No. I’m not talking about alcohol. I’m talking about Good Girl Moonshine (GGMS) which is a health drink that is popular in the Trim Healthy Mama world. It contains Apple Cider Vinegar, ground ginger, your favorite on-plan sweetener, and water. That's the basic make-up! But you can really flavor it any way you like, so long as it’s on plan.
I‘ll be honest with you. I hate the taste of apple cider vinegar. I know some people who drink it plain on a tablespoon! If that’s you, I commend you, you brave soul! (But please read the information below, you may not want to do that!) I just can’t do it. The bitterness is too much.
Apple cider vinegar is made by the fermentation of sugar in apples, which is what gives it that zingy, acidic quality and it is that active ingredient that contains all the health benefits. It has only three calories per tablespoon and contains small amount of potassium, amino acids, and antioxidants. The acetic acid, which is in all vinegars, is what is best known for killing bacteria and prevent them from multiplying. So you can even use this powerful stuff as a cleaning agent! (Water it down though or your house will smell like vinegar, gross!)
Apple cider vinegar is great for those who are battling type 2 diabetes because studies have shown that it helps lower blood sugar. It improves insulin sensitivity with high-carb meals, can improve insulin levels after meals, and can help reduce fasting blood sugar overnight when taken before going to bed. Not only that, but it has been shown to help with weight loss! It increases satiety during meals (so you eat less). A study was done on 175 people over 3 months to show how exactly apple cider vinegar helped with weight loss. The results?
Those who drank 1 tablespoon lost 2.6 pounds and those who drank 2 tablespoons lost 3.7 pounds. Now this isn't a lot, but they didn't change anything else about their lifestyle during the study – they just drank vinegar. Now imagine the results if you did it in combination to eating healthy and exercising!
Apple cider vinegar has also been linked to improved cholesterol levels, less risk of heart disease, and may have protective effects against cancer. With all these benefits, why wouldn't you want to start adding it to your diet?!
Well, aside from the taste, there are precautions you want to take too. As with all things, there is too much of a good thing. Too much apple cider vinegar can cause tooth enamel erosion, potential drug interactions, worsen symptoms of gastroparesis (emptying of the stomach which can cause heartburn, nausea, and bloating), nausea, esophageal (throat) burns (with children who drank it plain, unsupervised), and skin burns (when applied to open wounds or particularly sensitive areas). There has been one instance where one young-woman drank 8 oz diluted in water daily for six years went to the hospital and was diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Talk to your doctor first to make sure it won't affect any prescriptions you may be on, keep out of reach of children, don't use on open wounds or sensitive areas, and don't add too much to your drink. If you have been diagnosed with gastroparesis, talk to your health professional as you may not be able to drink it. The maximum, recommended amount is 2 tablespoons a day diluted in water, depending on sensitivity. It is also recommended to rinse your mouth out with water after drinking apple cider vinegar to avoid tooth enamel erosion.
So, the bottom line? It's good for you, but you have to be careful with it. It's powerful stuff! Now, back to the GGMS and my strong dislike for apple cider vinegar's taste. I have found that mixing it with other stuff is the best way to drink it and add it into your diet. My favorite is by Nana's Little Kitchen because it tastes like an orange creamsicle! It's her most popular recipe for a reason! It is a fuel pull so you can have it with a meal or you can make it an all day sipper. If you are wanting to give apple cider vinegar a go, I highly suggest this recipe to start out. Then you can do some exploration of your own. I have edited her recipe and tried out different things to find out exactly how I like mine. Here is what I have come with:
FP Orange Cream Soda by Nana's Little Kitchen
Serves 1 | Edited by Cooking for Alaska
Ingredients
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (I like mine with the mother, but it is stronger in flavor)
1 Tbsp Pristine Whey Powder (use 1 tsp for an all-day sipper)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp pure orange extract
2 tsp Pyure
1 1/2 cup water
1 container Bai Bubbles Jamaica Blood Orange
Ice
Instructions
Mix the apple cider vinegar and Whey Powder in a quart sized mason jar.
Add ginger and orange extract. Swirl to combine.
Add Pyure and water. Swirl to combine.
Add Bai Bubbles and mix with straw.
Add ice. Enjoy!
Articles Used in Making of Post
Gunnars, K. (2018, March 15). 6 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, Backed by Science. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar#section7
Spritzler, F. (2016, August 10). 7 Side Effects of Too Much Apple Cider Vinegar. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apple-cider-vinegar-side-effects#section3
Comments