My husband got me started on apple cider vinegar. About four months ago he started drinking warm water with a spoonful of cider vinegar first thing in the morning. “It’s really good for your health and digestion. It should be the first thing you drink when you wake up,” he urged.
The thought of drinking vinegar first thing in the morning nauseated me. “No thanks, Honey! I’ll stick to my coffee.”
A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism as well as an auto immune issue known as Hashimoto’s disease. While I am lucky not to have many of the more difficult symptoms associated with these disorders, I do often experience fatigue.
After my husband started the cider vinegar routine, a friend of ours who is a doctor of Chinese medicine recommended I drink warm water with lemon, honey and ginger first thing in the morning. He explained that this lemon, honey and ginger combination is good for both the thyroid and digestion. The combination seemed more palatable than my husband’s vinegar concoction, so I went for it.
I was amazed at how I felt after a week of drinking this mixture. The ginger warmed my thyroid area each morning and stimulated my senses. Before long, I cut back on my morning coffee ritual, finding that the lemon, honey and ginger seemed to wake me up just as well as the caffeine (and no jitters, hurrah!). I was better hydrated, and starting the day off with a healthy drink seemed to set me on the right track for the rest of the day.
A few weeks later, my husband suggested I try adding a small spoonful of the cider vinegar to the lemon/honey/ginger drink. After looking up the health benefits, he was right– there are many! Raw apple cider vinegar is alkaline-forming, which means that it can help to balance your body’s pH levels. It also has prebiotic properties which boost gut health and immunity.
Combining apple cider vinegar with honey and ginger creates a powerful boost of antioxidants that aids in digestion and weight loss. This drink can help to combat indigestion, nausea and bloating. Some folks notice a relief in their acid reflux symptoms when they drink this mixture regularly. It can also help to relieve many cold symptoms, including congestion.
After reading about all of these benefits, I went for it. You know what? It wasn’t half-bad. In fact, after a few mornings I barely noticed the cider taste; the lemon, honey and ginger flavors overpowered any off-flavor from the cider.
It has become my morning ritual each and every day – I make one drink for me and one for my husband. Having reaped the benefits for weeks now, I figured it was finally share-worthy for the blog!
While apple cider vinegar has had a noticeably positive affect on my overall wellness and has long been considered a cure-all for many ailments, this drink is not for everyone and does come with its own set of precautions. Cider vinegar is fairly acidic, and can cause throat irritation if not properly diluted or if too much is consumed. It can also break down tooth enamel over time if you’re not careful.
This drink is quite diluted which helps, but you can protect yourself even more by rinsing your mouth out after you finish the drink, then brushing your teeth. Apple cider vinegar may also react with some medications, including laxatives, diuretics and medications taken for diabetes and heart conditions. Always consult your doctor before taking apple cider vinegar to treat any medical conditions you may be experiencing.
If you really want to follow my morning routine, I always down one of these vitamin C packs (recommended by my naturopath) after sipping the cider drink. They taste really odd, but I have to say my immunity seems to be stronger than ever. I can’t remember the last time I caught a cold!
If you decide to juice fresh ginger, this is the juicer I use. It’s the best I’ve found for ease of use and easy cleanup. Of course, if you’re not into juicing, there is no need to buy a juicer just to make this drink. You can make it a few different ways, which I will explain below!
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Lemon Ginger Cider Vinegar Infusion
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups hot water (the same temperature you would use to make tea)
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar (or up to 3 tsp)
- 1 tbsp honey (I use manuka honey)
- 1 tsp fresh ginger juice OR 1/2 to 3/4 tsp powdered ginger spice OR 2-inch knob peeled ginger, sliced (ginger is to taste - use more or less as desired, but use enough so that your throat tingles when you drink it!)
Instructions
- If using fresh ginger juice or powdered ginger: combine all ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Serve hot and sip it like a tea. If using fresh ginger: Combine the peeled fresh sliced ginger and 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan and simmer on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes. Remove ginger pieces, then stir in the lemon juice, cider vinegar, and honey. Serve hot and sip it like a tea. When finished, rinse your mouth out well with water, then brush your teeth. I usually follow this routine by drinking a full glass of room temperature or warm water.
Nutrition
Naaz says
Hi,
I have been drinking this for last 3 days and skipping honey but will like to know is it good for someone taking high bp meds, borderline diabetic and cholesterol issue.
Pls advise how to use it
Thanks
Naz
Tori Avey says
This question is best addressed with a physician or nutritionist.
omar nuri says
Hi, Thanks for the great information and recipe. I have read/ heard of the fresh ginger, honey, lime juice, apple cider vinegar combination by taking one teaspoon every day for great health. Since I am borderline diabetic, could not have honey, but I mixed a couple table spoons of fresh grounded Cayenne pepper in the jar. That made it the supper healthy food with slight spicy taste which I like very much.
I hope others can try this version and see what they think. I like spicy/hot food.
Tara Colton says
Can’t wait to try it
Anisha says
Great combination but please do not brush your teeth straight away. You need to wait a min of 20 mins after as the enamel after eating or drinking is at its weakest for the next 20 mins so if you brush then, the enamel will wash away even more. So rinse but do not brush for 20 mins after drinking.
Vicki says
Hi Tori, I also have Hashimoto’s disease, so in the morning, when do you take your levothyroxine? After drinking the ginger tea? Or after you wake up in the morning?
Thank you,
Vicki
Tori Avey says
Hi Vicki! I take my meds right when I wake up, then I wait 30 minutes, then I drink it.
Brooke says
Hi Tori-How long does it last for? Should I make it fresh each day if I am using fresh ginger or can I make a lot and use it for a few days? Thanks
Ashley at ToriAvey.com says
Hi Brooke, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. I would advise making this fresh every day, if possible. But if you’d like to make it in advance, make sure to store it in a sterilized container (like a glass jar) and keep in a cool dark place.
phil says
I keep seeing pairings of of apple cider vinegar and ginger and tumeric sometimes all three together
But everytime I see anything about these pairings or the combination I have not seen one that does not include honey… why is that?
Ashley at ToriAvey.com says
Hi Phil, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. The addition of honey is more than likely for flavor. Honey is a natural sweetener and helps improve the taste of these health tonics.
Jenny says
Hi Tori,
Thanks for the recipe and I am looking forward to trying this drink daily. I have been taking 75mcg of levothyroxine for my hypothyroidism for the past 10 years. I would like to know whether the drink might help to do away with the medication that I have been taking?
Tori Avey says
I also take medication for hypothyroidism. My dosage has remained the same since starting this drink, however I’m on a very low dose. Not sure if it will change for you or not. Always best to get checked every 3-6 months, as those levels can always change.
Becky says
This is very close to a drink I already have used for years, the exact same drink only minus the ginger. I will add the ginger and look forward to the benefits! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Mb says
Tori, I love your recipes. They are DELISH! I do have one quick comment about this beverage. I am in the dental profession and was pleased to see you caution your peeps on the acidity of this daily drink. I can appreciate the potential benefits of this daily ritual and all the ingredients that can helpful to our overall health. While rinsing with plain water right after is a great suggestion, the brushing of the teeth should not happen for at least 30 minutes after finishing this drink. (or any acidic beverage for that matter) Just an fyi. The acidic pH softens our enamel and brushing too soon could enhance damage to our tooth structure. So just wait a bit before picking up a toothbrush. One of the comments below suggested drinking through a straw. That can also help protect the teeth.Thanks again for sharing your wonderful recipes. Mb
Tori Avey says
Great tips Mb, thanks for sharing!
Lilian Beth says
Hi Tori, I really appreciate your work on this site. I was able to follow your instructions to make my first homemade syrup. I’m really excited about this. Thank you.
Regi says
I tried your recipe and it’s good, thank you! I let mine cool down a bit and then I use those big bubble tea straws or the one from Ikea to sip to protect my teeth from the acidity & stains. I also add turmeric & black pepper if I’m boiling the mixture for better benefits.
claire says
I have been taking a mixture of Tbs Organic raw ACV
1 tsp lemon juice
1tsp honey
1/4 tsp crushed ginger
Mixed with about 20 to 30mls tap water then stirred well
I drink it through a straw 1/2hour before my meal twice a day
This has helped my weight drop by 4lbs short of 3 Stoneplus my chronic kidney has improved from a 3A Im much healthier and a lot fitter I swear by the above mixture
Linda Clark says
Hi, I have been drinking ginger root & lemon for a long time. However, I chop up a whole nob of ginger & then pour boiling water over it & let it steep in a quart jar. Then after it is cooled, I refrigerate & put a Tbls. of the pulp & a bit of the liquid in a cup of water & then microwave & add the lemon & drink-pulp & all. Should I not be ingesting the pulp? After reading your article, im going to add vinegar and honey. Thank you,but please answer my question about the ginger pulp. Perhaps, I’m not getting the benefit of the ginger by doing it that way? Thanks again. Eager for your rely. Linds
Tori Avey says
I don’t think there is anything wrong with eating the pulp, but I am not a nutritionist so can’t say for certain.
Bob says
I have been drinking this on and off for some time(plus cinnamon)and always feel great. I can tell everyone the benefits will be apparent in short order.
Bob says
I have been drinking this on and off for some time(plus cinnamon)and always feel great. I can tell that benefits will be apparent in short order.