apple cider vinegar (tea)

on the subject of tea, i thought i’d post a quick little shout-out for apple cider vinegar tea. i drink this whenever i’m feeling the early signs of a cold (or even allergies, because i’m not very good at diagnosing which is which), and after drinking some a few days ago i think i am now completely in the clear in terms of being sick. so, i thought i needed to share.

it’s not really tea, but it’s oh-so-simple to make. the ratio of ingredients is up for discussion, but i usually start with a mug, and first add apple cider vinegar. the technical amount that i would suggest is “as much as you can stand so that it is still palatable and/or pleasant to drink.” you don’t need a lot, really, but anywhere from 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon should work. if your throat is in need of something warm and soothing, you can fill the mug with hot water, but sometimes i just add filtered water and call it a day. for sore throats or that itchy feeling indicating that you’re getting sick, you could also add a dash of cayenne pepper (just a tiny dash. you can always increase the amount, but if it’s too much you won’t be able to drink it without crying.) lemon is another option – i usually just squeeze half a lemon or drop in a slice. and lastly, if you want it a bit sweeter, add a teaspoon-ish amount of organic maple syrup, too. you could use honey, but i’m a maple syrup gal and since it contains zinc, i figure that it must also be good for fighting illness (and it tastes so much better than those Zicam or zinc tablets.) anyway, that’s it. quite simple and it really has been effective. (also, if you are in a rush, you can always just put several splashes of ACV into a glass of water and drink it straight up. that’s how i did it earlier this week and it still worked wonderfully.)

[i first got the idea from here, and have been doing this for several years now. i don't claim to be a doctor, but i know what seems to work for me.]