Drinking Vinegars are all the rage in Portland

Drinking vinegar for health dates back a long time, especially in Japan, where it started as far back as during the Samurai Warrior times. The warriors would bring a tonic of vinegar and water into battle to fend off fatigue, helping them to fight longer and stronger.

I have suggested drinking 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with a little bit of water before meals to my patients for over a decade. It aids in digestion, weight loss, heartburn, and many other ailments. Adding a little honey to the vinegar mixture makes the drink more palatable but definitely not necessary! This can be a great non-alcoholic aperitif to serve at dinner parties to improve digestion and comfort during the meal. It also helps curb the appetite and decreases the amount you want to consume during a meal.

Drinking vinegars can be made at home by mixing many different types of vinegars with water and a natural sweetener such as honey if desired. Usually drinking vinegars are flavored with fruit and they are still regularly consumed daily by many people in Japan. Various restaurants around Portland have begun serving drinking vinegars including Pok Pok, Ping, and various others.

Reasons you should consume drinking vinegars, especially with apple cider vinegar:

♥     Weight Loss
♥     Improved digestion
♥     Increased ability to break down proteins
♥     Alkalizes the body
♥     Detoxifies the body
♥     Decreases food and sugar cravings
♥     Stabilizes blood sugar
♥     Eases heartburn

Easy aid to weight loss:

First thing in the morning, drink 10 ounces of drinking vinegar and wait at least 30 minutes before eating. You can do this again an hour or so before dinner as well. I often put a small amount of apple cider vinegar into my water bottles that I drink throughout the day.

Dr. Black’s Recipe for Easy Apple Cider Drinking Vinegar:

6 cups filtered water

3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (with sediment), my favorite is Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

Sliced watermelon, strawberries, and cucumbers to taste (optional)

Combine all of the ingredients and enjoy. Allow mixture to mingle for at least an hour or longer if you are adding fruit.