Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and founder of Stephanie Lee Nutrition. Originally from NE Wisconsin, she started out as a licensed cosmetologist. She then went on to graduate with a B.S. in Human Biology, emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed 1200 hours of clinical experience through Priority Nutrition Care Distance Dietetic Internship. She uses her passion for nutrition and wellness as a tool to help women feel their best inside and out.
Wow — I must admit, an Apple Cider Vinegar Digestive Tonic sound glamorous. I like the ring of it. Very “pinky up” vibes, if you will. The name sounds waaayyy more glamorous than an apple cider vinegar drink. Don’t you agree?
Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be a glamorous, pinky up, post. Instead, we’re going to talk all about digestive health. After all, we love skin around here, and healthy skin starts with healthy digestion.
I’m sure Instagram has told you ACV can cure just about anything. Well, I’m not sure we can support all that. However, that ACV can help with certain digestive woes. But before we get to that, let’s take a step back.
The longer I’ve been in the world of nutrition and dietetics, the more I hear about digestive complaints. While they are often just a nuisance, they can be straight-up debilitating. Some come with heartburn, others severe bloating and indigestion, and even those with chronic constipation or diarrhea. But the complaints don’t stop there, the list goes on:
- bloating
- excessive burping
- heartburn
- diarrhea
- gas
- indigestion
- hair loss
- nausea
- undigested food in stool
- brittle nails
- fatigue
- gastrointestinal infections
- anemia
- mineral deficiencies
- protein deficiency
But what to all those complaints have in common? They are often a sign of something called hypochlorhydria, aka low stomach acid. Without adequate stomach acid, we limit our ability to digest and absorb nutrients. Furthermore, we leave ourselves susceptible to gastrointestinal damage and infections. Um, No. Thank. You.
Now before you get carried away, do not diagnose yourself using the symptoms above. I definitely recommend getting tested by your doc. A gastric pH test can tell you if it’s something you need to worry about or not. Save yourself the headache –> Always test. Don’t guess.
For those with inadequate stomach acid, treatments are going to vary. This can depend on the root cause of low stomach acid, your doc, and even your personal preferences. Meaning we can use different foods, supplements, and even medications to curb this problem.
And that’s how we circle back to our fancy-pants, pinky up, Apple Cider Vinegar Digestive Tonic. Yes, ACV can be used as a digestive tonic. It’s pretty simple, and it’s pretty brilliant. After all, just a small amount of ACV can be just what you need to stimulate those digestive juices.
And this may just be my easiest recipe to date. It’s four ingredients at most…and one of them is water.
So all I need you to do, is grab a bottle of ACV with mother, a couple lemons, and stevia. The stevia is optional, but makes it taste like lemonade IMO. My preference goes to whipping up a larger batch, so I have a few portions for the day ahead.
So let’s start with the water shall we. I generally recommend room temperature water as it’s a little less shocking to the system. But if cold water is more palatable for yourself…go for it. Add in your ACV, lemon, and stevia if you wish. Give it a gentle stir, and voila. You’ve got yourself a simple Apple Cider Vinegar Digestive Tonic.
Generally, I recommend drinking eight ounces of the tonic a few minutes before a meal. It’s important to note, you should definitely follow up with swishing some plain water after the fact. ACV is super acidic and can wear down your enamel over time.
What are your thoughts on the Apple Cider Vinegar Digestive Tonic? Comment below or find me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
|
- 32 ounces room temperature water
- 4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 8-10 drops liquid stevia (optional for added sweetness)
Ingredients
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- Combine ingredients together and gently stir. Refrigerate or serve immediately.
