Open the newspapers on any morning and it's not long before you're confronted with the latest health scare. Whether it's the continuing HRT debate, withdrawal of Vioxx from Arthritis sufferers or worries about the effectiveness of antibiotics we can often feel bombarded and confused. Increasingly, people are looking for natural alternatives to pharmaceutical products. Many are food items which we have used for years and have no known adverse side-effects. We are unlikely to read health scares about them as we peruse the morning papers. One such food is apple cider vinegar.

The powerful health and healing properties of apple cider vinegar have been known since biblical times. Indeed traces of the substance were found in Egyptian urns dating back 5,000 years. It is thought that the Egyptians used apple cider vinegar as an antiseptic and healing agent. References to it appear in the Bible.

Knowledge of the health giving properties of apple cider vinegar arrived in Britain about forty years ago. Dr Jarvis, a New England medic, reported the folk medicine of Vermont which emphasises the importance of keeping the body supplied with all the minerals it needs for optimum health. Dr Jarvis recommends two teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and raw honey mixed with water, taken one or more times per day to replenish the minerals needed by the body. Dr Jarvis found this regime to be particularly beneficial to Arthritis sufferers and those seeking to lose weight. He went on to write ?Arthritis and Cider Vinegar? which is sadly out of print.

So why is this foodstuff so beneficial to the body? Let's start by considering the humble apple. Although familiar with the phrase ?An apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?, most are unaware that the apple is one of Mother Nature's most perfect foods. The apple provides a host of beneficial vitamins and minerals and when turned into cider vinegar this goodness is provided in a concentrated form. Although acidic, apple cider vinegar provides alkalising minerals which have the effect of alkalising the body.

A high acid environment is implicated in a myriad of conditions from arthritis and cardiovascular disease to chronic fatigue and it hinders any attempts at weight loss. Acidity in the body is caused by a combination of factors including high intake of meat, dairy products, alcohol and processed foods. A stressful lifestyle and lack of beneficial alkalising fruits and vegetables also contribute to the problem.

Over the years, many have experienced success using apple cider vinegar. Most notably in the UK is a lady called Margaret Hill. Trained as a nurse, at the age of 21 years Margaret was diagnosed with acute rheumatoid arthritis. By the time she was in her late 30s she was wheelchair bound and in excruciating pain. This was the late 1950s and conventional medicine was unable to help. Margaret, having read Dr Jarvis's book, began following the apple cider vinegar and raw honey regime. This regime, coupled with a healthy diet, was instrumental in ridding Margaret of the pain she had been suffering for most of her adult life. Keen to share her knowledge with other arthritis sufferers, Margaret wrote ?Curing Arthritis the Drug-Free Way? and opened the ?Margaret Hills Clinic? in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Since opening, the clinic has helped thousands of people crippled with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Its regime is three pronged:

1.Three times per day, apple cider vinegar and honey in water

2.Acid free diet

3.Appropriate supplementation

Interestingly, Margaret found that most arthritic patients were also suffering from other ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, eczema, and diverticulitis. As they progressed with the regime, there was often a marked improvement in these additional ailments. Those patients who needed to lose weight found that the regime helped in achieving their weight loss goals. There is also evidence that apple cider vinegar acts as a natural probiotic, increasing levels of gut flora and aiding the digestive tract.

So how is apple cider vinegar made? Crushed whole apples are fermented to become cider. The cider is then fermented to become vinegar. There are a number of brands available but arguably the best is Aspall's organic cyder vinegar still produced by the Chevallier-Guilds family after 8 generations. It can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores.

So is this the end of the apple cider vinegar story? Well no. As well as using apple cider vinegar internally it also has many other uses. It's an incredibly versatile and powerful household cleaning and deodorising agent which is free from dangerous chemicals. Try cleaning your windows with it and watch them sparkle! It's also good added to the final rinse when washing hair. The result is a lovely sheen.

So when the next health scare comes round ? don't panic! Remember the natural alternatives, like apple cider vinegar, and turn to the sports page.