A Nourishing Smoothie with Apple Cider Vinegar
A deliciously nourishing smoothie that cleanses and rejuvenates your body. This recipe by Kimberly Snyder shows a great way to work apple cider vinegar easily into your daily diet.
Lemons and apple cider vinegar are two ingredients that are both great for cleansing and rejuvenating the body. Lemon is a core part of Beauty Detox, as we drink it not only in our Glowing Green Smoothie® of course, but also with our daily hot water with lemon in the morning. I like working apple cider vinegar into salad dressings and recipes, but I’m not a big fan of drinking it diluted in water myself (ew!).
But this smoothie recipe is a great way to work both ingredients in… it’s my new Lemon & ACV Tonic Smoothie Recipe in a nourishing yet actually tasty way.
The Highly Prized Lemon
Lemons provide us with a great deal of vitamin C- one of the most regenerative antioxidants to help abate inflammation and various forms of aging in the body, and keep our cells vibrant and healthy. Vitamin C is also important for keeping our immunity and energy vibrant and strong, and protecting us against colds and the flu, etc.
Lemons have also been associated with boosting liver’s function and tissue regeneration—which is helpful while cleansing- as the liver is our main detoxifying organ.
Lemons or Gold?
Lemons (and other vitamin-C rich fruits), were highly prized by the miners and developers during the California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century as they were used to protect against the development of scurvy.
Lemons were in such high demand that people were willing to pay up to $1 per lemon. Even today this price seems ridiculously expensive, so just imagine how they must have felt back in 1849!
Lemons originated in China or India—having been cultivated in these regions for about 2,500 years. They were originally developed as a cross between the lime and the citron. Their first introduction to Europe was by Arabs who brought them to Spain in the 11th century.
It’s the Crusaders who found the fruit growing in Palestine, and are credited with bringing the lemon to other countries across Europe. Lemons, like many other fruits and vegetables, were brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in his second voyage to the New World in 1493, and have been grown in Florida since the 16th century. As for today, the major producers of lemons are the United States, Italy, Spain, Greece, Israel and Turkey.
If the Crusaders prized these yellow gems, surely we can do the same, knowing we are aiding and protecting our body’s with amazing healing properties. Click here to see why I love Meyer lemons in particular so much, and why you should give them a try whenever you can get your hands on them!
ACV (aka Apple Cider Vinegar)
Oh the many wonders of apple cider vinegar. It’s an important ingredient to keep stashed in your kitchen for sure!
But first, what is it exactly? Apple cider vinegar is made by using active yeast that is combined with sugar, which comes from the naturally occurring sugar from crushed apples. The yeast then consumes the sugar and uses this to grow healthy bacteria (this is how fermentation takes place).
The best apple cider vinegar should be made from certified organic apples and should be sourced raw. Pasteurization is not required, as this kills all of the delicate nutrients and enzymes. What’s pretty cool, is that the acidity of the vinegar is enough to prevent unhealthy bacteria (such as E. Coli), from developing. Once the fermentation process is complete, the result is the formation of acetic acid—the main beneficial compound found in apple cider vinegar.
What makes this vinegar stand out from the rest is that it can be used for anything from curing colds, to repelling fleas, to whitening your teeth. But a few reasons I love ACV, is how it can detoxify your body, can be used to help balance candida, regulate pH balance, and promote optimal digestion.
Detox Your Body
Apple cider vinegar is a liver and lymphatic tonic which can help detox your body. It not only helps to balance your body’s pH and stimulates cardiovascular stimulation, but also helps with bowel motility and lymphatic drainage.
Candida Cleanse
There are many of us that struggle with candida and/or yeast in one degree or another and it can be a real drag. Some of the side effects can be lack of energy, UTI’s and digestive issues. Apple cider vinegar contains beneficial probiotics and other compounds to help balance yeasts, including candida, in your body.
Regulates pH Balance
Balancing pH is important for bone health and overall wellness.
Though apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid (which is acidic in nature), upon digestion, its overall effect on your body is alkalizing.
Promote Optimal Digestion
ACV helps promote digestion by encouraging growth of friendly bacteria in your body. An age-old digestion remedy calls for sipping one tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar, diluted in a cup of water twenty minutes before meals. You certainly may try this but I prefer to use it in my salads and smoothies! 😉 I think it’s pretty nasty to drink ACV alone with just water- I like blending it or mixing it with other ingredients myself.
When it comes to buying this powerful vinegar, again, be sure to purchase a brand that is labeled “raw” and “unfiltered”. Personally, I like using Bragg’s Organic Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar.
It’s about that time to give our bodies what they deserve with all these amazing ingredients. Let’s check out the steps!
Let’s not forget to maximize our cleansing benefits by getting in the habit of drinking one hot mug of water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed in first thing in the morning. This is also a great way to refresh yourself throughout the day by adding it to our drinks & smoothies (like today’s smoothie), and your salads.
Let’s get squeezing….
Lemon & ACV Tonic Smoothie Recipe
Author: Kimberly Snyder
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 apple, cored and quartered
- 1 lemon, juiced and deseeded
- 1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of coconut nectar or raw honey
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Enjoy!
