Both apple cider vinegar and turmeric are known for the variety of health benefits they provide. But what happens when you mix the two superfoods together? Professor Stig Bengmark, a former chief surgeon and prominent researcher, says the benefits would be amazing. He developed a recipe that combines turmeric and apple cider vinegar as one healthy daily tonic.
He believes the combination is excellent for the bacteria in the intestine and for reducing inflammation in the body. Their individual benefits combined to create one of the most potent anti-inflammatory health foods that are completely natural as well.
Benefits of apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries in natural medicine and as part of the diet. But recently there have been some scientifically proven benefits derived from taking apple cider vinegar every day.
A group of studies has determined that daily apple cider vinegar is able to assist with weight loss. Apple cider vinegar is directly able to reduce the storage of fat in the body and so cause a reduction in total body fat.
It also helps to reduce blood glucose levels and blood cholesterol levels. These reductions significantly lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and even cancer.
Benefits of turmeric
According to Bengmark, turmeric is one of the most anti-inflammatory herbs that exist. Turmeric directly inhibits one of the enzymes responsible for the main inflammatory pathway in the body. Similarly to aspirin, it reduces the effect of an enzyme called COX-2. COX-2 is mostly responsible for creating pain and inflammation, so inhibiting it helps to reduce inflammation in the body, which also reduces the risk of developing inflammatory diseases like cardiovascular disease.
The pigment in turmeric, called curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants reduce inflammation in a different way. They react with environmental and body toxins that are normally responsible for destroying cell membranes. When these toxins react with antioxidants instead, they don’t cause any damage to the cells.
Synergistic effects
The belief is that turmeric and apple cider vinegar combine in what’s called a synergistic effect. When two compounds are mixed, they can either negatively affect each other or positively affect each other. In this case, turmeric and apple cider vinegar positively affect each other. When compounds positively affect each other they can either have an additive effect, where their effects add up to produce double effectiveness, or as in this case, they can be synergistic, where their combined effects are even more than double effective. It makes sense too when you think about the different ways they work to reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic diseases.
The turmeric and apple cider vinegar shot
To make the tonic you need:
- ⅖ cup (3.4 fl oz) of any fruit juice
- 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Stir all the ingredients together and drink the mixture as quickly as possible following with a glass of water. This concoction can be taken once or twice a day, in the morning and/or in the evening.
