“Shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots…everyBODDAY!” I may or may not sing this song every morning as I make the hubs down some of this nastiness…

And yes, it is nastiness. There is no denying it. Apple cider vinegar is gross and throwing back a whole 1.5 fl oz of it ain't fun. But I start my day with it every single morning and I can promise you it's worth it.

The proven benefits are vast, but the few I've really noticed in my health:

1 – energy  |  Honestly, this will wake you up even better than coffee. I notice too that it especially helps clear my brain fog and aids with mental focus.

2 – digestion  |  You will actually feels this ish burn as it sits in your stomach and moves through your system. It definitely helps move things along and it keeps digestion regular.

3 – pathogen fighting  |  Just like you use vinegar to clean in your home, you can imagine what it does to your insides. The acetic acid helps fight pathogens and bacteria in your body and I've noticed it help me fight bugs when they're going around.

4 – blood sugar regulation  |  ACV has been proven effective in regulating blood sugar levels in patients with Type II diabetes; it helps to improve insulin sensitivity and therefore it helps keep blood sugar levels from spiking after an intake of carbohydrates. Because I don't have diabetes, I can't say this is a benefit I truly feel. But I'm a big believer that high blood sugar is a cause of so many of our common chronic illnesses, so I know working now on keeping my blood sugar in check will help me battle other issues in the future.

For all these reasons and more, I swear by my daily shot of this gnarliness.

I started by chasing it with a swish of orange juice. It helped get the bitterness out of my mouth just enough to stop the cringing. But I'm used to it now, so I usually just follow it up with a glass of water and a couple berries to wash it down.

A little purchasing tip: make sure it contains “the mother.” This means it still contains the culture of bacteria that made it vinegar in the first place. Some vinegar brands will remove the bacteria before they bottle it for you, but the culture contains many of the added health benefits, so you want it, in all its murky glory! I've tried some different brands, but this Bragg's one from Amazon has been my favorite.

A lot of people take their ACV diluted in water with lemon and honey, so if you're terrified of the shot, you can try it that way. I've just found it much easier to get it down and done. Give it a go and let me know if you feel the benefits!

Cheers to health! xx, molls