(CheatSheet) - While you may be familiar with the uses of white vinegar around your house for cleaning, or find yourself using a little bit of balsamic vinegar on your salad, there may be one vinegar that you should start paying particular attention to. If you’re constantly looking for the best way to give your body a health boost and detox, adding a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to your water each day can benefit your skin, energy levels, and digestive system.

Not all apple cider vinegars are created equal, however; this vinegar is made from fermented apples as the name suggests, and you’ll want to ensure that your particular brand of vinegar contains “the mother.” As Dr. Mercola states, “mother” is an amino-acid based accumulation that is only found in vinegars that have been fermenting for longer periods of time. It shows that the vinegar has been unprocessed and unfiltered, giving you the most health benefits that you can possibly gain — pasteurized apple cider vinegar will not have the same benefits. Whether you’re consuming apple cider vinegar or applying it topically to your skin and teeth, you’ll notice that this product is really worth the hype.

1. Helps clear troubled skin

If you have acne woes or dandruff, look no further than your local grocery store for the perfect remedy. While prescription medication can be tough on the skin and cause you flaking, dryness, and bigger skin issues than you had before, a little bit of apple cider vinegar mixed with water on a cotton swab makes for an excellent natural toner that can balance the pH of your skin. Reader’s Digest states that this vinegar’s malic and lactic acids are great for exfoliation, and applying it topically will not leave you with dry skin. And, the antibacterial properties in the vinegar combat the bacteria that cause acne in the first place.

Apple cider vinegar may also help treat dandruff as well. Because of the pH balancing qualities of the vinegar, the acidity makes it more difficult for yeast to grow (also making apple cider vinegar an effective treatment for candida overgrowth in general). To treat your dandruff, combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it directly on to your scalp. Allow it to sit for at least fifteen minutes before washing off.

2. Strengthens the immune system

While an apple a day may keep the doctor away, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day may have the same effect. Health Ambition states that combining a small amount of apple cider vinegar with your water every day may be the key to warding off the common cold. This may be due to the malic acid in the vinegar, which is a potent antiviral that helps kill the bad bacteria that can make you sick.

If you’re consuming apple cider vinegar that’s unfiltered and unprocessed, this is even better for your immune system, as the “mother” can benefit your lymphatic system and cleanse your lymph nodes. If you’re prone to sinus congestion and allergies in the spring, apple cider vinegar may help alleviate those symptoms.

3. Helps your digestive system

Proper digestion is key to an overall healthier you — it’s the way we obtain nutrients from our food, and if your digestive system is not adequately processing the foods you eat, you certainly are not taking in as many nutrients as you should be. Body Unburdened describes how hydrochloric acid (HCl) is incredibly important to our stomach cells, as it is responsible for protein digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins A and E. Without an adequate amount of this stomach acid, you aren’t fully digesting your food and taking these nutrients in. According to Jonathan Wright, MD, and author of Why Stomach Acid is Good for You, nearly 90% of Americans are not producing enough stomach acid.

So, how does apple cider vinegar help? Drinking a glass of water with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in can help you produce more HCl before you begin your meal, so be sure to drink this mixture around 20 minutes before you plan on eating. This can assist your digestive system immensely, and you’ll be absorbing even more nutrients than you were before.

4. Lowers cholesterol and may reduce blood pressure

Good news for those looking for a natural way to get your heart in good shape—taking just one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted with water a day can lower your cholesterol. A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Nutrition and presented on Dr. Axe’s page shows that apple cider vinegar can increase bile production and offer liver support, which has an overall effect on your cholesterol levels.

Consuming apple cider vinegar may also reduce your blood pressure—while studies are currently showing that this vinegar reduces the blood pressure in rats, scientists are leaning toward the idea that this may also translate to humans, though more studies are necessary for a concrete conclusion. When rats were given apple cider vinegar, the acetic acid in the vinegar significantly lowered their blood pressure compared to the rats that were not given the substance.

If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn and you’re concerned about the acidity when drinking apple cider vinegar, you can combine your apple cider vinegar and water mixture with a teaspoon of baking soda. This vinegar is also available in capsule form if you would rather ingest it this way.

5. Assists in controlling blood sugar levels

If you’re a diabetic and you’re looking for a natural away to control your blood sugar levels, apple cider vinegar may be your ticket.