A few weeks ago when I was recapping my experience with the Eat Clean Challenge, I mentioned apple cider vinegar and how I was hooked on drinking it daily. Several people seemed interested in the apple cider vinegar (ACV) drink I’ve been drinking so I figured I would do a post on it.
I first learned about the benefits of ACV through Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet and the Tone It Up nutrition plan. Both plans recommend adding ACV into your daily diet. Tosca recommends mixing 2 Tablespoons of raw, unfiltered ACV into a glass of water and the Tone It Up gals recommend a drink recipe called the Meta-D which has ACV, water and a few other ingredients.
I will warn you that ACV is pretty potent and it does take a little getting used to. Many people recommend adding a splash of fruit juice, honey or stevia to the ACV + water mixture to help make it more palatable.
Here are a few common questions around ACV…
What type of Apple Cider Vinegar should I use?
Only use raw organic ACV has the ‘mother’ of the vinegar. The ‘mother’ is made up of strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules with living nutrients and bacteria, similar to the ‘mother’ that’s in Kombucha. Clear vinegar is processed and doesn’t have any of the benefits that raw ACV has. There are different brands out there but I useBragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, which I find at my local organic market or Whole Foods.
Be sure to dilute ACV before applying it to your skin or drinking. It is very acidic and can damage the tooth enamel and the tissues of your throat, mouth or skin.
What are the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Rich in potassium, a mineral that is often times lacking in adult diets. This mineral is key for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. It also helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
- Rich in acetic acid. This acid is said to slow the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.
- Rich in ash which gives ACV its alkaline property. This aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state. (It is particularly important if you drink a lot of coffee or wine.)
- It can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
- Rich in malic acid which gives ACV its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
- May help improve bowel irregularity and helps to remove toxins from the body at a faster rate.
- It can help clear up skin conditions and blemishes.
- ACV helps with weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.
- A few lab studies have found that ACV may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
Have you noticed any changes in your body since drinking Apple Cider Vinegar daily?
It’s hard for me to tell if the ACV drink is working wonders on my body and helping in ALL the ways I mentioned above, however I do know that my complexion has been really clear since I’ve started taking it and I crave the ACV drink every day now. In the morning I make my drink in a blender/shaker bottle and take it to work with me. I’ll have it in mid-morning or after lunch with my afternoon snack. It definitely helps to keep me feeling full and less hungry.
How much do you drink and how do you prepare it?
I drink 2 Tablespoons a day, in the morning, and I usually use this recipe.
If you’re interested in learning more about ACV here are a few links that are worth checking out:
