Just because you don't like the taste of vinegar doesn't mean you won't be able to drink this (or possibly even look forward to it)! I loved getting a text from my father-in-law one day saying, "It's weird, but I'm actually starting to like it." I also had one of my clients come to me randomly and ask, "Does the apple cider vinegar make your skin clearer?! Mine has cleared up since I started drinking this!" It's a type of "detox" for parts of your system, so...it does cleanse.
Now that I have you believing it's totally legit (right?!), I'll impress you with the many health benefits. *Disclaimer: some of this is scientific, and some may be mental (real talk), but nonetheless...it works. ;)
Benefit #1: It has been found to help prevent some of the digestion of starches in your meal, thus helping simmer down that blood sugar from rising. See WebMD's article:
While apple cider vinegar probably won’t make you skinny, it does appear to help with diabetes and blood sugar control.
“Apple cider vinegar’s anti-glycemic effect is very well documented,” Johnston says. She explains that the vinegar blocks some of the digestion of starch. “It doesn’t block the starch 100%, but it definitely prevents at least some of that starch from being digested and raising your blood sugar,” Johnston says.
Benefit #2: Apple cider vinegar "with the mother" has probiotics which create good bacteria for your gut! Yay! Here's the deal, you don't want to buy the crystal clear version of apple cider vinegar, you wanna get the real stuff, so look for a label that says "with the mother." There are zero benefits to drinking the "clear" kind, so please don't do that. That would be sad.
Benefit #3: It can help increase absorption of yummy minerals in the foods we eat! Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid (the dude that helps absorb the minerals), vitamin C, and B vitamins.
Now I want to point out something that is not scientific at all...
Benefit #4: Life longevity?? Japan and China have been around for centuries, y'all. America has been around a few hundred years, soooo...I trust those Eastern cultures and all their crazy herbal medicines and simple diets. They have evidence like longer life spans, less cancer, and overall better digestion. I'm sold. All that to say, they have used apple cider vinegar for awhile now and no one is talking about it because it's just a thing they do as a part of their diet.
Here's how I drink it (almost) every morning after I wake up!
- 1/2 - 1 Tbsp of ACV
- 1/4 - 1/2 of a lemon
- 8-12 oz of water (I warm up water on the stove because I like the comfort of having something warm in the morning.)
- Optional: 1 tsp of maple syrup to cut the sour flavor
Try it out for one week! If you hate it, abandon it and never look back! If you feel good about it & see/feel good changes, make it a new habit! :)