The combination of apple cider vinegar is a practical, natural way to help heal yourself and protect your overall health. You can try it as a drink and mix it with juice, or you can even make salad dressings out of it. Research has indicated that there are a plethora of health benefits from it.
The benefits of apple cider vinegar and honey are endless. You can protect your heart, your joints, your digestive system, and more. You can even use it as a skin tonic.
The mixture is often drunk before bedtime or in the morning upon waking first thing in the morning. The honey is said to balance the potent combination. Read on for a closer look at the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar and honey and decide if it's a good idea for you!
You would be wise to speak with your doctor before trying this powerful combination, as it may interact with certain medications or be contraindicated for certain medical diagnoses.
Get more recipe ideas here.
Vinegar is not just for cleaning and unclogging your kitchen sink! There are so many great uses for vinegar. Until recently, I had not even tasted apple cider vinegar. I'll be honest it takes some getting used to, but after researching the health benefits, I'm in!
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Are There Advantages of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey?
Independently, these powerhouse health products can improve your immune system and overall health. So, you could say that the health benefits of the two are immeasurable. Many people think that combining the two of them makes apple cider vinegar much easier to tolerate.
Apples are used to make cider vinegar, and apples help clear out the bad cholesterol (LDL) and help to increase your fiber intake. There are undoubtedly many vitamins and nutrients in apples.
When apples are distilled and fermented, it results in a concoction that is high in acetic acid. Acetic acid is a substance that kills many harmful bacteria and can help treat chronic infections.
Raw honey has been helping people for centuries. It helps to boost immunity and promotes overall good health. There are also unique compounds in honey that reduce inflammation.
Apple cider vinegar and honey help to alkalize the blood, which balances your pH levels. When your body has a low pH level, it is more prone to certain health problems. These include:
- Diseases
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Low Energy
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Indigestion
Much research has been done that shows that an apple cider vinegar and honey drink can help these particular health concerns. If you are diligent about taking it every day, you are likely to obtain satisfactory results.
When apple cider vinegar and honey team up together, there are even more benefits to them than when consuming them independently. The following are the health benefits of apple cider vinegar and honey.
Joint Pain
Apple cider vinegar helps with inflammation caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other common pain issues. You can put two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water or apple juice, mix with a teaspoon of honey, and drink.
Honey is also good in warm water. If you have an adventure in mind, you could also add a dash of cayenne pepper, which helps with circulation and inflammation. You should see that it helps with your joint pain.
Digestive System
Drinking apple cider vinegar and honey helps with acid reflux and improves digestive health. Research has demonstrated that apple cider vinegar helps with many gastrointestinal issues. It breaks down proteins and accelerates the digestion of fats.
Honey also helps with digestion, contains many potential benefits, and promotes healthy bacteria, as it has a plethora of substances that assist in the delicate balance of microflora in the gut. Honey also has antimicrobial properties.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is one of the health benefits you can anticipate from using apple cider vinegar. It could even end in the loss of unwanted body fat! This is particularly true if, as part of your healthy diet, you add some honey along with your use of apple cider vinegar.
Findings from studies have indicated that the acetic acid contained in apple cider vinegar can promote weight loss. In one of the studies, obese rats and mice demonstrated that apple cider vinegar improved their metabolism and prevented fat accumulation.
Another study had 39 test subjects who went on a low-calorie diet with apple cider vinegar, while the others went on a diet without apple cider vinegar for 12 weeks. Even though both control groups lost weight, the apple cider vinegar drinkers saw the best results.
The group that used apple cider vinegar lost more weight than the other control group.
Cholesterol
Drinking apple cider vinegar and honey can help encourage healthy cholesterol levels. It enables the liver to process fatty acids and assists with regular bowel movements, and the main ingredient, acetic acid, helps decrease the bad cholesterol.
Honey helps to lower levels of LDL and increase HDL. The Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science concluded that two to three tablespoons a day would have cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Heart Health
A great way to improve your heart's health is the drink apple cider vinegar with honey, and honey can also lower your risk of heart disease. In experimental studies, honey has been shown to reduce total cholesterol by 3 percent.
In those who have elevated risk factors, total cholesterol was lowered by 3.3 percent. Also, both apple cider vinegar and honey have been shown to lower blood pressure.
The mixture protects the heart from developing any adverse conditions, and it can lower high blood pressure in those who suffer from hypertension.
Some people also like to add lemon juice to their mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey, benefiting heart health. Honey also protects against blood clots.
As you can see, there has been a lot of research conducted on apple cider vinegar and honey and the benefits to heart health. The results are quite positive and encouraging.
Skin Conditions
Apple cider vinegar can soothe skin irritation caused by conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It helps balance the skin's pH, and washing with apple cider vinegar and honey can exfoliate. It eliminates dead skin cells and leaves the skin in good condition.
Apple cider vinegar, which has antibacterial properties, and honey work together to alleviate these common skin issues. It can also offer protection against acne, as it unclogs pores and softens the skin.
Sore Throat and Cough
Apple cider vinegar and honey can help fight off infections that result in a sore throat and cough. Honey itself is an old folk remedy. This preparation has been used for years in folk medicine as a home remedy to soothe the throat and assist in relieving a nasty cough.
Most people can remember being a child with cold symptoms, and their mother would bring them hot, soothing tea with honey for a sore throat. This practice of healing goes back for generations.
Some argue that apple cider vinegar can lead to throat irritation. However, if diluted in water appropriately, this is a low risk.
Inflammation
Apple cider vinegar and honey can help keep the pH in the blood at healthy alkaline levels, which inhibits inflammatory processes in the body. The acidity of apple cider vinegar would be thought to be a concern, but it is not.
When the vinegar is consumed, it becomes alkaline. Honey is also acidic but turns alkaline once it is ingested. The body functions best when pH is 7.35 or above.
Preparation Tips for Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Drink
If you would like to know how to make this concoction, here's the best way:
- One tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- One tablespoon honey
- One cup of hot water
If you have trouble drinking, add more water.
Conclusion
When mixed, the combination of apple cider vinegar and honey has been helping to promote good health in natural ways for centuries. There are many ways you can drink it, but the honey has been said to offset the harshness of the apple cider vinegar. Be prepared; it does have a strong smell.
Research has proven that it is an effective way to protect against diseases and other health concerns. Give it a try and see if it's a good thing for you!
As with anything related to your health, consult with your physician before going all in with apple cider vinegar and honey.
You can certainly see that apple cider vinegar isn't just good for cleaning your coffee maker!
FAQs
Who should not drink apple cider vinegar?
Studies show apple cider vinegar might be harmful for individuals that are taking insulin for diabetes. Please consult with your physician to ensure it is safe for you.
Are There Side Effects from Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey?
Once again, consult your physician for any concerns with drinking apple cider vinegar and honey. Some negative side effects to consider with consuming apple cider vinegar are: risk of tooth enamel decay, low potassium levels, throat burning. However, note if properly diluted in water, these risks appear unlikely.
Consume no more than 1-2 beverages daily following preparation suggested in this article (1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar + 1 tablespoon of honey + 1 cup hot water) and these potential issues will likely be avoided.