Morning Detox Drink

I’ve received quite a few questions about this simple little habit – my morning detox drink.

What is it?

Why do you drink it?

What are the measurements?

What are the benefits?

This is my favorite morning drink: a hot mix of water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, turmeric and cayenne. I’ve been drinking it for years, and while I sometimes get out of the habit, I always come back to it. It’s going pretty strong right now. 😉 If I’m having this in the morning, it’s before anything else: coffee, fruit, or random bites while I make the girls’ breakfast.

Detox Drink Ingredient Benefits

Warm/hot water: can help to promote healing of the body, and decrease free radicals when combined with lemon. According to Ayurvedic medicine, we should drink warm or room temperature water instead of cold, as it can help to remove toxins (ama) from the body. Warm water can also promote healthy digestion, alleviate pain, improve blood circulation and delay premature aging, according to this site.

Apple cider vinegar: this one is helpful in reducing infection, as many germs can’t survive in the vinegar. ACV may help stabilize blood sugar and lower LDL (the bad kind of cholesterol) blood levels. It can also help to reduce weight and body fat by encouraging a healthy metabolism.

Lemon juice: lemons contain vitamin C and potassium. When you drink lemon juice first thing in the morning, it gives the body a chance to absorb these nutrients and provide an immune system boost. Lemon juice can also help with maintaining a healthy weight, proper digestion and energy levels.

Honey: honey is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which makes it awesome for fighting any type of infection. It also contains flavonoids which can help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Honey can also help to improve athletic performance and provides a dose of energy.

Turmeric: turmeric is well-known for it’s bold orange color and anti-inflammatory properties. It has a very mild flavor, so it’s easy to add to dishes and drinks. 

Cayenne: can positively affect digestion, relieve joint and nerve pain, includes vitamin A to reduce inflammation, and can boost metabolism. 

As you can see, there are a ton of benefits to drinking this, but here’s my favorite part:

I think it tastes really delicious.

Liv would beg to differ. When I even bring my mug near her, she asks me to “stop that smell.” She pretty much hates it. Even the other day Tom was like, “WHOA that’s some spicy coffee you’re drinking.”

Haters gonna hate.

What Happens When I Drink My Morning Detox Drink

-I notice that I’m less likely to reach for sugar as an energy boost during the day. It gives me stable energy and dramatically reduces sugar cravings.

-I feel like it starts the morning on a more balanced note instead of chugging coffee and steamrolling into the day. Drinking this while I pack Liv’s lunch and feed the girls breakfast instantly makes me feel more present. I think it’s because it’s a little tangy and spicy; I can’t chug it the same way I do with coffee.

-It helps me fight colds and allergies. My allergies are a nightmare in San Diego – all that beautiful fresh ocean air gives me the sniffles. I know, right? – but I find that when I make this each morning, I’m not quite as red-eyed and sneezy. Whenever I have a cold, I make a super condensed “shot” version of this drink and will have it a few times during the day. I find that even though I get sick way more often right now (preschool petri dish strikes pretty hard over here), it doesn’t seem to last very long. 

What happens when I DON’T drink it

-I’m a bit of a sugar monster. I think that drinking this encourages me to start the day with a healthy mindset and I feel more encouraged to take time to chop a salad or eat some protein instead of diving into the chocolate chip bag. The other day I ate a lot of chocolate chips and was so annoyed that was the only sweet treat we had in the house haha, and still didn’t feel satisfied. I was trying to figure out why I felt “off”  and then I remembered that I forgot to sip this drink the am. I rushed out the door, skipped breakfast because we were late, and ended up craving sweets all day. 

Morning Detox Drink Recipe with Tumeric and Apple Cider Vinegar

Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

That’s it!

Have you tried this drink or anything similar? What do your mornings usually look like? Ours usually look like this. 🙂

Have a wonderful morning! I’ll see ya later today on the Family page with a 9-month PDB post.

xoxo

Gina