If you’ve paid attention to any of the health trends over the last few years, there’s no doubt you’ve heard of apple cider vinegar. Some people put it in their tea or water every morning, while others look to it as a remedy for ailments such as lowering high blood sugar, lowering bad cholesterol related to heart conditions, and treating ear infections or fungal infections.
I, personally, had no idea just how powerful apple cider vinegar was until I needed it as an ingredient for a healthy recipe. I had to make a vegan cream cheese frosting for carrot cake, and Bragg’s was on my list.
With all of the holidays coming and going, I’ve been trying to eat better (alongside the occasional treat, of course), so I looked to the bottle of Bragg’s in my cupboard and thought of all the benefits I’d heard about. Based on some extensive internet searches, apple cider vinegar is supposed to be a good pH-balancer, effective toxin-remover, and excellent energy-producer. And who wouldn’t want that in their life? With this in mind, I decided to incorporate apple cider vinegar into my week to see what would happen.
Day 1
Naturally, I had to try the most common way of using apple cider vinegar — drinking it. I diluted two teaspoons of Bragg’s ACV (theirs contains the “mother,” essential bacteria and enzymes that are supposed to be really good for you) into one cup of water. Apple cider vinegar has a strong flavor, so adding it to the water helps it go down smoothly. It was still a little shocking to my tastebuds, but I got used to the tang after awhile.
I didn’t expect to feel different on the very first day, but I did feel a little more energized. It was probably from the excitement that came from adding something new to my diet, and the prospect of how it’ll improve my health in the future.
Day 2
I wanted to see all that ACV has to offer, which is why I moved on from the ACV water early on. On Day 2, I opted for tea instead. At work every morning, I get a steaming cup of green tea. I don’t add honey or sugar, so I was a little scared to add the Bragg’s. I found a box of mango green tea in the kitchen and just went for it — ACV included. It was actually super good, so I wouldn’t mind making that my morning drink from now on.
This day, I had period cramps. I was unsure about how ACV would affect the pain — normally the cramps are unbearable.
A few days before using ACV, I was experiencing horrible period cramps. This day was particularly bad. I was unsure how ACV would affect me and my period pain. But as I drank the tea, the pain lessened, and I didn’t feel the need to just curl up in a blanket the rest of the day. I already felt more energized and in good spirits, despite the slight period cramps (and just, you know, my period).
Day 3
Feeling positive about the last couple of days, I wanted to try making meals with some of Bragg’s ACV. I don’t normally eat a big breakfast (I just stick with some nuts and fruit, since I’m not super hungry that early), so by the time lunch hits, I’m starving. I decided to make a simple lunch of some avocado chickpea toast.
Normally, I’ll make a chickpea salad sandwich with vegan mayo and lemon juice for this recipe, but I wanted to switch to something healthier. Into some mashed avocado and chickpeas, I added salt, pepper, and a splash of ACV for some tang. I spread it onto the toast and finished it with some red chili flakes. It was amazing — ACV in food is such a game-changer.
This day, I could officially confirm that ACV does wonders for your health. My period pain completely went away (without the help of pain relievers). I just felt clean. I stopped feeling bogged down by whatever I was eating and I was staying well-hydrated.
Day 4
Not wanting to lose the ACV-in-food momentum, I was curious to see how ACV bodes in hot dishes. In the fall and winter when it’s colder, I always turn to power bowls. These usually contain roasted vegetables, rice, and a protein. But I wanted to make it even easier for myself — I spread out some sweet potato, broccoli, carrots, and Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet and covered it with oil and ACV, as well as other seasonings. It tasted just like a cozy night in, which means I’m definitely going to continue adding ACV to my veggie roasts. And I thought it added more flavor to the veggies than it did in the chickpea toast.
So Yummy
My normal diet does consist of vegetables, but whenever I was looking for ways to add ACV to my meals, I noticed an increase in my eating of good, natural ingredients. This, in turn, made me feel less tired, more energized, and gave me a general feeling of good vibes. I have a history of being plagued with fatigue and lack of motivation, but so far, adding ACV to my food and beverages seemed to have turned it all around.
Day 5
On this last day, I wanted to try something sweet. I usually have a major sweet tooth, so it’s impossible for me to give up sugar. I know that dessert can still be (somewhat) healthy, so I figured I’d try to make a healthy dessert with some ACV.
So Yummy
This time, I tried a super simple recipe for oatmeal turtle cookies. I soaked some Medjool dates in ACV for that slight caramel flavor, and then made the batter with oats, toasted pecans, and dark chocolate chips. I’d like to think this counts as healthy, because I could not stop going back for more. It did taste and feel healthy, but it still felt like I was giving myself a treat. The ACV added more dimension and flavor to the dates for sure, which made the whole thing taste just plain delicious.
The Outcome
During my time drinking and eating various forms of ACV, I realized I was craving sugary foods much less. For instance, these cookies aren’t really sweet, but it was just enough (otherwise, I probably would’ve craved some chocolate right after). I experienced five days of not having a 3 p.m. slump, which I thought was unheard of. But, since nothing else in my diet and regular life had changed, I knew all of these positive changes I was noticing was because of the apple cider vinegar.
So Yummy
While ACV has a very distinct flavor and zing, I don’t hesitate to incorporate it into my diet every day. Before I started using ACV, I was having stomachaches and cramps pretty consistently, but these went away after having ACV in my daily rotation. I feel less tired throughout the day without crashing midday, and feel great overall. Adding ACV to my diet wasn’t something that ever crossed my mind, but I’m glad I did it and will absolutely keep looking for ways to wiggle it into my daily life. I’d suggest it to anyone who’s been feeling tired lately (and they’re not sure why), and need that extra pep in their step throughout the day. It’s an easy way to incorporate in your diet — and of course, the healthier the better. I did this diet for just five days, so imagine how good you’d feel if you made this a lifelong commitment.
