Apple Cider Vinegar Green Tea Refresher

This Apple Cider Vinegar Green Tea Refresher is a wonderful detox drink with additional health benefits!

Happy Wednesday!

Finally back to the blog after a week of camping in Canada and traveling back home for a friend’s wedding. It felt so good to be up at the campground with friends and some fam. And because I don’t have an international phone plan, I barely turned on my phone at all! It was pretty awesome, actually. I kind of miss the days being up there when NO ONE had service. You know, when you’re forced to sit around and play cards, or color in Winnie the Pooh coloring books. But I did turn on my phone to take some pictures…

 Georgian Bay

#nofilter <3

We had such a good time visiting with our Canadians 🙂 Enjoyed our morning coffee and tea around the picnic tables, spent some time on the (windy) beach, went on a hike. It felt so good to get outdoors, plus we had some gorgeous weather. I also played around with the DSLR on a pit stop during a bike ride…

f/22, ISO 100, 1/10

f/8, ISO 100, 1/160

f/22, ISO 200, 1/15

(Still have a lot to learn, but it was fun playing around with the settings!)

And of course we ate some tasty food, and camping treats. I think all of my camping friends would agree that we totally eat better up there, compared to at home. Not sure why, but we definitely do. Between making big breakfasts, and our friends bringing a homemade ice cream maker, we certainly don’t go hungry! My mom also brings up a goodie bag with miniature chocolates, pretty much always in a teal tote. As soon as I saw the teal tote, I knew I had to check out the stash. And of course she knew exactly what I was doing, and just laughed at me. 🙂 Kit Kats remind me of my Nana, so I had to have one (or two) in her honor. But by the end of the week, I think my tummy had had enough…

Which brings me to this lovely, refreshing apple cider vinegar drink. YES, vinegar. No, we aren’t drinking the vinegar by the ounces, nor are we drinking it straight even. It’s actually only a tablespoon, added to 8oz of cooled brewed green tea, a little bit of water, and some ice.

There are several health benefits claims regarding raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, but not a ton of scientific evidence out there yet. Some of the main claims are:

1. Helps improve insulin sensitivity (which can also help aid in weight loss)
2. Reduces heartburn
3. Regulates your body’s inner pH level by maintaining a healthy alkaline pH level.

I’ve been drinking this for over a year now, and I have it almost every day. I’ve found it makes me feel less bloated, and just helps me feel better all around. I like to drink it between meals, which also helps keep my appetite in check–you know when you start feeling hungry an hour after you ate, but you know you’re not actually hungry and you probably just need some water. 😉 Sometimes I’ll even use it as a pre-workout drink. And for the husband, he has said it clears up his nasal cavity allowing him to breathe better, and it has also helped him with heartburn. I’ve also used it as a facial toner, on burns, and as a foot soak for plantar fasciitis. Call me a hippie! 😉 But seriously, I kind of love this stuff…

Some may call it an acquired taste, and it took me a while to figure out how I like it best. I tried lemon water, using honey vs. stevia, and even adding cinnamon… But adding the cooled green (or herbal) tea is what I’ve come to like best.

For this recipe, my sweetener of choice is glycerite (almost like stevia). If you’re not a big fan of any kind of stevia, you could also sub honey or agave, and adjust to your desired sweetness. If using a thick liquid sweetener like honey, I do recommend using a blender to make sure it is well emulsified. I DON’T recommend drinking the liquid straight, or even with just water. You will most likely NOT enjoy it. And, drinking it straight can damage your esophagus. So if you plan on taking ACV as a supplement and don’t want the fuss of making a drink, please add a substantial amount of water! But I really do recommend giving this drink a try. The husband literally just walked in, took a sip and said “Ooh, tastes like Kool-Aid!” I’ll take it! 😉

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So what do you think about ACV (apple cider vinegar)?! Have you tried it before? I’d love to hear from you!