By Dana DeMercurio
Apple Cider Vinegar: If you’re only using apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing, then you’re doing it wrong. Let’s get a few things straight about ACV before diving into its ample amount of advantages. Real organic apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting pressed apple juice until the sugars turn to vinegar. It’s important that these organic apples are unheated, unfiltered and unpasteurized in order to keep the ‘mother’ intact. You’ll recognize the ‘mother’ as the accumulation of cloudy goodness that’s made its way to the bottom of the bottle. The enzymes and minerals found here can be distributed by shaking the bottle before every use. From improved digestion to strengthened immune system, from weight loss to detoxification, and from regulated blood sugar to serious skin benefits, a few tablespoons of ACV a day can keep a horde of health issues away.
Fermented Foods: Not a fan of the Korean classic dish, Kimchi? Well, you might be after reading this! Fermented foods showcase a slew of health benefits, from helping balance the production of essential stomach acid to helping the body produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses that ultimately improve bowel movements, thus alleviating constipation problems. If you’re looking for creative ways to add fermented foods to your diet, check out Well+Good’s ‘7 Fermented Foods You Should Be Eating.’ It’s loaded with helpful and healthful eating habits to start today!
Warm Lemon Water: If you didn’t already know, lemons are a powerful and protective fruit that helps maintain your immune system via nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fiber. Its antibacterial properties can also help safeguard your immune system from many types of infections. Drinking warm lemon water every morning helps flush out harmful toxins from the liver, stomach and colon, and aids in the balance and maintenance of normal pH levels in the body. The health benefits are truly endless, so spruce up your cup with a little added lemon juice and reap the ample advantages.
Raw Honey: Be advised – we’re not talking about that processed honey you find in the cute little bear-shaped bottle sitting on the grocery store shelf. This is about raw, organic, unprocessed golden goodness straight from the hive to your home. Honey has been coveted and celebrated for millennia – there is almost no part of the world where honey isn’t esteemed and enjoyed for its plethora of health benefits. In its pure, natural state, honey’s antioxidants protects against the occurrence of free radicals in the body which are known to cause cellular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Natural honey also contains numerous enzymes which aid in the digestion of certain food substances, particularly carbohydrates such as sugar and starch. So the next time you go to add a packet (or two or ten) of artificial sugar to your favorite cup of tea, reach for some organic honey instead. Your body will thank you.
