Super Fat Burning Food #2: Apple Cider Vinegar
Today, we’re going to get away from the vegetable category a bit and talk about 1 food that has been called a “miracle cure for all” for centuries. Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to call any food a miracle, but if there was ever one that comes close it’s definitely….
Super Healthy Food #2: Apple Cider Vinegar
Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is made by fermenting apples in a wood barrel. It is not the clear vinegar you may see in your grocery store simply labeled “Apple Cider Vinegar”. The kind you are looking for has a brownish tinge to it and floating stuff inside. The floating “stuff” is called “mother” and is formed from the pectin and apple residue. Please be careful when purchasing and be sure to get:
Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother
Several ingredients found in Apple Cider Vinegar give it its “magical powers”. It contains hefty amounts of calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, malic acid (very helpful in fighting infections from harmful bacteria and fungus) and pectin (which has been found to regulate high blood pressure).
Apple Cider Vinegar has also been found to greatly improve digestion and eliminate heart burn, clear skin irritations (like acne and contact dermatitis), assist in chronic fatigue conditions, help relieve constipation and assist in weight control by breaking down unwanted fat in the body.
WOW, that’s quite the list. With a track record like that, this food should be at the top of your “must have” list on a daily basis.
Here are 3 easy ways I ensure I drink a minimum of 1 TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar into my meal plans every single day (yes, every day!)
Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing
If you’re pressed for time, a little olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and pepper is a delicious way to dress any salad, but if you have a little time you can quickly prepare this tasty salad dressing and enjoy the benefits of ACV at the same time.
Mustard-Shallot Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 cup
Ingredients
· 1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
· 1 teaspoon dry mustard
· 1/4 teaspoon dry granulated garlic
· 1/4 cup raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
· 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (more or less depending on how thick you make the vinaigrette)
· sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
Put the shallot, mustard, salt, pepper and vinegar in a small mixing bowl and whisk thoroughly. Add olive oil and whisk until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings as you like. This is best when made fresh, but it can be made up to one day in advance, and kept in the fridge in a small airtight container. Let it sit at room temp for one hour if it has been in the fridge.
If you’re not having a salad on a particular day, you can consume your ACV in the form of a tasty cocktail (sorry, no alcohol included).
Apple Cider Vinegar Cocktail
* Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (with mother)
* 1 to 2 teaspoons of Raw Honey
* 8 ounces of filtered water
Drink this cocktail 1-3 times a day, preferably before or with each meal.
I suggest you start out with 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and honey to see if your stomach can tolerate the mixture at first. If you see you are having no stomach problems then increase to 2 teaspoons of each.
Alternatively, if you would like a cocktail with a bit less sugar, use stevia or xylitol to sweeten (although, raw honey has a long list of powerful healing properties all in itself, making the “cocktail” one of the healthiest drinks you can have each day).
Green Smoothie w/ vinegar
For those who really don’t enjoy the strong taste of vinegar, making a healthy fruit and vegetable smoothie is a great option. The different flavors of the fruits and veggies will help mask the vinegar taste.
There really is no need to have an exact “recipe” for your smoothie and I would recommend varying the ingredients every time so you are always getting in a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Here is one of my favorites (you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste).
Isabel’s Green Machine
Makes 4 cups
· 1 cup filtered water or coconut water
· 1/2 – 3/4 box of organic baby spinach (or 1/2 – 3/4 lb)
· 2-3 leaves of kale (stems removed)
· 1/2 inch slice of organic lemon (peel, pith, and all)
· 1 ripe banana
· Large handful of strawberries (about 6 large ones)
· 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
· 1/2 avocado (optional)
· 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
If you are pressed for time, you could substitute the kale and spinach with Athletic Greens to make the green machine a little quicker to create.
Isabel’s favorite Green Drink – Athletic Greens
The benefits and the ways to use apple cider vinegar are truly endless. I highly recommend making sure you get your minimum 1 tablespoon of ACV into your meal plans every single day and see the dramatic effects for yourself.
Hi Isabel,
Love reading your tips. I’m experimenting with the apple cider cocktail, and I really like it. In the article you say that this type of vinegar may clear skin irritations. My question is, does that come from ingesting the vinegar, or are you talking about applying it to your skin. It may sound like a silly question, but you never know.
Keep up the good work. We love it.
Richard
Thank you very much for this information. I’ve known for years that even the filtered apple cider vinegar helps fight food poisoning, which has kept me out of the ER several times now! I’ll definitely look into the “Mother” and raw apple cider vinegar!
Thank you very much for this information. I\\\’ve known for years that even the filtered apple cider vinegar helps fight food poisoning, which has kept me out of the ER several times now! I\\\’ll definitely look into the \\"Mother\\" and raw apple cider vinegar!
Hay Isabel
,you are a God sent,only God could know how much I needed your dieting system, I\’m an excellent cook and i.m sure with the help of your program I can be very creative with this system. I will be 65 years old in a month on the 21st February.
Thanks
Gale McKenzie
I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and am on your life changing plan. I have been doing the vinegar with water before meals 3x per day, but since I am not into the sweet taste I don’t use the honey, is that okay? I haven’t noticed any problems stomach wise.
Isebella please read this. I enjoyed your comments about tea today. I was visiting my daughter in China last spring and she took me to a tea house where tea was prepared and sold and prepared for export all over the world. My beautiful and slender guide spoke beautiful english and said she had earned her B.S. in the USA at the University of Minnesota. This is very interesting. She said that when she returned from the USA she had gained a lot of weight from eating a lot of western foods.
“Lots of sugar! I came to love chocolate! When I began working here my boss said I must drink 8-10 cups of green tea a day. In no time I was back to my old dress size.”
I could only take her word but she really had no reason to lie. But, that seemed like a lot of caffeine.
When I mentioned this she said, “No! One thing westerner don’t seem to know is that it is very important to wash your tea. When I was young I thought that washing the tea was just a step that my mother did in the tea ceremony, but we know now that it is important for other reasons. Americans would never think of bringing the beautiful produce from the best and cleanest super market home and eating it without washing it. Produce is handled by many people before it comes to your home. You always wash it! Tea is produce. It is handle by many people along the route to your cup. BUT that is only one reason to wash your tea. The other is more important! The first washing of tea removes as much as 50-80 % of the caffeine! A little caffeine is good but a lot is not! Every time you start fresh tea with new leaves. You should pour boiling water or water just below the boiling point over the tea, swirl the tea leaves for just 10 to 30 seconds and drain them. Then pour more water on the leaves and steep green tea for 1-3 minutes. sterilization and decaffeination in one easy step!”
She was right. I have a terrible time with caffeine and have never been able to build up a tolerance so that I can sleep at night. The smallest amounts after 11:00 a.m. and I will be up until past midnight. But I never have a problem since I have followed her advice and maybe the tea is a factor in my weight loss. Regardless. I feel great when I get my green tea!
vinegar honey cocktail is awesome, i put some shredded fresh ginger in it also..thanks,,,james
Just found your blog and really enjoying your humor and great information. My daughter just today was telling me of the benefits of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother!! and then saw on your video the brand she reccomended Bragg.
I have had several health issues this past year..breast cancer IDC and Hypothyroidism..getting all under control now and watching carefully my diet etc. I truly believe that some previous changes helped slow my cancer. Garlic and Ginger are staples and now the vinegar is on the daily routine.
I really appreciate all your information and since it matches up with my daughters..who is studing to be a Holistic Counceler…Your okay in my book!!
Thanks again
Hope
I live outside the U.S. and ordered immediately the apple cider vinegar with the mother from Bragg. It is sitting in my cupboard and am enjoying it very much! Thanks for the tip!!
Hi Susan,
Thank you for sharing this information. It is true that washing your tea will eliminate caffeine. I’ve also heard that some tea drinkers steep the tea for five seconds in a separate cup of hot water, take it out, and then put continue to steep until it gets to desired strength and virtually all caffeine is eliminated.
I did enjoy your story, too! China sounds wonderful.
Thanks,
Isabel