Apple cider vinegar and honey with warm water benefits

Apple cider vinegar and honey with warm water benefits

“We’re looking for the big raw…” My toddler echoed exactly what I would verbalize to them every time we were looking at apple cider vinegar in the grocery store.  I always check the store brands to see if any of them are raw, and apparently verbalized this to my little shopping companions.

Yes, a big jug of raw apple cider vinegar makes its way into my shopping cart often. During the summer I drink about a tablespoon in a cup of water 2-3 times a day, to keep PMS at bay (see more about that here).

This winter I’ve been making a warm drink with both raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey.  It’s warming, and has all sorts of health benefits that I will list below.

Warm Raw Honey Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

1 mug warm (but not too hot to touch) filtered water (we use this water filter)

1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar (you can get a free bottle from Thrive Market for a limited time by clicking here)

1 tablespoon raw honey (we use this honey)

Instructions: Stir 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and raw honey into warm, but not hot, water. Sip.  If the drink is too vinegary for you, decrease ACV to 1/2 tablespoon and work your way up until you are using 1 tablespoon or more.

Health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Raw Honey:

In the words of my favorite Eastern medicine practitioner, “If it didn’t work, it wouldn’t have been passed down for so long.”  Some of the best remedies are super simple, easily accessible, inexpensive, and worked into everyday routines.

Apple cider vinegar is a raw fermented food that has a rich history of healing and bringing the body into balance.  Talk about this remedy when you’re among your grandmother and her friends, and you will most likely hear a few of them tell you that their mothers took a shot glass of apple cider vinegar every morning.

Raw honey also has been used for thousands of years as a health food as well as a sweetener.  Local honey is great, but make sure it is truly raw for this recipe to benefit from the enzymes present.

The traditional health benefits of this drink combination, especially on an empty stomach are numerous:

  • Digestion
  • Weight loss
  • PMS help
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Relieve a sore throat
  • Help with seasonal allergies
  • Regulates stomach acid, relieving acid reflux
  • Promotes clear skin
  • Increases energy

When there is a traditional remedy like this that is easy to do, I encourage everyone to try it.  See if you can make this honey and apple cider vinegar drink fit into your daily routine this winter, and report back any changes that you’ve noticed!

Apple cider vinegar and honey with warm water benefits

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Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on October 22, 2020

Drinks made of honey and vinegar have existed for thousands of years. Also known as “oxymel,” the combination of honey with some kind of vinegar creates a syrup that’s usually added to water or another liquid and then drunk. Since ancient times people have used the mixture to prevent or improve many conditions:

  • Epilepsy
  • Snake bites
  • Asthma
  • Colds
  • Fevers
  • Constipation
  • Tuberculosis

While some of these ideas have been disproven, today people all over the world continue to drink the mixture for the health benefits they hope to gain, such as weight loss or healing infections. You can find both ingredients at grocery stores around the globe.

Nutrition Information

One tablespoon of honey contains:

  • Calories: 64
  • Protein: 0 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 17 grams
  • Fiber: 0 grams
  • Sugar: 17 grams

The nutritional content of vinegar will vary depending on the type of fruit used to make it and the brand. One tablespoon of cider vinegar contains:

  • Calories: 3
  • Protein: 0 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 0 grams

A honey and vinegar drink can also be an excellent source of:

  • Potassium
  • Phosphorus
  • Choline
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Glucose
  • Fructose

Potential Health Benefits of Honey and Vinegar

Honey and vinegar are both rich sources of vitamins and minerals. For instance, vitamin C and vitamin E exist in honey, while vinegar contains vitamin B-12 and vitamin K.

Vitamins help the body function and stay healthy. The vitamins in honey and vinegar boost the immune system, aid in bone and heart health, assist in memory and cell production, and help blood clot.

Research has found a number of potential health benefits to eating or drinking honey and vinegar:

Disease Prevention

Honey and vinegar contain antioxidants, which play an important role in reducing harmful oxygen molecules (called free radicals) in the body. Antioxidants help lower your risk of developing certain diseases such as cancers, as well as reduce signs of aging and combat types of dementia.

Improved Heart Health

Some studies suggest that consuming vinegar may help prevent heart-related diseases. In particular, vinegar has been linked to lowering levels of  “bad” L DL cholesterol and increasing levels of  “good” HDL cholesterol, which the body uses to help protect against heart disease.

Meanwhile, early studies suggest that taking in moderate amounts of honey may help lower blood pressure, which is another risk factor for heart disease.

Finally, a few early trials also suggest that vinegar generally lowers oxidative stress in the body, which is a predictive factor for atherosclerosis (the hardening of the heart’s arteries). More research exploring the effects on humans is needed.  

Weight Maintenance

Vinegar has also been connected to a reduction in appetite, although accuracy of this claim is debated. Many believe the acid in vinegar slows the absorption of food in your digestive system, leaving you feeling fuller longer. As a result, consuming honey and vinegar may allow you to more easily maintain your weight.

Potential Risks of Honey and Vinegar

Because honey and vinegar are so potent, you should talk to your doctor before significantly increasing your honey and vinegar intake. Consider the following before preparing or drinking honey and vinegar:

Insulin Resistance

Honey is rich in sugar, which is not ideal for some diets. Too much sugar can lead to health problems such as diabetes.

One study that investigated honey vinegar syrup found that consuming a moderate amount of it  for four weeks led to an increase in fasting insulin levels (the amount of insulin in the body after not eating any food for a period of time) in volunteers. As a result, people with diabetes may want to avoid drinking honey and vinegar to keep their blood glucose levels stable.

Cholesterol Concerns

The same study that found that honey vinegar syrup increased fasting insulin found that consumption of the syrup lowered levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood. HDL cholesterol helps protect against heart disease. Without much of it present in the body, your risk of heart disease or experiencing heart-related events increases.

Dental Damage

Acid, a main ingredient in vinegar, is known to be damaging to tooth enamel (the coating on your teeth). Similarly, bacteria in your mouth naturally changes sugary foods into acid when you eat. As a result, drinking honey and vinegar together negatively affects your teeth. Talk to your dentist  before adding honey and vinegar to your regular diet, particularly if you have a history of dental decay or erosion.

What happens when you drink apple cider vinegar and honey?

The vitamins in honey and vinegar boost the immune system, aid in bone and heart health, assist in memory and cell production, and help blood clot. Honey and vinegar contain antioxidants, which play an important role in reducing harmful oxygen molecules (called free radicals) in the body.

Can you lose weight drinking apple cider vinegar and honey?

Apple cider vinegar isn't likely to be effective for weight loss. Proponents of apple cider vinegar claim that it has numerous health benefits and that drinking a small amount or taking a supplement before meals helps curb appetite and burn fat. However, there's little scientific support for these claims.

What are the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar with warm water?

This article looks at the evidence behind 6 possible health benefits of apple cider vinegar..
High in healthful substances. ... .
Can help kill harmful bacteria. ... .
May help lower blood sugar levels and manage diabetes. ... .
May aid weight loss. ... .
Improves heart health in animals. ... .
May boost skin health..