How My Health Scare Made Me Appreciate Apple Cider Vinegar Even More

thecrazyvinegarlady
Jul 8
4 min read

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m a big believer in getting to the root cause of health issues. I’m always talking about how important it is to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

But let me be honest for a moment. Even someone like me—who lives and breathes natural wellness—can fall into the trap of brushing off symptoms.

Recently, I went through a health scare and it has truly deepened my love and respect for the humble, powerful apple cider vinegar.

Let me tell you what happened.

The Symptoms That Stopped Me in My Tracks

Not too long ago, my body basically hit the brakes. I started having symptoms that made everyday life incredibly hard:

Extreme fatigue (there were days I physically couldn’t keep myself upright)
Heart palpitations
Dizziness
Major brain fog
Breathlessness from the slightest exertion
Swollen legs
Hair falling out
Heavy menstrual cycles
Bowel changes and stomach pains
Skin that turned pale, textured, almost yellow
Swelling everywhere—my clothes stopped fitting!

I know. That’s a lot.

Like many moms, I brushed it off at first. Well, I just had a baby. I’m out of shape. I’m stressed—hello, mom of three here!

I even caught myself in that dangerous mindset of “this is just how it is.”

Which is crazy, because I’m always telling others to find the root cause!

The Diagnosis That Opened My Eyes

Finally, I got bloodwork done. My ferritin level came back at 4.5.

For context? Healthy ferritin levels should be in the 80–200 range.

That result explained so much about why I felt like I was falling apart.

Wait, What Is Ferritin Anyway?

Ferritin is your body’s main iron-storage protein. Think of it as your iron bank.

Here’s how it works:

Ferritin stores iron safely inside its little protein shell.
When your body needs iron (for example, to make hemoglobin in red blood cells), ferritin releases it in a controlled way.
This process protects your body from the harmful effects of free iron, which can cause oxidative damage.

Ferritin is found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, muscles—and in small amounts in your blood.

Low ferritin = your iron stores are depleted, even before you become officially anemic.

High ferritin, on the other hand, can indicate things like iron overload, chronic inflammation, liver disease, or other conditions.

For me, that extremely low ferritin number was a huge red flag.

It turned out I had internal bleeding in my colon. You’d think that would come with obvious signs—but it didn’t.

That’s why I always tell people: Do the bloodwork. Get the scans. Get the colonoscopy or upper GI if needed.

Low ferritin can even be a sign of things like celiac disease. Don’t guess. Test.

So Where Does Apple Cider Vinegar Come In?

Great question.

If you’re dealing with low iron or ferritin—whether it’s from disease, hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, or blood loss—apple cider vinegar can be your secret weapon to help maximize iron absorption from food.

Here’s the science (in plain English).

Why Iron Absorption Can Be Tricky

Iron in food comes in two forms:

Heme iron (from animal sources): Easy for the body to absorb.
Non-heme iron (from plant sources like beans, lentils, leafy greens): Much harder to absorb.

One of the key things that helps us absorb non-heme iron? Stomach acid.

Your stomach acid converts iron into a more soluble form your intestines can actually absorb. Without enough acidity, much of that iron just passes through unused.

Enter Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is naturally acidic thanks to its acetic acid content.

If you have low stomach acid (which is surprisingly common, btw if you feel like you have indigestion and reach for antiacid, it can actual mean your low on acid and need more to help break down your food), ACV before meals can:

Boost stomach acidity naturally
Improve digestion of proteins and minerals (including iron)
Help “unlock” iron bound up by compounds in plant foods (like phytates and polyphenols)

Think of it like this: Acid in your stomach breaks the “chains” that trap iron in plant foods.

That’s one reason traditional cuisines so often pair acidic condiments—like vinegar, citrus, or fermented foods—with iron-rich dishes.

Ever notice how a vinaigrette over a bean salad just makes sense? That’s partly because it improves iron bioavailability!

ACV’s Other Digestive Benefits

ACV isn’t just about acid. It’s also a fermented product, which means it has trace amounts of beneficial bacteria and fermentation byproducts.

While it’s not a probiotic powerhouse like yogurt or sauerkraut, ACV can help support:

A healthier gut environment
Better nutrient absorption overall

A healthy gut lining is where nutrient absorption happens, so anything that supports gut health can indirectly improve iron uptake.

How I Use Apple Cider Vinegar

In my own journey, I’ve found simple ways to make ACV part of daily life:

A tablespoon in a big glass of water before meals
Homemade salad dressings and marinades
Adding a splash to cooked greens or beans

It’s not magic—but it’s a meaningful step toward supporting my iron levels and overall digestion.

Important Note

Apple cider vinegar isn’t a replacement for iron-rich foods, supplements (if needed), or medical care, rather a tool to help break down and absorb what you need from them.

If you have iron deficiency anemia or chronically low ferritin, work with your healthcare provider. For me, ACV was just one tool in a holistic approach that included medical tests, treatment for internal bleeding, and dietary changes.

Final Thoughts

This health scare was humbling.

It reminded me how easy it is—even for wellness advocates—to ignore our own advice.

It also reaffirmed my love for natural remedies like apple cider vinegar. Not as a cure-all. But as a powerful, accessible, supportive tool that helps us work with our bodies.

If you’ve been feeling off, don’t just blame stress, parenting, or being “out of shape.”

Listen to your body. Get the tests. Find the root cause.

And along the way? Don’t be afraid to lean on the simple, time-tested things—like a splash of apple cider vinegar—that can make a real difference. And now that we figured out the root cause and fixed it , I'm starting to feel better and one by one symptoms are disappearing. So now, I will continue to do things and keep my diet fixed on helping my body and listening carefully to stay happy and healthy!