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How to make an Apple Cider Vinegar Drink (called a Switchel) plus the Top 10 Benefits of drinking Apple Cider Vinegar on a daily basis. A healthy, energizing, probiotic drink made with apple cider vinegar (with the “mother” in it) that reduces body fat, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, lowers insulin, helps shed weight, boosts immunity, aids with digestion and regularity, and increases energy and vitality!
If you’ve been here a while, you’ll already know I’m a huge fan of this Apple Cider Vinegar Drink. When I first started the blog, way back in 2011, I was drinking it regularly every morning and did not get sick for five years. Five years! Not a sniffle.
It turns out, this has been around a while and there is actually a name for it… it is called Switchel!
TOP 10 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar:
There is a lot of compelling research on the many health benefits of Apple Cider vinegar. Here are the top ten health benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar daily.
- Lowers Body Fat (2 tablespoons daily)
- Lowers blood sugar
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- helps with weight loss (2 tablespoons daily)
- Reduces Belly fat
- Lowers cholesterol
- Boosts immunity
- May improve heart health
- May slow the growth of cancer cells
- Improves digestion
Here are a couple more articles that talk about the benefits of apple cider vinegar that I found interesting: Longevity Live and Medical News Today.
I know that on days when I drink this Switchel, I feel so energized! Not only does it help keep me “regular” (drinking it first thing in the morning), when I drink it before a meal, I feel less hungry.
I’ve read it helps keep our gut microbiome in balance, helping regulate the balance between bacteria and yeasts. I’ve also heard it lowers blood sugar after eating a high carb meal, and helps regulate insulin and lower cholesterol – but please do your own research and see. As I told you earlier, I know first hand it boosts immunity, making me more resistant to colds and flu.
But please don’t take my word for it…try it for yourself… drink it for a few weeks, and see how it feels.
Isn’t that the true test? Experiencing something for yourself personally?
What is a Switchel?
This Apple Cider Vinegar Drink is said to originate in New England where it became a popular drink in the late 17th century – where it was used to revive tired and thirsty farmers at harvest time, also called “Haymaker’s Punch” or a Switchel. It was basically sweetened apple cider vinegar water.
What or who is the “mother”?
If you are wondering what “the Mother” actually is in the Apple Cider Vinegar – it is is the colony of healthy bacteria, similar to a Kombucha SCOBY, that help make the vinegar through a secondary fermentation process.
Apple Cider Vinegar “with the mother in it” is vinegar that is not filtered or heated (pasteurized), so the healthy living bacteria are preserved and kept alive to do their healing!
Why I personally take Apple Cider Vinegar:
Healthy Belly:
I travel a lot and eat a lot of “street food” in India, Asia, etc., and I find that drinking Apple Cider vinegar water, daily, especially on trips like this really helps keep my belly healthy and happy. It is not foolproof, but stomach issues do seem to get resolved much more quickly. Instant Relief. Now, I won’t travel without it. 🙂
Helps me stop snacking:
One thing that I’ve been trying to do lately is not snack between meals. This switchel has been a godsend. I snack out of boredom, not hunger… and you’ve probably heard me say, my mouth gets bored! So I’ve been reaching for this drink lately instead of the snacky stuff. It makes me feel less hungry.
Helps my immunity:
Like I mentioned earlier, when I drink this regularly I don’t ever seem to get colds or flu. Perhaps it is the placebo effect. Who knows, but it works.
Ingredients in Apple Cider Vinegar Drink:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water or sparkling water
- Sweetener: Maple syrup, molasses, monk fruit, honey or stevia (all optional)
- Slice of lemon, orange or lime
- Ginger- optional but delicious!
- Pinch of Himalayan sea salt (optional)
Apple cider vinegar for weight loss:
According to recent research, drinking 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar ( 30 ml) daily will help with weight loss.
I’m curious to hear what you think about this Apple Cider Vinegar Drink…. please let me know in the comments below! It’s actually the most helpful if you actually try it first and experience the effects personally, before judging. 🙂
Have a fun and happy weekend!!!
Have a Switchel! Cheers!
xoxo
More Recipes you may like:
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Apple Cider Vinegar Drink (Switchel Recipe)
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: drink
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: american
- Diet: Vegan
Description
How to make an Apple Cider Vinegar Drink (called a Switchel) plus the Top 10 Benefits of drinking Apple Cider Vinegar on a daily basis.
Ingredients
- 4 slices ginger ( optional- see notes)
- 3 3/4 cups water, divided
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar ( like Braggs – “with the mother in it”) more to taste
- juice of 1/2 –1 lemon (or sub limes or other citrus! Blood oranges are pretty too!)
- 1 tablespoon honey (preferably raw) or molasses, maple syrup or stevia to taste -optional, see notes
Instructions
Place ginger in one cup of water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Let cool.
Pour the ginger water, remaining water, apple cider vinegar, juice from half a lemon, and your choice of sweetener into to a quart mason jar. Stir and adjust lemon and sweetness to your taste.
Store in a pitcher or mason jar, either in the fridge or at room temp (if drinking throughout the day).
Enjoy first thing in the morning to aid the liver in cleansing, or in the afternoon for an energizing pick-me-up or after dinner to help mitigate carbs and regulate insulin.
Ideally, you want to consume 2 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar daily for 12 weeks to see results with weight loss and body fat. Remember you can always add to salads too. 🙂 Raw Apple Cider Dressing
Notes
This will keep for 1 week in the fridge.
It’s important you let the warm water cool- you do not want to kill the healthy bacteria in the vinegar or the health benefits of the raw honey.
If in a hurry, simply leave out the ginger, and make the drink in a glass, with lemon, vinegar and optional sweetener to taste. You can also use sparkling water and serve over ice.
Sweetener is optional: Over time as you become accustomed to the vinegar taste, you may naturally want to lower the sweetener or omit completely. ***Most mornings I drink filtered water with just a splash of the apple cider vinegar. No sweetener, no lemon, no ginger. Simple and easy. But I know this may not be pleasant for most. This recipe was intended to get you accustomed to the taste. Feel free to adjust from here.
And Lately, I’ve been adding a pinch of pink Himalayan Salt to add electrolytes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup - using honey
- Calories: 26
- Sugar: 5.1 g
- Sodium: 1.2 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.9 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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Have been drinking this for some years now. sometimes twice a day because it helps me drink water. I make 16 oz at a time. However, the way I do it may not be the best. I put in more than a dash of Himalayan salt in it. I start drinking and seriously cannot stop. My body just says…more…more…don’t stop!!! yet, I struggle to swallow water….go figure.
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Interesting Linda, your body must be really needing the minerals in the salt!
I have lost my 50 year old recipe for switched , but do remember that it had blackstrap molasses and there was rolled oats in it that sank to the bottom of the crock. My husband loved to eat the oatmeal when the swichel was gone.
That sounds really interesting. Love the addition of molasses!
I didn’t rate the recipe because I already know i don’t like acv in water. And I could only drink half of this. But, I will try the vinaigrette recipe or just adding it to more things. I put it in my coleslaw recipe and really like that. Not sure if it could go in something hot like soup after cooking, without destroying the benefits.
Yes, it’s great in coleslaw isn’t it? If adding to soup, just add a few drops to your serving bowl, not to the simmering soup.
I make a drink Kombucha daily would I befit drinking this to ?
Kombucha is good too! Up to you? You can try it and see if you like it?
You really should use Molasses instead of any other sweetener. It adds potassium which helps the body to hydrate, replace lost electrolytes.
Great tip Deann- thanks! I usually don’t add any sweetener these days, but great for newbies!
Once I’ve reached the 12 week mark of drinking Switchle, do I continue or wait a few months before doing another 12 weeks? Not sure what to do once I’ve reached 12 weeks. Thanks!
Hi Wanda- there is no set protocol here- assess how your body feels and continue if you notice positive effects?
This is delicious and I didn’t use any sweetener. Even my husband liked it and he generally will not drink anything with ACV. Thank you!
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Great to hear Denise!
How many ounces per day is recommended to get the benefits? I made a double batch today. Thanks
Two tablespoons of the AC vinegar per day!
Thanks for posting this up .This is a very informative article surely. I hope that you guys will put up more informative articles in future.
thanks!
Can I use powdered ginger in place of the ginger?
Yes, that should work fine!
What a great way to ring in the New Year. We celebrate by making.your Apple Cider recipe. Actually my husband and I have always taken a tbls. Raw daily, yours is the Best 👌
Thank you, 🍻 HAPPY NEW YEAR Sylvia and Team. Lilian Bethel, Vancouver, Canada.
★★★★★
Thanks Lillian- Happy New Year!
I used to drink Switchell as a boy in New England while haying. A wonderful drink on hot, dusty days. I remember the ladies coming out with it in buckets with oatmeal in it to give it some body.
Love this Phil. The oatmeal is really interesting!