Day one- I tried drinking 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup hot water. I figured less water, less to drink, let's get this over with. STUPID!!! GAG!! Wasn't sure if I was going to throw up or spit it out. I wasn't near a sink or toilet so down it went. Cough, cough, gag! Not sure if this is something worth trying. I think I am crazy.
Day two- I think I will try mixing it with my lemon water. Something has to mask the taste. Maybe that will help. Well, better than day one but YUCK!!!!!! Tried drinking through a straw and not breathing while drinking. Forgot to breathe after drinking. Almost died. Day two- failure.
Day three- After extensive research online. Someone suggested to add honey to the mix. Of course!! Something sweet. I add 1 Tbsp organic honey to the lemon -apple cider vinegar- warm water mix. I use a straw again not only to help bypass the ENTIRE mouth but because the apple cider vinegar and lemon can be very acidic on the teeth wearing down the enamel. Better, maybe even do-able...maybe! Once I read all the health benefits of the ACV (apple cider vinegar), I knew I wanted to do this daily but I still felt like there had to be a less torturous way.
By the way, let me mention that my 17 year old daughter, Cari, is drinking this every morning. She inspired me to keep trying to find a much more appealing way to drink it because she said she was tired of drinking "feet" every morning. Yes, she said it tasted and smelled like "feet" even with the honey. Ok, back to the drawing board.
More research and finally, finally found the answer. I came across Dr. Axes secret detox drink. Not sure why all the secrecy here but NOT a secret anymore! Here is what he suggest.
2 Tbsp ACV, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, (I still use half lemon), 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 stevia packet and a dash of cayenne pepper in up to 16 ounces of water. I prefer less water. I use a regular coffee cup so about 10-12 ounces. You can drink this cold or hot. Again, I prefer hot. It is suggested that you can drink this up to 3 times a day before each meal. I drink every morning and before lunch.
Back to the taste....SO MUCH BETTER! The cinnamon and stevia totally knock out that pungent vinegar taste. Now there is a LOT of cinnamon so the need to keep stirring is there until the last drink. It's not a refreshing glass of iced tea but it is SO much better.
It's all a work in progress. If the acv upsets your stomach, then start with 1 Tbsp or half Tbsp. Cari was getting an upset stomach with 2 so she has cut back. I asked her what she thought of the new taste and here was her answer. "It doesn't taste like 'feet' anymore, but I about threw up this morning!! It's too cinnamony!! I almost died and couldn't finish drinking it." Hmm, work in progress. Note to self, less cinnamon for Cari.
I know what you all are thinking. WHY THE HECK ARE YOU DRINKING IT THEN?!!!! Well, to help YOU of course!!! Get ready for this friends...if the taste doesn't knock your socks off why you should drink it will!
Benefits of the lemon in your cocktail-
Helps to lose weight and keep hydrated. Improves digestion and gives you vitamin C. Vitamin C helps us to have a more efficient digestive system. Vit C also boosts your immune system and can help prevent coronary heart disease and lowers your risk for a stroke. Lemon helps to stimulates the digestive track and improves your body's ability to absorb nutrients. Also helps to flush the kidneys and liver of wastes and toxins. Lemon also helps the body better absorb calcium. Calcium absorption helps to lose weight because calcium is stored in fat cells. The more calcium in your fat cells the easier it is to stimulate burning the fat cell off.
Benefits of the Apple Cider Vinegar-
Diabetes- The effect of vinegar on blood sugar levels is perhaps the best researched and the most promising of acv health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one study showed 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels by 4-6% in the morning. If you have diabetes, check with your Dr before drinking as acv contains chromium which can alter insulin levels. It also slows down the digestion of starch which breaks down into sugar in the body. This helps to buffer the blood sugar spike!
It is said to help eliminate allergies! No more runny nose and watery eyes!!
Acv helps to burn fat as it breaks down the fat to a usable state rather than allowing the body to store it. What does this mean for you?? A flatter tummy!!! It also helps your body to digest food better which means your body is getting more nutrients from your food. What does this mean? NO BLOAT!!! Woot- Woot!!!
It helps the body to maintain healthy PH levels which is said to make an environment not conducive for cancer cells. Acv works to improve bowel function and works as a detox (say clearer skin)!!!
Benefits of cinnamon-
Cinnamon has shown to improve digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas, bloating and diarrhea. It also has a mild anti inflammatory effect. One teaspoon of cinnamon contains 28 mg of calcium, one mg of iron and over a gram of fiber! Cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control by taking as little as half a teaspoon per day. Improving insulin resistance can help in weight control as well as heart disease.
Benefits of Cayenne Pepper-
Comes from red hot chili peppers. When in powder form it has potent possibilities! It nourishes the heart with vital nutrients, removes plaque from arteries, heals hemorrhoids, re-builds stomach tissue and ulcers. It improves circulation, rebuilds blood cells, lowers cholesterol, emulsifies triglycerides and improves overall heart health! It removes toxins from the bloodstream and immediately equalizes blood pressure in your system. This amazing spice, also aids in healing the gall bladder! It detoxes the body by helping with elimination of both bowel and bladder. It increases metabolism by immediately influencing the blood vessels in the body.
Benefits of Stevia packet-
TASTE! Nuff said!
Now I know you are super excited to run out and get your supplies so here is what you need to know.
When shopping for acv, you must get the unpasteurized with "the mother" in it. The mother is the cloudy substance found in the vinegar formed from naturally occurring pectin and apple residues. It appears as molecules of protein connected in strand-like chains. The presence of the mothers shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed.
Never drink acv alone. Always dilute with plenty of water. Apple Cider Vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient is acetic acid. It can be quite harsh if not diluted before swallowed. Drinking from a straw and brushing your teeth afterwards is a good idea to prevent damage to the tooth enamel.
If you have low potassium levels, or take medicine for diabetes or heart disease, you may want to talk to your doctor first. Long term use can lower potassium levels if you already have low levels.
Only you can decide if this will work for you. Try drinking one glass first thing in the morning and see how you feel. You may have to tweak the amount of the ingredients and that's ok. If you aren't ready for this cocktail, try the lemon and water for a while.
I have to say, if my 17 year old daughter can/will drink it. Anyone can!!
Bottoms up!
Love j
My grandfather is 91, still WALKS 18 holes of golf most summer days and has for about 70 years taken ACV each day. :)
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