This post is based solely on my opinion and personal experience. I am not a doctor and am not here to share medical or nutritional advice. I am purely sharing my personal stories based on my own research and experiences.
Apple Cider Vinegar Toning Tonic
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of my absolute HOLY GRAIL nutrition staples. I’m sure you’ve heard about it in passing, or maybe you’ve experimented with it over the years. Regardless of your relationship with Apple Cider Vinegar I am here to bring you all of the details on why Apple Cider Vinegar should be a staple in your pantry and diet. Apple Cider Vinegar is THAT B*TCH and the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar are something to write home about.
Let’s begin in 2014 when I was at a Whole Foods Market Supplier meeting in Anaheim California for my then Biodynamic Flour Company. The room was packed with amazing humans who owned their own brands that had been picked up and were now carried by Whole Foods Market across the country. As we all waited for the discussions and presenters to start, the room buzzed; then something caught my eye. A small woman in bright Hawaiian clothing with Hawaiian leis around her neck dancing throughout the isles, smiling, laughing and vibing with all of the suppliers. Everyone else was sitting down but this woman. When I say dancing…she was rocking it. Her energy was absolutely radiant, infections and YOUNG. When she danced her way over to me I learned that this woman happened to be Patricia Bragg of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and at that time she was around 85 years old. NOW I know as a society we are getting younger but in my experience, seeing an 85 year old woman moving like a 19 year old, with boundless energy not only caught my attention but made me take a way deeper look into what the heck is in that Apple Cider Vinegar stuff. After all, we’e only as young as we feel and how we feel correlates directly with how well we take take care of our physical bodies, minds & spirits.
Apple Cider Vinegar has quite the slew of health touting benefits, including but not limited to:
Improved Digestion
Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Clearer Skin
Bloating Reduction
Heart-Health
Anti-Aging
Anti Bacterial Properties
Regulates pH
Weight Loss Help
Reduction in Allergies & Stuffy Noses
And much much more…
Apple Cider Vinegar is known to have a ton of antioxidants along with acetic acid & magnesium in it which we will get into more soon! But of course after seeing Patricia Bragg I began my serious experimentation of Apple Cider Vinegar and haven’t stopped loving it for years. Below are the benefits I’ve noticed personally from drinking Apple Cider Vinegar and want to share with you!
SO LETS GET TO IT, HOW DO THE BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR MAKE YOU A MAGICAL UNICORN? JUST KIDDING, KIND OF. BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ADD APPLE CIDER VINEGAR INTO OUR DAILY LIVES, KEEP READING TO FIND OUT!
The Apple Cider Vinegar Manifesto!
Always drink Apple Cider Vinegar DILUTED! Although it is a pH balancing liquid, when it enters your body it is acidic. Our bodies transition the acidity into alkalinity during the digestion process. SO this means we want to protect our teeth and our stomach lining from the acidic content before our body gets the chance to transform it into magic by diluting your apple cider vinegar (About 1-2 TBS. in a large glass of water). You can do this in plain water which works just fine but sometimes it is hard to stomach. If that’s the case, you can check out my Toning Tonic recipe in my Morning Magic E-Book. This recipe is absolutely delicious, easy to get down and includes a few other health elevating ingredients! People buy my E-Book specifically for this recipe because its that good LOL. But if that’s not your vibe, water will work just fine for dilution.
Drink Apple Cider Vinegar in the morning about 20-30 minutes before eating any food or before bedtime when you have already finished eating for the night by an hour or two. Doing this ensures the best absorption and allows the Apple Cider Vinegar to have the greatest impact on reducing blood sugars.
I find that results from ANYTHING come from longer term habits. So drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for 3 days and wondering why nothing has happened isn’t the mindset we need to adapt. Most new habits take about 2 weeks to begin working into the body and about 30 days for you to really notice a difference. So if you want the results we need a little commitment to give it a longer term try! SOMETIMES if you have a big event coming up Apple Cider Vinegar can be a lifesaver with bloating though, this is the one exception to the rule!
Dinking Apple Cider Vinegar Consistenly - The Results
Apple cider vinegar is definitely one of my favorite health tonics because I visibly notice the results in my physical body. I’ve been active for most of my life and I eat very healthy MOST of the time and stay moving daily. So I will be honest sometimes I don’t notice HUGE differences, so when I do notice a difference even small ones, I know that it’s the real deal.
The Positive Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Me in Tulum after a Spring & Summer of Apple Cider Vinegar and Movement
REDUCED BLOATING & FLATTER STOMACH - This is something I notice almost immediately after about 7 days of consistently drinking Apple Cider Vinegar. I usually begin drinking it regularly at the first sight of Springtime to allow the results to be in full swing by Summertime. Because we all want to be summertime fine let’s just be real. When I drink Apple Cider Vinegar regularly I feel that my body prepares itself for meals more efficiently and my digestion is improved. I don’t often bloat but I feel that consistency with my Apple Cider Vinegar intake reduces any excess water weight I have and gives me an overall feeling of confidence and lightness. This is what I notice the most from Apple Cider Vinegar. I enjoy feeling this way especially in my yoga practice because feeling light along with feeling strong makes moving fluidly more pleasant.
REDUCED BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES/DEPRESSION & ANXIETY REGULATION - This is something I began to pay more attention to over the years to regulate my mood. When our blood sugar is unstable you can have high highs and then low lows. For example you might feel great right after breakfast and then crash around 1 PM. These spikes might also cause you to overeat and compensate for the feelings of lethargy. From a mood perspective; having sugar imbalances can contribute to depression and imbalance of certain brain chemicals. Changes in blood sugar can also cause trouble in thinking clearly, anxiety and tiredness. When we balance blood sugar the high highs and low lows become more even helping your body regulate mood and appetite so that you can feel more centered and peaceful. Apple Cider Vinegar is a great natural way to begin balancing blood sugar. (These are only my personal opinions and I try to do everything naturally when possible, always talk to your doctor if you are having severe or suicidal thoughts.)
WEIGHT LOSS & MAINTENANCE - Similar to #2 Apple Cider Vinegar can help you lose or maintain a healthy weight from the fun little ingredient Acetic Acid. Acetic Acid is the active component found in Apple Cider vinegar. This component helps maintain healthy weight levels, support healthy blood glucose levels & healthy cholesterol levels.
SPECIAL EVENTS - Apple Cider Vinegar is “Holy Grail” to me because if I have an event I need to go to and I’m feeling less than tip top I know that adding in Toning Tonic filled with Apple Cider Vinegar and it’s amazing benefits for a week will have me mentally & physically feeling SO much better. Even if no weight was lost I feel an overall sensation of reconnecting to a routine/ritual and a “de-puffing” effect. I also feel like the blood sugar regulation comes into play here because when I’m not feeling mentally my best I sometimes take it out on my physical body. So balancing blood sugar helps me to see myself clearer/kinder and this is so important for big events along with any benefits you can physically see!
IMMUNITY & ANTI FUNGAL - Although I cannot truly confirm nor deny this; I always add in apple cider vinegar when dealing with any type of cold and especially any type of women’s health issue. I personally tend to notice a boost in quicker healing when adding in apple cider vinegar specifically when dealing with candida or yeast problems.
RITUAL - I am a big…no HUGE fan of ritualistic behaviors. I find that having small daily or weekly rituals in your life help you to build trust in yourself and they lead to bigger transformations (This is the whole premise of my Morning Magic E-Book - A Guide to a Healthier More Radiant YOU). When we wake up each morning and CHOOSE to do something just for ourselves and our body, that energy spills out into the rest of our lives. So yes we are getting the health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar but we are also getting the benefits of choosing ourselves every day and doing something we know will pay off in the long run. Creating rituals that work for your unique body and lifestyle come from experimentation and allow us to truly feel our best and shine.
The Negatives of Apple Cider Vinegar
TASTE - I personally ENJOY the taste of apple cider vinegar. However you sit my mom down and she can’t even handle the smell. This is different for every single person which is why what you choose to dilute it with is so important! Water is an easy way to go but if you are sensitive to strong tastes I highly recommend my Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic Tonic Recipe found here: TONING TONIC RECIPE
UPSET BELLY - This does not happen to me but I do know it’s been known to happen occasionally to a few friends or family members, so just pay attention to your body and always stop if it doesn’t feel good! To avoid this ALWAYS DILUTE your Apple Cider Vinegar and make sure to be drinking it on an empty stomach 20-30 minutes before breakfast or before bedtime to avoid interactions with food!
Final Thoughts
After experimenting with Apple Cider Vinegar for over 7 years I can truly say I reach for it frequently. In Spring and Summer I reach for it every day and I notice the effect it has on keeping my digestion moving freely and my mid-section light. I enjoy the ritual of doing something daily that keeps my belly healthy and let’s my body know I truly love and care for it! Let me know if you try Apple Cider Vinegar in the comments below and how it goes for you!
Ready to dive even deeper into feeling your best?
In my E-Book Morning Magic you will find the Apple Cider Vinegar Toning Tonic recipe along with MANY other health elevating delicious recipes, practices & philosophy to create daily vibrance in your life!
An intuitive guide to a healthier more radiant you!
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Good luck on your apple cider vinegar journey!
If you try it, I would LOVE to hear how it goes! Reach out through comments, email or my Instagram @JROCKYOGA!
