple cider vinegar can be used in a variety of ways for medicinal purposes. The National Candida Center in America talks about a daily douching method for vaginal yeast infections using 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of warm filtered water. Dr. Theresa Ramsey, a naturopathic doctor and author, gives the suggestion of using it as tonic gargle by adding 1 teaspoon to half a cup of water in cases of acute tonsillitis infections. She also recommends using apple cider vinegar as a topical treatment for athlete’s foot, rashes, calluses, acne and warts.
A long history of success
The benefits of apple cider vinegar have been recorded all the way back to ancient Greek times in 3000 BC. The ancient Chinese, Japanese and European people also used it considerably. It’s intriguing that in today’s modern world, we are still using a product that was discovered thousands of years ago. But, we think that just proves its amazing abilities. That’s why the saying goes, “to eat an apple before going to bed will make the doctor beg for his bread”. So, come and check out our full product range!
See for yourself how taking CoralTree’s organic, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar regularly might just help you skip that visit to the doctor. Order your CoralTree Organic Apple Cider Vinegar online now.
References on Apple Cider Vinegar and Treating Infections
(1) Jabir HB et al. In vitro assessment of antifungal potential of apple cider vinegar and acetic acid versus fluconazole in clinical isolates of otomycosis. Thi-Qar Medical Journal (TQMJ): Vol(5) No(1):2011(126-133)
(2) Johnston CS, Gaas CA. Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect. MedGenMed. 2006; 8(2): 61
(3) VIjayakumar C, Wolf-Hall CE. Minimum bacteriostatic and bactericidal concentrations of household sanitizers for Escherichia coli strains in tryptic soy broth. Food Microbiology
Volume 19, Issue 4, August 2002, Pages 383–388
(4) Rhee MS et al. Antimicrobial Effects of Mustard Flour and Acetic Acid against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. May 2003 vol. 69 no. 5 2959-2963
(5) Molina PM et al. Effects of acidic broth and juices on the growth and survival of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Food Microbiology
Volume 22, Issue 5, October 2005, Pages 469–473
(6) Alternative medicine & treatments for vaginal yeast infection (2014) Available at: http://www.nationalcandidacenter.com/Vaginal-Yeast-Infection-s/1832.htm (Accessed: 16 May 2016).
(7) Raw organic apple cider vinegar – many uses (2016) Available at: http://www.drramsey.com/raw-organic-apple-cider-vinegar-many-uses/ (Accessed: 16 May 2016).
-
CoralTree in Singapore: Meet the Maker
Now is your chance to meet the maker! This week our passionate leader, Kim Baker of CoralTree, is in Singapore for the Cold Storage NZ Road Show event.
Head on over to Plaza Singapura Atrium any time between 23rd – 29th May to get a taste of New Zealand, with a broad selection of NZ food and products on offer. The mall is open, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Kim will be more than happy to give you a tasting and tell you all about the amazing benefits of CoralTree’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
CoralTree will be there alongside other premium New Zealand brands, such as NZ Honey Co’s UMF-rated manuka honey, Jed’s Coffee, Mother Earth snacks, Abe’s Bagels, Annie’s fruit leathers, Harraways oats and Ceres Organics.
See you at Plaza Singapura!