Have you ever wanted to do something just because it’s the talk of the town, but you literally have no idea about it? I probably have that feeling when it comes to apple cider vinegar in a protein shake.
If you are a fitness and wellness junkie, or even someone like me who, is a little conscious about their health, then you would have surely heard about apple cider vinegar and its magical health benefits. There are tons and tons of health issues which can be treated or let’s say solved with apple cider vinegar.
From being a kitchen essential, apple cider vinegar has lately become a workout essential, be it in a gym or a yoga class or simply at home.
I really wanted to know what all the fuss was about. So I started doing a little research on apple cider vinegar. I was totally amazed by what I found. Almost everything that I read talked about how good apple cider vinegar is for health. I also found some really nice things about ACV which I thought is worth sharing.
The many known health benefits of apple cider vinegar
- It is Good for high blood pressure
- Cures acid reflux
- Provides relief from heartburn
- Helps in reducing and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
- Beneficial for urinary tract infections and other bladder problems
- Boost’s digestion and increases the speed of metabolism
- Gives relief from arthritis
- Helps you sleep better
- Lowers cholesterol
- Helps in combating cancer
- Reduces menstrual pain
- Excellent for sore throat
- Cleanses body
- Wonderful for maintaining young and glowing skin
- Enhances immunity
- Supports weight loss
What I have mentioned here are just only a handful of health benefits of acv, tested and applied by millions of people out there. But there are other endless health benefits still unknown and untested.
But again, you can always take advice from your doctor or nutritionist; on how exactly can apple cider vinegar help you in maintaining a healthy life and especially in your fitness regime.
Can you add apple cider vinegar to a protein shake?
It is said that there are two sides of a coin. Similarly, there are two views on adding ACV to a protein shake. And both views have their own reasons supported by allot of complex science.
I am just going to take you through both sides quickly minus the difficult science.
Why you should add apple cider vinegar to your protein shake
Firstly, so that it becomes much easier for you to consume apple cider vinegar. In fact you can really enjoy it with your protein shake.
But most importantly, apple cider vinegar is considered to trigger the cardiovascular system. Also the acetic acid present in the vinegar helps in reducing body weight and fat.
Along with these benefits of consuming acv, it is also important to know that consuming plain acv or with water can damage your esophagus.
So if you are going to add apple cider vinegar in your daily protein shake, let me recommend you a quite simple and easy recipe, I found during my research. I am pretty sure you will love it after you try it once.
Spiced apple cider protein shake
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup ice
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Take all these ingredients and mix them together very nicely. Blend the mixture up to the consistency you like. And so you have your ready to go protein shake.
You can always be creative and customize your own recipe according to your needs and health regime. You can add many other protein and fiber rich foods in your protein shake and you will never again have to worry about the strong smell and taste of apple cider vinegar.
You can also add ACV to other foods and drinks but that’s for you to try out.
All you need to know is that, apple cider vinegar will give your fitness goals that extra boost. That extra push, which you are always looking for. and that too at a much cheaper price.
Why not to add apple cider vinegar to your protein shake
Some people would not recommend adding ACV to your protein shake. According to them acv and other similar items act opposite of exactly what you are trying to achieve by your workout.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of acv is to increase the speed of your metabolism and digestion. And on the other hand workouts usually focus on maintaining a healthy and balanced diet along with exercise.
One more reason would be that ACV reduces the effects of proteins. So adding it to your protein shake won’t give you the best results.
So which side of the coin are you going to be with?
How to add apple cider vinegar in your daily routine
My biggest plight, after I became aware of the amazing health benefits of ACV was to actually start taking it. Almost all of the articles that I read said one thing – it was not as easy as it sounded to consume plain apple cider vinegar.
The first time I smelled it I almost had tears in my eyes. It has such a strong pungent smell of acid.
It tasted equally awful the first time. All my senses became extremely alert. It might actually take quite some time for you to get adjusted to the taste and smell of acv.
But if you are not a regular consumer like me then, you can actually make it less gross. Try taking it with warm water or lemon water. You can also add some honey to sweeten it. And before you gulp it down don’t forget to hold your nose.
But, What if you want to include more ACV in your diet than just a spoonful? What if you work-out regularly and want that boost in your quest of weight loss and muscle building?
Well you can surely have that by simply adding acv to your protein shake. But before I tell you how? Let me tell you is it a good idea or not?
Just remember that whatever you choose, there are numerous health benefits of apple cider vinegar. And if you are unsure about how acv can help you, just ask your doctor or nutritionist. And don’t forget, you always have the choice to do what I did.
Start researching yourself!
And if you do, please don’t forget to share you findings with others out there.