Why I drink my apple cider vinegar drink everyday.
Hey y’all!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial day! Ours was full of friends, family, laughter and LOTS of sunshine. I wanted to jump on here and explain my apple cider vinegar drink that if you follow me on instagram you’ve seen me talk about. To make it easy I’m going to explain the health benefits of everything in it and then share the recipe and some of the other questions y’all have asked! So let’s start with apple cider vinegar, let’s call it ACV for short. There is a lot of buzz about this magical vinegar lately. I’ve seen pills, gummies and all kinds of supplements surfacing lately. I can’t speak to the differences, I kind of am a purest and just would rather chug the real thing. (Too each their own) So for time sake, i’ll just list out the benefits and dive in where I need to. ok?
What all can ACV do for your health?
it is a natural laxative and it can improve digestion
lowers blood sugar levels
improves insulin sensitivity
increases satiety and helps people to lose weight
it can reduce belly fat
lowers cholesterol
lowers blood pressure and improves heart health
its been said that it prevents and decreases the risk of getting cancer and slows down the growth of cancer cells.
So let’s talk about weight loss.
Most people use ACV for weight loss, but they don’t know the rest of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. Mainly because ACV has been used for weight loss for ages. There are several studies that have concluded using ACV for weight loss actually works. They also found it works even without dietary changes. However, I’d recommend a healthy diet and exercise to really see results. So if you’re reading this you’re probably asking yourself how does this work? Here it is, most people overeat because they don’t feel full (think of thanksgiving). ACV increases satiety (your feeling of fullness) and that’s very helpful for staying on track with your healthy diet. Especially at the beginning of your weight loss journey when you need a little bit of help to start and to stay on track. I personally like it for once you hit your goals and you need to maintain.
Now let’s talk about diabetes.
When it comes to ACV and diabetes, there are a few things you should know. ACV is great for diabetes prevention. This part is near and dear to my heart because both sides of my family have heart disease. Clearly I’m not a doctor but if it can help prevent it and it runs in your family, why not? ACV has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when one is fasting (not eating), which is incredibly beneficial for people who have difficulty regulating their own blood sugar levels, like those who have diabetes. (fun fact, I had gestational diabetes with BOTH babies. the doctors were SHOCKED and said it’s definitely genetic and thank goodness I maintain a fairly healthy lifestyle.) JUST FYI, this won’t replace medication. A healthy diet and exercise are always recommended for people with diabetes. ***If you have diabetes and take insulin or prescription drugs, you should talk to your doctor before drinking ACV.***
Here are a few nutrients in ACV:
magnesium
iron
phosphorus
manganese
amino acids
antioxidants
only 3 calories per tablespoon.
Let’s talk about digestion.
ACV helps with digestion but specifically with;
get rid of heartburn
reduce bloating
improve digestion overall (regulate the bowls)
It’s taken me a LONG time to accept the fact that discomfort and pain are not normal. When I experience pain and discomfort after a meal, it’s a sign for me to figure out what didn’t settle right and adjust. Taking medicines to counter act is only masking the underlying problem. (let me just say, I’m NOT anti medicine but I do believe that your body is telling you something when you need it.)
Lets talk about your hair and skin.
Aside from the health benefits of ACV, using apple cider vinegar can also improve skin appearance and hair health. Say what? do I have your attention now?
Why ACV is great for skin and hair:
treats and reduces the prevalence of acne
treats and soothes sunburn
has anti-aging properties
improves hair health
combats hair tangles
reduces hair frizz
seals the hair cuticles and help the hair to retain moisture
treats dandruff (YES, I’ve used it for this!)
Seriously, is there anything ACV cannot do? Have I convinced you yet? Well let’s move on to the next.
Ingredient number two- Turmeric.
Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
Ingredient number 3- Cinnamon.
Now let me start by saying not all cinnamon is created equal. Let me explain.
Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as “true” cinnamon. (the OG)
Cassia cinnamon: The more common variety today and what people generally refer to as “cinnamon.” (what you buy at the grocery story)
Scientists believe that this compound is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and metabolism. Why you ask? Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants that protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It also has Anti-Inflammatory properties inflammation is incredibly important (especially with age). It helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage. Cinnamon has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world’s most common cause of premature death (yeap, talking about my heart again). It can improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin. Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use. It’s also essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. Why is this important? The problem is that many people are resistant to the effects of insulin. This is known as insulin resistance, a hallmark of serious conditions like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can lowers blood sugar levels. First, cinnamon has been shown to decrease the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal. It does this by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract. cinnamon has beneficial effects on neuro degenerative diseases. (more commonly known as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease). Lastly cinnamon has anti fungal and antibacterial properties, which may reduce infections and help fight tooth decay and bad breath. (SWEET)
Ingredient number 4- Local Honey.
Not too much to say about this one. But buying within your “county” is key. It helps with local allergies and honestly improves the taste.
So let’s talk about how do I take this combination daily.
I prefer in the morning. It is NOT necessary to do it in the morning but I prefer it first thing to get it out of the way. But today I forgot because I got up and got busy so I took it after dinner. Here is my recipe;
2-4oz of warm water (warm water is KEY, helps melt honey.)
2-4 tbsp of ACV (must use the kind with “the mother”)
1/2 tbsp of turmeric
1/2 tbsp of cinnamon (ceylon)
1 tsp of local honey
mix it up fast and chug! Let me remind all of you, I am not a doctor. I’m not in the medical field, I just nerd out about this kind of stuff and I can only speak to my personal experiences with it! I believe if you do it consistently for 14 days you will feel and see a difference. Thanks for reading along and if you decide to try this let me know!
Thanks for reading along!
xoxo,
Lexie
Thanks for reading along!
xoxo,
Lexie
