Detox With Apple Cider Vinegar

Did you over-do it over the holidays? There are a few things you can do to feel a little better, including turning to that familiar bottle of apple cider vinegar. Try this detox recipe!

Did you over-do it over the holidays? We’ve all been there. But there are a few things you can do to feel a little better (hello salads!), including turning to that familiar bottle of apple cider vinegar.

Home remedies and folk medicine have long relied on apple cider vinegar to aid digestion and prevent or relieve heartburn. Today, apple cider vinegar is revered for all these qualities and more. It is used in detox beverages and in weight loss regimens.

Healing With Apple Cider Vinegar

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food, is a favorite maxim of modern healthy living advocates. But did you know that this statement is over 2,000 years old?

In ancient Greece, Hippocrates, The Father of Medicine, backed up his admonition by prescribing apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for its healing and cleansing qualities. In biblical times, after laboring in the barley fields, Boaz encouraged Ruth to dip bread in vinegar during their meal. (Ruth 2:14). It was used at this time not only to flavor food but as an energizing drink. Soldiers through the ages consumed diluted vinegar as an energizing and strengthening tonic.

Drinking water with apple cider vinegar between meals, preferably 20 minutes before eating, may help curb cravings, avoid overeating at mealtime, keep you feeling full longer, increase energy, and help stabilize blood sugar levels. It is interesting, yet doubtful, that Boaz understood when Ruth dipped her bread in vinegar that it would help prevent a spike in her blood sugar!

Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Acetic acid (AcOH), a major component of vinegar, has been found to suppress body fat accumulation. In a double-blind trial of obese individuals, participants were divided into three groups of similar: body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. During the 12-week treatment, the subjects in each group ingested 500 ml daily of a beverage containing either 15 ml of vinegar, 30 ml of vinegar, or 0 ml of vinegar in the placebo group. Both groups ingesting vinegar daily showed significantly reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and serum triglyceride levels.

However, this relatively short study does not prove nor suggest that apple cider vinegar alone will reduce obesity. Rather, it can be part of a healthy lifestyle which includes: eating nutritious foods, exercise, and adequate sleep.

Natural health and nutrition professionals recommend consuming only unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar with the mother of vinegar, as it contains the beneficial acetic acid bacteria. Learn to make your own apple cider vinegar from scraps!

If you want to try a natural cleanse, this apple cider vinegar detox drink can be added to your diet.

Dr. Axe’s Secret Detox Drink Recipe

(Used with permission)

Per serving

12-16 ounces of water
2 tablespoons organic, apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure ground cinnamon
1 dash cayenne pepper
Stevia or honey, to taste

Add all ingredients to a glass and stir vigorously to blend.

Dr. Axe recommends using this drink to cleanse when you’re feeling sluggish.

Like what you read? We’ve got more health benefits of apple cider vinegar here.

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Deborah Tukua

Deborah Tukua is a natural living, healthy lifestyle writer and author of 7 non-fiction books, including Pearls of Garden Wisdom: Time-Saving Tips and Techniques from a Country Home, Pearls of Country Wisdom: Hints from a Small Town on Keeping Garden and Home, and Naturally Sweet Blender Treats. Tukua has been a writer for the Farmers' Almanac since 2004.

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Ali

I take a splash of ACV in water before bed. It keeps me alkaline all night. I would not ingest cinnamon essential oil that’s recommended in the recipe. It’s too hot of an oil and bad for liver. Ceylon cinnamon is best as it has lowest Coumadin levels.

Amy W

I drink apple cider vinegar a lot with just a little water. It is best to use organic with the mother (unfiltered). Great to drink warm with honey (natural antibiotic) and lemon added for colds. The cayenne and cinnamon and great for your metabolism.

best natural sugar

zerovia is the best natural sugar which is prepared with the help of stevia leaf extract. It is natural sweetener which helps in reducing weight.

Lorayne Stelling

Why do the ingredients, cinnamon, cayenne, lemon and stevia have to be added?
I just pour a tablespoon or two in a glass of water and drink. I do not take it for weight loss but for health benefits. I have never heard of added ingredients.

Susan Higgins

Hi Lorayne Stelling, This is Dr. Axe’s recipe that seems to have a weight loss effect.

Tina Lindsey

I have heard of this remedy before, but I am allergic to any kind of hot peppers. Can this be used without the Cheyenne pepper? And what is the Cheyenne used for in it?

monica juntilla

Can i use any brand of apple cider vinegar? Or would it only apply with acv with braggs brand?

Kathleen

Can this be done without the 1 dash cayenne pepper ? i don’t do spicy

Geri Hedberg

I would like to know the mixture of apple cider vinegar & water used for a diet drink & also
how many times a day and when is best time to drink it. Thanks

Linnea

What is the purpose of the cinnamon and red pepper? Are they in the recipe for functional reasons, or to camoflage the taste of the vinegar?

helen bair

will apple c v help with kidney to raise the count up

BRENDA

are tablets just as effective for weight loss and how much and how often per day??

Johanne

Heard good things about Apple Cider Vinegar drinks! But would also like to know, if I can drink this instead of a diet drink… like Pepsi, Seven-Up ect….???

Johanne

Would like to know if I can drink this anytime during the day, instead of a diet Pesi ect…

Susan Higgins

Hi Johanne, this beverage is not for sipping. It’s a one time drink that works best when you drink at one sitting. We have a good article on diet soda and suggestions to make better choices. Why Diet Soda Doesn’t Belong In Your Diet

Barbara

What exact amount of apple cider vinegar, a day, can be safety taken?

Katie

Is this ok to drink before bed

Don Bennett

I take two tablets of Apple Cider Vinegar a day.
Don’t have to mix a thing , works well for me.

Glen

I started the detox yesterday. I use honey instead of Stevia…I find warming all the ingredients in warm water helps dissolve nicely. I like the taste, have been using Apple Cider Vinegar for over 2 years…it helped cured my Ear and Sinus problems which I had for about 4 years.

Shirley Wilson

I mixed equal parts honey, vinegar and Safflower Oil together and drank the mixture Or used as Salad Dressing. Preferred as Salad Dressing, but drank it when out of lettuce. Supposed to use 3 times a day.
Did help with weight loss, but you’re also supposed to cut down on breads.

Shirley Wilson

I mixed equal parts honey, vinegar and Safflower Oil together and drank the mixture Or used as Salad Dressing. Preferred as Salad Dressing, but drank it when out of lettuce. Supposed to use 3 times a say.
Did help with weight loss, but you’re also supposed to cut down on breads.

Debbi

Has anyone ever really lost any weight drinking vinegar??

Jennifer

Type 2 Diabetic. I’ve heard that sugar derived from coconuts is easier to break down by diabetics. I limit my sugar substitutes as I don’t care for the side effects they can cause but I haven’t used coconut yet? Has anyone here tried it or used it in place of the Stevia in this recipe? At the moment I would lean toward the raw honey substitute or trying the coconut sugar.

wells

Excellent message! For years, I have drunk a large glass of V8 juice every!!morning with a goodly amount of vinegar added to it.

Marlene

Hi..I had a stroke about 2 yrs ago, taking 4 medication & would like to know if it is ok to use this apple cider vinegar drink for my weight loss..Thank you !!

Mike

Vivian; to help you read the print. hold down the ctrl button and use the “mouse wheel” forward. It will increase the size of the print you are looking at.

Amy

I have done this as a shot without all of the water and it goes down just fine. But that’s my taste.

Donna

I actually use a similar drink to this for inflammation reduction and pain relief from rheumatoid arthritis. Everything is the same except use unfiltered raw honey in place of stevia and remove the lemon juice.

Danny E Sieg

Thanks for the nutritional tip. I’m a fairly new diagnosed type 2 diabetic and need all the help I can get.

Cathy

I have used this with dark grade A maple syrup as the sweetener. Lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and cayenne oepper and shrilanka cinnamon. Very tasty.

Sandy Hawkins

I do not understand how you can post something as healthy, but it has a processed, proven unhealthy artificial sweetener in it. Stevia in its raw form is natural, but after being processed to sell commercially, is is just another processed poison…

Maria

I’d like to try this but with honey…I never use processed or sugar substitutes.

Maria

I’d like to try this but with honey…I never use processed or sugar subitutes.

Cathy

Do you have to use Stevia or can’t you use Splenda?

KarlaAnne

I’ve read bad reports on white Stevia, can you use green leaf Stevia in stead? And where can I find it to purchase?

Susan Higgins

KarlaAnne, any supermarket now sells Stevia packets.

Pat Garrett

I use Apple CV with a little honey to get rid of my Leg cramps and it works with in minutes. No more suffering for hours!

Margaret

This works so well for me.. Thank you so much!

catherine napier

would like to try it. and read ur web site

Nancy

Thank you so much for this information!

Tara

I use ACV, honey and water for heartburn. It is absolutely wonderful!! I had heartburn so badly at work one morning, so I took a prescription med that we have at the office. Hours passed and still no relief. It was 6:00 before I got home that evening. I drank my ACV mixture, and within about 10 minutes, the heartburn was gone! I’m the world’s biggest skeptic, so believe me, it works. I haven’t tried it for weight or cholesterol, but I plan to! My grandmother drank vinegar in her tea every day. She was tiny and lived to over 80. Of course, she wasn’t an over eater and was active, but she had heard it helped with weight control. Thanks for sharing.

Peggy Pope

I would like to learn more!

Robin

“Honeygar” is a really old Vermont home remedy, You just mix two teaspoons of honey (preferably local) with two teaspoons of cider vinegar (preferably organic) in a glass and dilute with water (at least 8 oz, more if you like). And you can mix it in quantity if you like – just use a glass juice bottle and mix one cup of each, honey and vinegar, let meld, then dilute by adding water to fill the jug. Pour about a quarter cup in a glass and dilute with water. Drink 1-3 times a day. Anyone interested can google “Arthritis and Folk Medicine” by Dr. D. C. Jarvis. Been in print since he wrote the book back in the 1950’s. He found his patients who were in the best health did honeygar every day Good stuff!

David Reed

Can you just use this process by just drinking the vinegar straight?

Susan Higgins

David Reed, some people have created a “shot” with the vinegar, lemon juice and spices, which are an integral part of the recipe, but it’s a bit tougher going down. The water helps to make it more palatable. but you’re welcome to try it any way that works for you!

Jamie

Can this be made ahead in a larger amount so that I don’t have to remake it 3x a day?

Susan Higgins

Hi Jamie, it doesn’t store very well and can sour quickly, so it’s best to make it fresh each time, but it would seem that a daily batch wouldn’t hurt. Just be sure to mix it before pouring each serving as the cinnamon tends to settle at the bottom and thickens.

pam

Does this taste badly?

Susan Higgins

Hi Pam, it’s actually delicious!

Scott

Does heat have any effect on ACV? if not do you have any hot drink receipes?

Vivian Parramore

I have used the vinegar for acid reflux control and have had wonderful results with it. I sort of stopped taking it around 6 months ago and have just recently started having problems with my acid reflux, bad problems. I would like to know more about how to use it to help with diabetes 2 and also weight loss. I have a problem with my eyes right now and can’t read all of the above, but would like to have it so I could read and understand it a little at a time. Thank you very much.

Deborah Tukua, editor Journey to Natural Living

Hi Evelyn, raw honey can be substituted for stevia as it has wonderful health benefits too. However, if you’re trying to lose weight, limit your intake of honey and other sweets as well.

Evelyn Finney

Would substituting honey for the stevia be okay?

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