Feeling like you need a little detox? Make this apple cider vinegar drink with simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
Sometimes, I just feel blah. Whether I’ve overindulged on something specific, or I’m just not quite feeling one hundred percent, sometimes my body needs a bit of a reset. Maybe yours does too?
In general, eating a real food diet with plenty of vegetables is your best bet. But for a bit of a boost, try this apple cider vinegar drink.
This homemade apple cider vinegar drink is a great way to support your body, and it’s made from simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Taking apple cider vinegar has many benefits:
- losing weight
- assisting with blood glucose and blood sugar levels
- benefiting heart health
- reducing high cholesterol
- ACV contains polyphenols and polysaccharides, which help boost the immune system
- lowering high blood pressure
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DETOX DRINK INGREDIENTS
To make this apple cider vinegar drink, you ONLY need 5 easy-to-find ingredients!
- Apple Cider Vinegar. It naturally balances the body’s blood sugar levels. Similar to kombucha, apple cider vinegar (with the mother included) has many enzymes and acts as a probiotic, improving gut health. It also aids in detoxing the liver and lymphatic system.
- Lemon. This fruit is well known for its antibacterial properties and adding it to water can help keep you hydrated and even assist with weight loss, especially if you replace sugary drinks like soda. It may help prevent kidney stones. It also has multiple vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin C and folate, which help nourish your body.
- Raw Honey. Raw honey has several immune boosting benefits. It has enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that will nourish the body as you detox. The bonus benefit of honey for this apple cider vinegar detox drink is that it acts as a sweetener, which makes the drink go down much smoother.
- Ground Ginger. Ginger has long been a traditional remedy for digestive issues, supporting gut health, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Here’s how to freeze ginger so you always have some on hand!
- Cayenne Pepper. It is found to be a natural fat burner and has anti-inflammatory effects. Both of those aspects are helpful in detoxing the body and all you need is a dash cayenne pepper so it won’t be spicy!
- Water. Hot water helps dilute the apple cider vinegar, making this drink easier to swallow.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DRINK RECIPE
Step 1. Mix all the ingredients in a glass or small jar.
Step 2. Add about an ounce of warm water.
Drink all at once before eating in the morning.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DRINKS FOR DETOX TIPS
- Make sure to use apple cider vinegar with the mother (that way it includes the active good bacteria cultures). You can also make your own apple cider vinegar using leftover peels and cores.
- Local raw honey is the best choice, especially if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Check out your farmer’s market for the best prices. If you can’t find raw honey locally, try Amazon.
- Use warm water to make it easier to drink and help melt the honey. Cold water is ok, but personally, warm tastes better to me!
- This recipe makes one shot of apple cider vinegar drink. However, if you prefer to sip and like the flavors, fill your glass with additional water and enjoy!
- Make a triple batch that lasts a few days. Prepping it ahead makes it readily available to drink consistently. Mix your apple cider vinegar detox drink in a mason jar (like this one) and store it in the refrigerator. Shake well before pouring a serving.
- Don’t be afraid of the cayenne pepper. It goes down quickly!
- You may want to rinse your mouth out or use a straw for this apple cider vinegar drink. ACV is acidic, and daily use can damage tooth enamel.
HOW TO TAKE DILUTED APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- Drinking in the morning on an empty stomach will allow you to absorb the nutrients quickly and get your digestive system moving.
- Take this before every meal for a few weeks to jump-start your system on a detox. Then, cut back to just once before breakfast.
MORE WAYS TO USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Apple cider vinegar is one of those helpful kitchen ingredients you hear about quite often, not only as a component in recipes but also for other uses both inside and outside the kitchen.
- Facial Toning: Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 1 ¾ cup water. I use this facial toner after removing my make-up naturally.
- Produce Wash: Apple cider vinegar makes an easy fruit and vegetable wash. Find the details here.
- Treat Sinus Infections: Mix 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar with 2-3 tablespoons water, gargle for 30 seconds, and swallow. Repeat every hour for the first 6 hours, then every 2 hours (except while sleeping). Repeat until symptoms subside and the body heals itself. (I’ve actually done this myself. The sinus infection took about a full week to heal – which was how long it took to see a doctor – but I was able to heal it myself and the doctor confirmed it!) (ACV is shown to have anti-microbial effects.)
- Rid Croup: My son had a strange cough that included no other symptoms. We waited for a week to see if the cough would go away, but it didn’t. It was harsh, loud, and often. We gave him the same remedy as the sinus infection and his cough had reduced significantly within one day and was completely gone within three.
- Remove Moles: I know this sounds crazy, but it really works! You can read how my husband removed a mole from the side of his face using ACV.
- Bug Repellent: I have recipes to make bug repellent with essential oils and bug repellent without essential oils. Yet, some readers have even suggested that drinking just 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar on a daily basis has kept bugs away too!
- Homemade Conditioner: Just 1 tablespoon of ACV and warm water can replace your typical conditioner. Not only does it work, but this will save you TONS of money too! Read the full tutorial on homemade conditioner here.
- Salad Dressings: I use apple cider vinegar in Greek Dressing and Italian Dressing.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DRINK FAQS
What are the side effects of drinking apple cider vinegar?
In my personal experience, I have felt dizziness and fatigue when doing a detox. This happened when I drank a bentonite clay detox smoothie AND took a detox bath on the same day as making this apple cider vinegar detox drink.
A detox can deplete the body of needed minerals. It’s best to take it slow and pair it with a healthy diet to keep your nutrients in balance.
You could feel the detox if you take too much at one time or try multiple detox methods at the same time.
Before starting any type of detox, you should seek professional medical advice.
Does it matter if you use fresh lemons or bottled lemon juice in the apple cider vinegar detox recipe?
Fresh is best, but bottled works if that’s what you have!
Can I drink apple cider vinegar every day?
Apple cider vinegar is a real food ingredient. I recommend making one shot of this apple cider vinegar drink every morning before breakfast. Be sure to check with your doctor, especially if you take any medications that may interact with a daily apple cider vinegar drink.
MORE DETOX DIY RECIPES
- How to Detox Your Armpits
- How to Take the Ultimate Detox Bath
- Simple DIY Detox Face Mask with Charcoal and Clay
- DIY Detoxifying Salt Scrub and Exfoliating Body Wash
Crush Inflation Challenge!
Sign up for my FREE Crush Inflation Challenge and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!WATCH HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DETOX ELIXIR
Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Elixir
An apple cider vinegar detox elixir to drink daily to improve digestion & increase energy. An easy way to improve your health from the inside out!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1.5 oz 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 wedges)
- ¼ tsp ginger
- 1 Tbsp raw honey
- Dash cayenne pepper (seriously just a dash!)
Instructions
- Mix ingredients in a glass or small jar and add about an ounce of warm water. Drink all at once before eating in the morning.
Notes
- Make sure to use apple cider vinegar with the mother (that way it includes the active good bacteria cultures). You can also make your own apple cider vinegar using leftover peels and cores.
- Use warm water to make it easier to drink and help melt the honey. Cold water is ok, but personally, warm tastes better to me!
- This recipe makes one shot of apple cider vinegar drink. However, if you prefer to sip and like the flavors, fill your glass with additional water and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 36
Diane
Heather, you mention in the recipe that ACV and lemon juice need refrigeration. Is that only if they are mixed together, or do you keep your bottle of ACV refrigerated all the time?
Dan
Would it be normal to have excessive bowel movements
In the first day or two with this? I have eaten and drank
Poorly for a while leading up to this. I want to keep taking it, but want to make sure it is safe to.
Tamms
My husband recently started drinking ACV with fresh lemon, raw honey and MINERAL WATER to heal his gut. This is only a couple of ingredients more and sound like something I can use. Thanks for the inspiration!
Dee
I’m not too familiar with ginger. I know the fresh ginger root is in the produce section, but is there an easier way to include it or what’s the best way to handle the ginger if what’s in the produce section is my only option?
Tiffany
You can use raw ginger too Dee, it will just be a bit more powerful. It also won’t mix easily, so you’d want to run in it through a blender before drinking.
Chrissie Siegfriend
I ve been using this recipe for 1 month now and I ve seen great results, I also suggested to my friends also.
Thank you!
Charity
I have been making a mix of my own for the last 4 days. First thing in the morning and in the evening. I heat up the water til it’s just hot enough. I Tbsp ACV, 1/4 tsp Turmeric, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 spoon coconut oil, 1 drop lemon essential oil, 2 drops slim and sassy essential oil, and honey to taste. I am hooked. Feeling the benefits and looking forward to seeing the weight drop. I am also doing the Alternate Day Fast and this really helps with keeping hunger down, feeling satisfied. I have been thinking about adding the cayenne as well as ginger.
Rebecca
My naturopath recommended I take ACV with water before meals for digestive issues. I found it also cured my chronic sore throat as well. Recently, we were traveling in Germany and I had an upset stomach so I went to the store for ACV. Not really knowing how to translate it exactly, we found a drink that I’m fairly certain was close to this recipe with ACV, lemon, and honey. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Eriana
Is it okay not to add cayyene pepper?
Nancy S
I’ve been using this recipe for 2 weeks, minus 3 – 4 days for a bad cold and cough. It’s a Godsend! I’m 51 years old and I’ve lost 28 lbs! I admit I mistakenly used 2 oz of ACV and added cinnamon and Turmeric for the health benefits. It’s not the greatest tasting drink, but going down 1 full size in 2 weeks is amazing! I felt so much better. My skin was clearer, I had energy, my clothes are so loose that my husband even noticed! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Tammy
Hi Nancy, for weight loss, how often are your drinking it? and are you doing a special diet? I am 45 and I am trying to lose about 20 lbs.
Donna M Moore
I’ve been using the AC V for 5 days twice a day but I have not noticed any weight difference but I have found that I feel a lot better my intestines feel better and I’m not near as tired as what I used to be I was anxious thinking that it would help me to lose weight but so far no luck with that
Rick
To get maximum benefit it is always best to use fresh ingredients .Yes it takes a little while longer to make but it benefits your body even more . Using raw ginger , you just peel it, chop it up in little cubes and steep in a bowl of hot water . Some people will even use raw ginger in there food processor and turn it into a paste and then add it to hot water to steep for 10 minutes . I then use a strainer and pour the ginger water into a pitcher and then add the raw honey to your taste .This allows the honey to blend in evenly .The steeping doesn’t boil all of the goodness out oft he products .Never boil ginger and honey because you kill the beneficial effects ! I then add ice to bring temp down and then add apple cider and lemons and refridge or drink a glass then and there . I make enough for 5 days a week so my time is used wisely .
Jeffrey T Moss
Honey ought NEVER be cooked,ginger however can be boiled without losing and possibly increasing its health benefits.
Cathy
How many of these drinks can I have per day? I use my bullet with a small amount of water to ground my ginger. I pour it through cheese cloth.
Tiffany
I’ve heard of drinking a similar recipe twice per day, but I don’t know if I’d do more than that. 🙂
PETA
I’ve just made the big batch of this DELICIOUS drink, and now I can’t wait for tomorrow morning to come so that I can start my day with this super-healthy elixir!
Thank you for the great recipe! By the way, I added about a teaspoon of Turmeric as well, because of it’s great healing properties, and the taste blends in well with everything else. :))
Tiffany
That’s a great addition Peta – thank you for sharing!
William
Hello
We make Vinegar with lemon since 18 months but we never use ( Chinese Recipe) we would like to begin t now but we are worry about sugar , please could you tell me if sugar is a problem for diabetic person??
Friendly
William
Tiffany
Hi William – I am not diabetic and don’t have first-hand experience to share. I’m sorry! I would recommend talking to health professional.
Katelyn
If I wanted to use real, raw ginger how could I go about adding it and how much of the root should I use? I’m really looking forward to giving this a try and adding some turmeric to the recipe as well.
Katelyn
I ended up juicing the ginger. It was a bit of a hassle though. Those things are not easy to juice -_-
Tiffany
OH my, I bet they’re not! Maybe next time you could stick the whole thing in the blender? Maybe do a double batch so there’s enough for the blender to operate. 🙂
Joyce Hughes
This is for Ms Katelyn.
1. U can shred the roots over a bowl of water (with the peeling). Let it sit overnite. Next day strain off the ginger and pour into a large container add raw honey. Taste to your satisfaction. Add mothersfriend ACV unfiltered (vinager.
OR
2. U can peel a piece of the root with a spoon. Cut into slices then add to a pot of water to boil for 15-20 mins.with a lid…Water (depends on how much tea u want. If its too weak add more ginger, if too strong add more water. If u r satisfied add the raw honey while it is hot to your taste. Refrigerate overnite.
N the morning add your other ingredients. U can drink this as a hot tea or a cold one.
I hope this helps..
Jeffrey T Moss
Asian food market usually sell plastic graters made for ginger,turmeric as well.Or crush the ginger as much as possible and mince it with a sharp knife.
Jason
Put a whole piece of ginger root in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer. When you need it, grate the frozen ginger using a zester and add it to taste, super easy. I like ginger alot, so I would zest a small pile, about half a ping-pong balls worth.
Michael
Get a Breville juicer. Works awesome for ginger and tumeric. Cold centrifugal machine works best
Kimberley
Can you use lemon and ginger essential oil and if so how many drops would you use?
Heather
I would suggest making sure you are using essential oils from a company you trust concerning purity if you are going to ingest. Only one drop of each oil is plenty. Essential oils are very potent and a little goes a long way!
SC Susie
I have been drinking 2 teaspoons of raw ACV in a juice glass diluted with water every morning and it has cleared my face of Perioral Dermatitis and adult acne that has plagued me for a few years. I had to get used to the taste but the raw, organic ACV has a more “apple” flavor than just the standard ACV. It tastes kind of like a vinegarette salad dressing but it is not horrible. I have trouble with acid indigestion at times and was really worried about ACV making it worse. It absolutely did not bother me in the least! I also use straight ACV as a spot corrector if I have a blemish and it dries it up overnight. I would recommend this at night because the blemish will redden temporarily and then calm down quite nicely after several hours. Can’t wait to try this Detox Elixer!
Heather
Awesome! I’m so glad it’s helped with your skin! I’ve also seen ACV recommended if you have acid reflux or similar issues. The acidity of Raw ACV actually helps balance the acid in your stomach. It’s got lots of benefits!
Savannah Dan
True story, I had acid reflux so bad I was eating Rolaids by the hand full. My brother turned me on to ACV and I thought WTH???? I have ACID reflux, how is putting MORE acid in my stomach suppose to help???? Well it DOES, I drink it daily and sleep like a kitten.
Tiffany
When you have acid reflux this means your stomach is not producing enough acid to break down the foods you are eating quick enough. Adding more acid HELPS because of this. Alot of people think they have too much acid with acid reflux when in reality it’s the other way around. Search Dr. Berg on youtube. He’s amazing.
Korinne
Is a dash the same as a pinch? 🙂 And is an ounce of water, 2 tablespoons?
Heather
A pinch will work! And I think an ounce of water is more than 2 Tbsps. You can eyeball it though. There’s room for adjustments in this recipe!
Beth
Old comment, but yes, 2 Tbsps is 1 fluid ounce.
Sarah Feldt
Ive folloew your recipe almost to the letter. I found though that more water makes it taste like lemonade sort of. 8x looks like1/2 c honey 1/2 c lemon juice, 1/2 c apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp Cayenne, 2-3 c water to taste. Yummy! The cayenne is very different but I add it for the heart health benefits. Thanks for the recipe!
Heather Robertson
Awesome! Thanks for the large batch measurements!
Michelle
If you make the large quantity should it be refrigerated or can it be kept out?
Mrs brown
She says to refrigerate in the article
Kari
I tried this but the honey separated. Because I stored it in the refrigerator it was very difficult to mix together for a single serving when I needed it. Any suggestions?
Jeffrey T Moss
Don’t refrigerate, vinegar and lemon juice do not need it.
Jayne
The article says to refrigerate the vinegar and lemon juice.
“The ACV and fresh lemon need to be refrigerated.”
Which is it?? Refrigerate or not?
Jayne
I’d like to know what happens if the exact ingredients (raw honey, raw ACV) are not used. For instance, regular powder ginger and ACV from the jar (McCornmick’s).
Laura Talley
Multiply the ounce of water by 8 for the large batch, should be 8 ou water=1 cup?
Great recipe, I added turmeric and pepper also 🙂
Tammie
I see raw honey listed twice, is this a typo? Also, can ground ginger be substituted and if so, how much measure? What measure of water to add this to?
Thank you.
Alicia
Great recipe -if I were to make a big batch of this to last a week, how much would you drink each time?
Heather Robertson
Hey Alicia! I think it measures out to be about half an ounce for a single batch. (Minus the water.)
Lea
I just made a 5 day batch of this elixir and it doesn’t taste bad! I added half a teaspoon of turmeric for it’s health benefits 🙂
Tiffany
Wonderful news Lea! And great addition on the turmeric!
Lisa
I was wondering about substituting turmeric for the cayenne and ginger???
Tina Houston
Can I substitute turmeric
Penny Moses
Where do you purchase tumeric? Is just any otc in stores sufficient?
Kel Bold
It’s a spice in the cooking aisle right next to the cinnamon, paprika, etc. Or you can order it in bulk from a place like Amazon (ends up being cheaper and better quality).
Jason
I prefer to use actual turmeric root, you can find it in many produce stores or in the produce section of a grocery store (wegman’s, wholefoods). I grate it using a zester (which I also use to grate frozen ginger). Turmeric will stain orange everything it touches (fingers, zester, cutting board). You could just be extra careful or wear a glove to minimize the mess. It’s worth the mess to me because I feel the flavor or fresh turmeric is much better than powdered form and the bio-availability of the beneficial curcuminoids is greater than that of dried turmeric. If you use dried tumeric, listen to Jeffrey’s comment below about black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine, an alkaloid, which helps your body better absorb curcuminoids from dried turmeric, which are normally not well absorbed by the body.
Tiffany’s recipe is effective and tastes great just the way it is. I’ll save the turmeric for something else.
Andrea
But how much of everything is used? I’m one that needs actual measurements, lol.
jennavive
the measurements are on there look towards the end of the original post .
INGREDIENTS
1 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1-2 wedges)
¼ tsp ginger
1 Tbsp raw honey
Dash cayenne pepper (seriously just a dash!)
Jeffrey T Moss
Don’t forget the black pepper,drastically increases the benefits of turmeric, just a pinch.
Gabrielle burns
Im curious , i was reccomened this mixture plus the tumeric minus the ginger for stomach issues , SIBO(small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). My concern is i already feel nauseas when i first wake up latley since im transitioning off of an acid reducer and the SIBO can have syptoms of nausea as well so will this mixture make me feel sour stomach or really queezy ? Especially on an empty stomach it just makes me nervous lol. Thought maybe u could tell me how u feel when u take it and what your taking it for