This 4-ingredient gut tonic tastes just like warm apple cider – but it’s super healthy. Drink it to help with digestion, get rid of bloat, speed up weight loss, and boost your immunity.
Welcome to 2017! Here’s hoping that this year will be a solid march forward from last year, building off lessons we’ve learned and expanding on relationships we’ve cultivated. Zack and I just landed back in New York after two blissful weeks in California. We decorated cookies with our nieces (this is my first year getting to say that they’re my nieces, which is just so fun…#marriedlife), hiked in redwood forests and along the rocky, dramatic coast of the Pacific Ocean, wine tasted in Napa, and played games around a campfire before lighting sparklers to ring in the New Year. And – oh yeah – we ate. We ate the world’s best Indian food in San Francisco, candied orange peels and peppermint candy cane cookies homemade by my sisters, and heavenly Mexican food whenever we could find it. And now, well – I’m ready for a bit of a break.
I’m not one of those people who make a ton of resolutions (although I have been meditating every day for over a month now, and I’m committed to keeping that up in the new year, which I’ll share more about later), but I have found myself craving some healthier food, and to cleanse my palette from all that sugar. My favorite trick for sugar detoxing is upping my intake of fermented food – gut shots, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, whatever I can get my hands on. It quells sugar cravings and makes my feel instantly better. I’ve also been doing for a green smoothie for breakfast as much as I can, and, if I’m really feeling like I want a kick, adding my Green Detox Soup in at night, which satisfies just about every savory, healthy craving I have.
But. Life is still life. You’re not always going to be drinking green smoothies and eating green soup and that’s where this tonic comes in. Using just four ingredients, it’s a powerful digestive aid, weight-loss tool and immunity booster. Plus, it tastes just like a warm, cinnamon-spiced apple cider.
The secret is in the apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is one of those superfoods that is, in my opinion, undervalued. It’s not $50 a pound, and it doesn’t come from a secret tree hidden away in the Amazon, but it’s amazing for you. It helps balance the pH of your body, tells your gut to secrete the acid it needs to properly digest and eliminate your food, and nurtures your micro biome, which is basically the Beyonce of the health world right now. Your micro biome is responsible at least in part for your weight, for how anxious you are, if you get that cold that’s going around your office and much, much more.
Cinnamon and honey make it taste amazing, and a pinch of sea salt adds minerals. You can make this warm or cold, but I definitely prefer it warm – my favorite way to consume it is after dinner, where it immediately helps me feel better, no matter what I’ve consumed (and it’s sweet enough to eliminate any craving for dessert).
Try it and let me know how you like it – I guarantee you’ll feel a difference. What are your thoughts on resolutions? Are you making any for the new year?
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4-Ingredient Gut Tonic for Weight Loss, Digestion & Immunity
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar (the bottle should say, “with the mother”)
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup filtered water
Instructions
- Bring half of the water to boil in a kettle or on the stovetop. Pour the other half of the water and all remaining ingredients into a mug and stir well, then add boiling water. It should be perfect drinking temperature (don’t boil all of your water, or you’ll kill the good properties of the apple cider vinegar and the honey). Serves 1.
This taste delicious! But can I use regular honey ? And regular apple cider vinegar?
Hey Rose,
For the most health benefits, I recommend using raw apple cider vinegar that says “with the mother” (like Braggs brand). Apple cider vinegar with the mother is simply unrefined, unpasteurized and unfiltered ACV. The “mother” is a colony of beneficial bacteria, similar to a Kombucha SCOBY, that helps create vinegar through a secondary fermentation process. I also recommend raw honey because it has the highest amount of pollen and nutritional compounds and also no additives or preservatives. I hope this helps!
xo, Liz
I’m trying it first time this morning. My question is do I do this every morning?
Hey Patti,
Yes! You can do this every morning.
xo, Liz
I will also use this apple cider vinegar, cinamon powder, ginger powder, 1 lemon juice for 1 week and this is very tasty. My mother also use for weight loss and boost immunity. How many time to take better result on weight loss???
Hey Supravat,
I’m so glad you love the recipe. All bodies are different, so I can’t give you a cut and dry answer specific to how soon this could help with weight loss. Research shows that ACV can boost weight loss when its been drank consistently for 12 weeks. Additionally, ACV and ginger can reduce bloating immediately after drinking. I hope this helps!
xo, Liz
I love this! Could I add a little lemon juice to it as well and or chamomile tea?
Hey TC,
I’m so glad you love the recipe! I personally haven’t tried this recipe with additional lemon juice or chamomile tea, but I think the flavors sound interesting together! Let me know in the comments if you do try it!
xo, Liz
Do you drink this at any specific time or the day?
Hey Bill!
I suggest drinking it first thing in the morning (especially before coffee), but also 15 minutes prior to eating a big meal! You can check out this podcast episode to learn more about when to drink vinegar for maximum health benefits!
xo, Liz
xo, Liz
amazing taste amazing feeling helps you sleep and loose unwanted pounds
I’ve started this a week ago. Once in the morning and once before bed. I’m using the raw form of cinnamon powder. It has allowed my gut to feel less bloated.
This is so yummy , I’ve drank in a couple cups now and watched as the swelling literally went out of my body.
I’m so glad you like it!
This is delicious. The sweetness of the honey leads my stomach to believe it is a snack. Sometimes if I have them in the house, I add the juice of half a lemon.
★★★★★
Hey Debbie,
I’m so glad you like the tea! Adding lemon is such a good idea.
xo,
Liz
Do you drink this once daily?And do you drink it at night before bedtime or mornings
Hi Judy, I do not! But when I do drink it, I LOVE it after dinner. My one caveat is apple cider vinegar can be tough on tooth enamel if you drink it too often. It sure is delicious, though!
Hi Liz, I Like it, but how often should it be taken? And thank you for sharing it.
★★★★★
Hey Shelia, I’m so glad you love the drink! My biggest warning is that sipping on an apple cider vinegar-based drink too often can weaken the enamel on your teeth—just something to be aware of. I’d recommend talking to your doc to get their thoughts! xo, Liz
Going to try
Let me know what you think!
xo, Liz
I have been taking myself off coffee in the mornings, looking for something to take its place and I just bought a big bag of lemons at Costco, I think this recipe is a sign! ha. I’m going to do this each morning and after meals. Thank you for the inspiration.
I don’t drink coffee either! Excited for you to try the recipe—let me know what you think 🙂
xo, Liz
Just made this because I don’t like to drink just Apple cider and vinegar. This taste pretty good and not too strong.
Love it thank u thank u thank u
★★★★★
Hi Karen,
You’re so welcome!
Xo Liz
Love your recipe Can I add lemon as well
★★★★★
Glad you like it! Adding lemon sounds delicious 🙂
xo, Liz
I can’t print out the directions to make the 4-ingredient gut tonic. Im gonna try to make it today off what I can get off my phone
Going to start this detox this evening. I have the four ingredients. I’m excited to try it. ???
Do you have a newsletter? If so, do you send out blog posts like these to your list? I would be interested in signing up if you do.
https://restaurantclicks.com
Hi Brian — Yes! There is an area on the right-hand side of the website labeled “Spice Up That Inbox”. You can put your email in right there!
Xo Liz
Yum!! I saw you share this on Instagram recently and just tried it when feeling bloated after a meal. It tastes so good and is so easy to make with pantry staples I always have on hand. Not sure yet if it will help my bloating but it tastes great. I’ll use it as a caffeine free warm drink alternative for sure. Thank you!
★★★★★
Does it have to be raw honey? Will any honey be ok?
Hi Alex — Raw honey would be ok!
Xo Liz
I like the recipe.
Is there an alternative for honey that most people have in their houses? I don’t have any honey and won’t for a week or two but really want to try this. Thanks!
I loved it!! So easy to make as well and something different the tea.
★★★★★
Thank you for this recipe. I will make it today. I love your explanation of the benefits and when to take it. Thank you for sharing.
LOL the Beyonce of the health world. I’ve been drinking lemon water in the morning and it has absolutely been helping me get my day started… will have to give this one a try!
★★★★★
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I love this idea! I’ve been drinking ACV for awhile and it always makes me feel better, but this sounds delicious! I just discovered your site and I’m obsessed with all your recipes!
thank you so much!! <3
The receipt it is so delicious and helpful especial with bloating
Hey Carol,
I’m so glad you love the recipe.
xo, Liz