Yep folks, it’s that time of the year – detox time! Time to reset the body’s metabolism and give it a helping hand after weeks of less than stellar eating and imbibing!
My diet tends to go very simple around this time – raw salads, fish, smoothies and plenty of mineralised water. And, alongside that, I tend to drink tonics that specifically rebalance my body. One of the best, as far as I’m concerned, is raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. It’s a natural high probiotic cleanser which alkalinizes the body, reduces inflammation and stabilizes blood sugar levels. It’s a true superfood, albeit a very simple one.
While you can simply drink the apple cider vinegar diluted with water, it makes sense to amp up the healing benefits and slip in some health promoting spices. I liked this ‘Apple Pie’ Elixir recipe from MindBodyGreen.com which, along with the apple cider vinegar, uses spices synonymous with apple pie (not that it tastes anything like it!) – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger powder. But, actually, you can use whichever spices work best for your particular health issues (cayenne pepper, turmeric and garlic are also highly beneficial), so feel free to adapt as needed. As apple cider vinegar is naturally sour, the addition of raw honey or pure maple syrup (healthy in their own right) helps to make it more palatable. However, you can also use stevia if you wish.
The best time to drink this tonic is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach – enjoy the benefits!
‘Apple Pie’ Elixir
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- A good pinch of each to taste: cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup or raw honey (optional)
- 2 cups purified water
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together, making sure to stir or shake vigorously if using raw honey as it doesn’t mix as well as maple syrup.
