Too Much Candy? This Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Will Stabilize Your Blood Sugar, Stat
I'm a self-professed sugar addict. At work, my desk is the one co-workers rely on for healthy-ish versions of chocolate bars, brownies, and more—my husband teases that I tested the healthy desserts for my upcoming cookbook 10 times more than the rest of the recipes. "You're still testing them," he tells me, "and you've already turned everything in." Hey, I wanted them to be perfect—and I can't help it if fun-size healthy Snickers bars are addictive.
That said, I know how sugar makes me feel (anxious, inflamed), so I try to limit it to reasonable amounts—and when I just don't have the willpower (we're all works in progress), I make sure I'm armed with this drink, which helps me feel almost instantly better.
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There are a few secrets to my favorite anti-sugar elixir, the first being wellness darling apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar helps balance blood sugar by blocking the absorption of starch in the body; it also contains pectin, which aids in digestion and has been found in a number of studies to help with weight loss.
Here, I use it in combination with cinnamon, another blood sugar balancer1 that also makes the whole drink taste like apple cider. Finally, I add in chia seeds—yes, chia seeds. A chia fresca is a famous, ancient Mexican drink, where the Tarahumara Indians have been using it for thousands of years to increase energy and hydration. The little seeds are packed with digestion-aiding fiber (they're renowned M.D. Terry Wahls' favorite constipation-reliever) and blood-sugar-balancing healthy fat. They also make the drink, in my opinion, way more fun to drink—think of it as a more natural, health-supportive version of boba tea.
I whip up a batch whenever I'm coming off the back of an overindulgence, which, of course, exist in abundance during the holiday season.
Cinnamon-y Apple Cider Chia Fresca
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
- 1½ cups cold water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- Honey to taste
- 2 teaspoons of whole chia seeds
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Method
- Stir together apple cider vinegar, water, cinnamon, sea salt, and honey to taste until well-combined. Stir in the chia seeds and let sit for 10 minutes before drinking, stirring regularly as you consume.
- Stir in the chia seeds and let sit for 10 minutes before drinking, stirring regularly as you consume.
You can make a big batch of this ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to a week—just shake or stir well before consuming.
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Liz Moody is an author, blogger and recipe developer living in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with a creative writing and psychology degree from The University of California, Berkeley. Moody has written two cookbooks: Healthier Together: Recipes for Two—Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships and Glow Pops: Super-Easy Superfood Recipes to Help You Look and Feel Your Best. She also hosts the Healthier Together Podcast, where she chats with notable chefs, nutritionists, and best-selling authors about their paths to success. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Food & Wine & Women’s Health.