The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (and How to Make ACV Gummies at Home)
The benefits of Apple cider vinegar are plenty, and this pungent liquid has been used for centuries as a folk and home remedy. The good news is that now we actually have science to back up the purported benefits so we can use it with confidence. The bad news is that most people can’t tolerate the taste of simply drinking it, so they miss out on all the amazing benefits of ACV!
Luckily, there are many other options these days to get in a daily dose of apple cider vinegar like capsules (I personally love this brand) and gummies. Store bought ACV gummies often have a lot of unfavorable ingredients like sugar or artificial sweeteners and colors, so of course I had to look into making my own!
I’ve perfected a quick, simple homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies recipe that I’m going to share with you, but first let’s talk about the benefits of ACV and why my recipe is a better alternative to anything you could buy in the store.
As a bonus, it’s only 4 ingredients that you might already have in your pantry!
The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
The beneficial elements of apple cider vinegar include the “mother”, which is the fermented probiotic bacterial culture. This is the brown wispy stuff you see floating around the bottom of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar. The ACV mother is full of probiotics which are great for populating your gut with beneficial bacteria, which supports overall health, immune function, digestion, and so many other things.
Next, there’s acetic acid, which is what makes the vinegar tart and makes your mouth water when you smell it.
Acetic acid has been shown to balance blood sugar and enhance circulation. It’s also been anecdotally shown to enhance stomach acidity for potentially better digestion. And for the record, acetic acid is found in all vinegars, not just apple cider vinegar.
In my ACV gummies recipe, I’ve also chosen to use raw local honey. Raw honey is antifungal and a good source of antioxidants. It’s also great for building natural immunity against seasonal allergies.
You’ll notice that we use the vinegar to dissolve the honey when making our homemade gummies instead of using heat to melt it. That’s because heating raw honey up would cook it, which would negate the raw benefits and antioxidants.
We also use gelatin, which is the precursor to collagen. Collagen has tons of gut healing amino acids that reduce intestinal inflammation and provides concentrated nutrient building blocks for healthy intestinal tissue. Glutamine, glycine, and proline are some of the key amino acids found in collagen that help heal and seal the intestinal wall which is exactly what you need when you have leaky gut or other digestive issues!
How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies at Home
So, are you ready to make the healthiest, best tasting apple cider vinegar gummies possible?
If you don’t already have the ingredients on hand, you can find them at most grocery or health food stores, or order the ingredients online.
I recommend Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, any raw, local honey, and Vital Proteins Gelatin. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using silicone molds so that you can just pop the gummies out once they’re set!
These gummies will perk up your taste buds, stimulate and support your digestion, and help you balance your blood sugar. So let’s whip ‘em up! I also did a cooking demo here.
And if you’re interested in finding out more ways to enhance your digestion you can start by grabbing my free 101 Gut Healing Foods Guide. Different foods can affect your health both positively and negatively….but small adjustments can lead to big changes!
With this list of 101 foods, you’ll know exactly what to focus on to begin to improve digestion so you can eliminate bloating, headaches, skin conditions, alleviate autoimmune flare-ups, and overall feel better and more comfortable and confident in your body.
Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies
Ingredients
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp gelatin
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup raw & local honey
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup combine the honey with the apple cider vinegar and stir well to dissolve the honey. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl sprinkle the gelatin over ¼ cup water, give it a little whisk and allow it to set and hydrate.
- When the gelatin is hydrated add ¼ cup boiling water and stir to completely melt the gelatin and allow the mixture to cool, about 10-15 minutes (this will help preserve the probiotics when we add the apple cider vinegar).
- When gelatin water is cooled to just warm, add the vinegar honey mixture and mix to completely combine.
- Pour the mixture into silicone molds, and chill to set 1-2 hours. Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 year.
Notes
- I recommend only eating them with food because of the high acid content, if you take them on an empty stomach they may upset your belly and possibly make you nauseous.
- The acid can be hard on your tooth enamel if you eat them too regularly so stick with 1-2 gummies at a time, 1-2 meals a day, and take a little sip of water after you eat them and swish it around a bit to rinse the ACV off your teeth.
