Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother, By Natural Umber

Greetings everyone, my name is Rich and I'm the creator of the blog The Good Gut guy. I have a confession to make; I'm a massive fan of Natural Umber's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother (ACV)! This vinegar is made with organically grown apples, and it's my absolute favourite amongst the mainstream and artisanal brands. I'm so excited to be partnering with Natural Umber to write this guest blog post, and I'm here to tell you why I'm so passionate about this product.

I'd also like to state that this is in no way am I benefiting from this post financially or with any incentives. It truly is because of my love for the product. But first, a little bit about myself and my passion

What Brought Me to Unpasteurised Apple Cider Vinegar?

I've been on quite the health journey in the last few years. As a self-confessed gym rat and health enthusiast, I noticed a decline in my health and weight after having two small children. In the space of three years, I gained an additional 15kg (2stone 3 pounds). Working in a hospital throughout the Covid pandemic, I found myself drinking more and more and ultimately consuming more alcohol than I had before.

Fermenting

At this time, I also found a lockdown hobby - fermenting. I became obsessed with baking sourdough, making raw kimchi, lactofermented onions, and brewing kombucha and yoghurt. My kitchen has since become a laboratory with shelf after shelf of bubbling Kilner Jars. Although you can take various probiotic supplements, by making your own ferments, you can find inspiration anywhere. I find the whole process extremely energising. And, if you don't like one ferment, you can simply switch out an ingredient with an alternative in the next batch and you have a completely different flavour profile. Knowing how to make your own therefore is a great advantage.

It was towards the end of 2021 that I discovered Dr Rangan Chatterjee. You may have seen him on the BBC in 'Doctor in the House' (still available on Youtube), but is now the host of the podcast "Feel Better Live More". For Christmas, Father Christmas brought me his book 'The Four Pillar Plan" and it really was from that point that my life was transformed. Soon after, I gave up alcohol (I had my last ever beer on 27 December 2021) whilst I embraced a keto diet in January 2022 and finally got back to the gym in February 2022. Throughout this period, I continued fermenting and continued consuming fermented food and drink containing lots of probiotic goodness.

I simply love Natural Umber's Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother

In July 2023 with the summer approaching I decided I wanted to learn a new skill and that it would be blogging. Although I am very IT literate, never would I have thought that I could develop a website. But I decided that I had enough passion and knowledge that I would give it a go. And that my area would be fermenting and gut health. And so here I am.

Before I tell you why I think Natural Umber's apple cider vinegar with mother made from organically grown apples is so great. I want to talk a bit about why the gut microbiome is so important and why we all must take measures to make sure it is kept in good health along with some of the general benefits of unpasteurised apple cider vinegar.

What Is the Gut Microbiome?

The gut microbiome is the collection of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses living in our digestive system and plays an essential role in our health. It is now widely accepted that the health of our gut microbiome is vital for our overall wellbeing and in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, research continues to be published showing the many interactions between the gut microbiome and other bodily functions and conditions.

The gut microbiome is the ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that live in the digestive system. It is estimated that the gut microbiome contains over 100 trillion microorganisms. The importance of the gut microbiome on immunity is huge. It has been shown to have a direct impact on the body's ability to fight off infections and diseases, as well as the development of allergies and asthma.

Meanwhile, recent research has found that the gut microbiome can also have an impact on our mental health and that there is, in fact, a 'gut-brain axis'. It is believed that the gut microbiome can influence the production of chemicals in the brain that are involved in mood regulation, such as serotonin.

And Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother Beneficial to the Microbiome?

The gut microbiome is an incredibly important part of our overall health and wellbeing. It plays an important role in digestion, immunity, and metabolism. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with the 'mother' is one of the best things you can add to your daily diet to help keep your gut microbiome healthy and balanced. The 'mother' is the cloudy sediment found in unfiltered and unpasteurised ACV which contains beneficial bacteria and enzymes which help to promote good bacteria in the gut. It's also a great source of vitamin and antioxidants which can help to keep your digestive system healthy and functioning properly.

Apple cider vinegar with mother is a great way to keep the gut microbiome in balance, as it contains probiotics and other beneficial compounds. Additionally, its acetic acid content helps to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut. So, if you’re looking to improve your mental health, adding apple cider vinegar with mother to your diet may be a great way to start.

It is a natural product, made from the fermentation of apples, and the 'mother' is the cloudy substance found in unfiltered, unpasteurized vinegar that contains the beneficial bacteria.

So why am I such a fan of Natural Umber's unpasteurised apple cider vinegar with mother?

Organic Locally Grown Apples

Firstly, I'm a huge fan that when buying their product, you can trace the apple cider vinegar to the farm and even fields that they were grown on. Natural Umber has been producing organically grown apples in the UK and Ireland for over 50 years. Their own orchards make up over 350 acres of cropping apples, making them one of the largest growers in the UK and Ireland. Not many other producers can make this claim, especially any of those that you will find in supermarkets.

I think most will agree that the flavour of locally grown apples is superior to those grown in large commercial orchards, as they’re picked at the peak of ripeness. Because they’re grown in smaller batches, organic, locally-grown apples are fresher and retain more of their natural sweetness. This results in apple cider vinegar made from organic, locally-grown apples having a richer, more complex flavour and being higher in beneficial nutrients.

So why is organic apple cider vinegar good when it comes to the gut microbiome?

Organic apples are a great source of nutrition, fibre and minerals, all of which help to promote good gut health. Not only do they contain fewer chemicals and pesticides than conventionally grown apples, but they are also fresher and contain higher levels of nutrients. Eating organic apples may help to replenish the bacterial colonies in the gut.

Natural Umber's Apple cider vinegar not only tastes better, but it also contains more of the vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your health. With its unique flavour and nutritional benefits, it contains all the beneficial nutrients, vitamins found in organic apples, along with all the gut boosting benefits of fermented produce. This makes Natural Umber an excellent choice for those looking to improve their gut health.

Minimal Ingredients

I'm a big fan of Natural Umber's apple cider vinegar with mother because it's made with only one simple ingredient - apple juice! To make apple cider vinegar, you don't need any complicated or difficult-to-pronounce ingredients. It's just pure, natural apple juice and the bacteria culture.

I think it's important to be mindful of the food we eat and to not be fooled by clever marketing. When it comes to healthy food, I always follow my mantra - if your gran wouldn't recognise the ingredient, don't eat it, and if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. It's best to avoid ultra-processed foods and be careful of any food brands that list a long list of ingredients that you can't pronounce. Natural Umber's apple cider vinegar with mother is a great example of a product that keeps it simple and natural - no hidden ingredients, no preservatives and no added sugar. It's the perfect choice for those looking for a healthier lifestyle and I highly recommend it!

I won't name the brand here, but take a look at the ingredients list of an alternative product that you'll find on the supermarket shelves throughout the UK.

1) Concentrated Apple Juice,

2) Blueberry Juice (from Concentrate) (9%),

3) Pomegranate Juice (from Concentrate) (5%),

4) Natural Flavourings,

5) Carrot and Blueberry Concentrate,

All Natural!

The "all natural" claim may be correct, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been heavily processed - it's hard to imagine what is done to make carrot concentrate. What are 'natural flavourings' exactly? If they were truly beneficial for your health, why not list them?

And Lastly - the Flavour

For those of you who have tried Natural Umber's apple cider vinegar with mother, then you don't need to read on! You'll know! For those of you that haven't tried it. Do!

I genuinely don't think I've ever tasted anything like it It's impossible to describe, apart from the fact that it's truly exceptional!

And there you have it

I hope you've found this post both interesting and informative. If you weren't aware of the gut microbiome before, I hope it's given you something to think about and you can use my journey as motivation. If you want to learn more, why not take a look at my website? I've written a comprehensive post just on apple cider vinegar, as well as an in-depth look at apple cider vinegar gummies. Who knows, if you enjoy this content, you may hear from me again on Natural Umber in the future. Thanks for reading!