Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic: My Essential Morning Hydrating Drink

Starting your day with an apple cider vinegar tonic can help hydrate you, replace key electrolytes and minerals that you have lost, and make you feel more balanced and refreshed. This mix of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, and a few key ingredients, takes this a step further. Here is what I have found:

Why You Should Start Your Day With A Hydrating Tonic

Our bodies are made up of about two-thirds water. If we are not properly hydrated then our body has a hard time carrying out its essential functions, and we end up feeling less than great. We may not even realize that dehydration is the cause. Without enough water our body cannot properly detoxify, absorb nutrients, lubricate our joints, run our metabolism, or recover from workouts.

Truth be told, I am not one who gravitates towards anything but a large cup of coffee first thing in the morning. It is one of the first things that I think about when I wake up. But years ago I realized that one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to start your day by drinking a large glass of water first thing. Lukewarm water is even better so as not to shock your system and help it absorb easier. So for years I did that… and it was fine. I was more hydrated. I could check off one glass of water first thing so I was already on my way to eight glasses. It was fine… but it was not great. I knew there had to be a better way.

Why Drinking Water Alone Is Not Enough

Water alone does not replenish the electrolytes and minerals which you have lost throughout the day, and night. But by adding a few key ingredients, you can supercharge your water to help it replace what you have lost, hydrate you better, and help you absorb what you are missing.

Over the years I have played around with amending my morning tonic and trying different ingredients. I have added apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, sometimes honey, sometimes cayenne pepper. Truth be told some days I just reached for my coffee first. Then something changed. Me I guess.

At about the same time I started the keto diet, I also started going to hot pilates, HIIT, and yoga classes three to four times a week. This surprised me because my former self was convinced that I would not do well in the heat. It seemed like a surefire way to end up with a migraine. But as I mentioned earlier, once I started eating a low carb, keto diet, I stopped having migraines completely… and as it turns out I absolutely love the heat.

Where am I going with this? As I was now exercising in heat (96-106°F), I was sweating more than I knew I was able to. I didn’t really sweat before. Have you had the same experience? (Let me know below.) So as I was now losing so much in my classes, it became essential for me to replenish what I lost everyday and to start my day completely hydrated.

The Essential Ingredients For My Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic

So back I went to perfecting my morning hydrating tonic. To the apple cider vinegar and lemon juice I added cayenne pepper. I also added Himalayan salt to help replenish the minerals which I had lost. Then I found the ingredient that made a difference. In one of my favorite cookbooks, The Mexican Keto Cookbook by Torie Borrelli, she has her own version of an Alkalizing Morning Drink. In it she suggests adding Ceylon cinnamon which is an antioxidant that helps balance blood sugar (especially after coming off of a fast or if practicing intermittent fasting). So I tried it. The result? I loved it. Not only for the flavor, but for how it makes me feel.

Here are the ingredients, just stir well together. (Note: Do not use your fingers for the cayenne pepper as it could burn your eyes or body later, use a spoon.)

• 8 Ounces Of Water
• 1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Tsp. Ceylon Cinnamon
• Pinch Of Cayenne Pepper
• Pinch Of Himalayan Salt

The Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar & Lemon Juice

Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are believed to stimulate the digestive system and enhance the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, potentially leading to improved metabolism and increased calorie burning. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has been associated with reduced insulin levels, which may help regulate blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, further supporting metabolism.

Both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are considered to have alkalizing properties which aid in detoxification in the body. Although they are acidic by nature, when metabolized in the body they create an alkaline environment. This alkalizing effect is thought to help neutralize acidic waste products and promote the elimination of toxins from the body. Additionally, the high vitamin C content in lemon juice may further support detoxification by promoting the activity of certain enzymes involved in the detox process.

How A Daily, Hydrating Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic Will Make You Feel

My morning “tonic” makes me feel refreshed, balanced, and hydrated in a way that water alone just does not do. I can’t recommend it enough. If you make this Morning Hydrating Tonic be sure to leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you. And if you do, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!

A Word On Wellness

The information here is from my own experience living a keto, now cyclical keto, pescatarian lifestyle, and from my personal research on wellness and nutrition. I am not a doctor, please consult yours before making any changes to your diet. Every body is different. Changing my eating changed my life, which is why I am sharing what I have learned.. to help others live a healthy, vibrant, pain-free life, where you feel great in your own body.