The 7 Best Ways to Consume Apple Cider Vinegar (& Why You Should)

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a common cooking ingredient that millions of people drink for various health benefits. Some have used it to aid digestion. Others claim it boosts their immune system. Diabetics even consume it to help regulate their blood sugar levels. Though research is conflicting on the exact reasons ACV is healthy, consuming it regularly provides your body with plenty of rich vitamins like calcium and phosphorus.[1] Plus, adding a little into your diet each day can help your body detox, cleansing it of harmful bacteria.[2] Whether you want to drink it plain or use other yummy and nutritious ingredients to boost its flavor, this article will give you a step-by-step on how and why to drink ACV!

Things You Should Know

• Drink 1–۲ tablespoons (15–۳۰ ml) of apple cider vinegar 20 minutes before each meal 3 times daily to help regulate your appetite.
• Always dilute your apple cider vinegar in 1 c (240 ml) of water. Drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar can harm tooth enamel and your throat.
• Mix other spices like cinnamon, cayenne, and black pepper to help enhance apple cider vinegar’s sharp, acidic flavor.
• Use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (called “the mother”) instead of filtered products. The mother contains helpful probiotics to aid digestion.

Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Raw

Get fresh, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Look in the vinegar section at your local supermarket for natural apple cider vinegar. Buy ACV with sediment settled on the bottom of the bottle. This is known as “the mother” and contains helpful enzymes and probiotics. Avoid getting pasteurized ACV since it won’t have the same properties as unfiltered vinegar and therefore won’t provide the same health benefits.[3]

o You can also make your own apple cider vinegar at home by fermenting apples and sugar.
Dilute the apple cider vinegar in 1 c (240 ml) of water. By itself, apple cider vinegar is extremely acidic and could harm your teeth and throat if taken alone.[4] To prevent these risks, shake your bottle of ACV before measuring out 1–۲ tablespoons (15–۳۰ ml), pouring it in a glass, and adding 1 c (240 ml) of water.[5]
o You can use water of any temperature for your ACV. However, cold to room temp water will probably be the easiest to swallow.
Tip: Drink your apple cider vinegar solution through a straw if you have sensitive teeth or weak enamel. In addition to hurting your throat, the acidity in ACV can easily erode tooth enamel over time.[6]

Drink ACV 20 minutes before meals to regulate your glucose levels. Consume apple cider vinegar before your meal to help stimulate your digestive system and regulate your blood sugar levels as you eat. As you age, your body’s gastric juices deplete, making digestion more and more difficult. ACV contains probiotics.[7] Probiotics can boost gut health and serve as a substitute for these lost juices if you drink it on an empty stomach.

o Consult with a doctor before starting an ACV regimen if you’re prescribed insulin or diuretic medications. Apple cider vinegar may weaken the medicine.[8]
Continue taking apple cider vinegar 2-3 times daily. Drink 1–۲ tablespoons (15–۳۰ ml) of ACV a few times a day to maintain the health benefits it provides. Evenly spread your intake of ACV throughout the day, taking it before each meal and giving it proper time to digest. A common ACV schedule is drinking once when you wake up, once mid-morning, and once at night, but choose what works best for you.[9]