Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, Garlic and Lemon Drink
I know I’ve been focusing on colds a lot here, but this winter has been horrible-I feel like every other week I am sniffling and coughing. For some reason there have been a number of highly contagious bugs flying around that nobody can seem to avoid. I revisit this topic because winter decided to drag itself on for even longer. I write this fresh snow is falling outside the window and a little black storm cloud is hanging over my head because I am so bitter that spring is delayed after we already got a taste of it.
But anyways. It’s at least given me an excuse to perfect cold remedies, and this spicy little drink is one of them. It combines the well-loved ingredients of honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and garlic. It’s no great secret, but I have become quite fond of it-and who says a remedy has to be fancy?
Why the Ingredients?
Honey: Honey acts as a natural sweetener in this recipe, and I find it necessary with the garlic and ACV combination (although I actually don’t mind the vinegar on its own.) It is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal-but if you are drinking it for a cold it’s really the anti-viral part that matters. It can also help quell a pesky cough.
Lemon: Lemon adds fresh flavor while it works as a natural anti-viral component in the drink, working in tandem with the honey to flush out the virus that is taking over your cells.
Apple Cider Vinegar: The list of apple cider vinegar’s health benefits is virtually endless, with some theories having more solid backing than others. The main benefit it has in this drink is soothing a sore throat and relieving congestion, both of which I have found it to be very successful at doing.
Garlic: Ah, garlic. The infamous date-ruining food, the stinky rose, Italian perfume…it has many names, but its connotation is the same-it will make you smell. The reason for the smell is because constituents in garlic cause the release of hydrogen sulfate the same gas that smells like rotten eggs. While that sounds terrible, hydrogen sulfate is actually quite useful at low levels in the body, and we naturally produce some on our own. It is theorized that this is one of the reasons it has healing benefits, but it is not known for sure. What is known is that it works a treat on clearing on congestion and shortening the duration of the cold.
You will need…
-10-11 peeled and lightly mashed cloves of garlic
-1 1/2 -2 cups of water
-1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
-1 lemon
-4 tablespoons of honey (or more to taste)
Directions
Simmer the peeled and mashed garlic in 1 ½ cups of water for 10 minutes-you can use 2 cups if you prefer a more diluted flavor. Strain. Stir into the strained liquid apple cider vinegar, the juice of 1 lemon, and at least 4 tablespoons honey. Drink 2-3 times daily as needed.
This will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and can be gently reheated on the stove top.
P.S. Make sure to take a look at the Everyday Roots Book with 350+ pages of the best home remedies, natural beauty recipes, homemade cleaners and diy household products. View Remedies
By Claire Goodall
Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse. Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything 🙂 Meet ClaireWe Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment:
Was just wondering how much you suggest drinking each time; you say drink 2-3 times a day but I wasn’t sure if this meant drink the whole recipe amount or just a small portion of it. Thanks!
Hi Joanna,
You can drink the whole amount 2-3 times a day, but I generally recommend starting with once a day whenever you try something new 🙂
It’s excellent once daily is enough, I’ am gratefull for this wise advice Namaste
My family loves passing down natural remedies and I have heard about apple cider vinegar for years now. I recently posted some easy ACV detox drink recipes on my blog that take the same time and effort as coffee or tea to prepare. Drinking ACV daily is amazing for energy but for those who can’t acquire a taste for the drink you may prefer adding ACV to your meals…I’ve compiled everything from appetizer to dessert recipes on my blog.
Claire, will this help me to de-bloat as well? Having had 2 back-to-back knee surgeries AND a colonoscopy in two months time, I just can’t seem to get rid of the puffiness. I’ve changed my diet and cut down on salt intake, eating more fruits and green veggie juices and smoothies. I just need help with WHICH is the BEST one to help me reduce the weight, bloat and generally everyday crummy feeling from the surgeries` medications. Yes, I am finally walking more, too, and am adding yoga and strength training to my new regimen.
All is well physically other than this frustrating phenomenon.
how to get rid of garlic bad smell
Getting rid of garlic smell. Drink fresh lime juice ( squeezed from a lime !) diluted in some water.
When eating garlic you can just gulp it up with water like you do with the suppliments.
@Zizi I just visited this site now and read your post in Aug 21 , 2014 “how to get rid of garlic bad smell?” You may try a pinch of cinnamon , half teaspoon of honey to dilute in half glass of warm water and gargle . It will not only remove the garlic smell from mouth but also whitens teeth if done regularly.
How long will this last if stored in a fridge?
From what I have seen, most mixtures using fresh garlic recommend not more than 2 to 3 days in the fridge. That’s because the useful chemicals change in structure and loose their potency. Beyond that period , it’s better to make a fresh batch.
I heard this works to open blocked arteries too. Is it true?
superb.
You mentioned that garlic releases hydrogen sulfate, the gas is hydrogen sulfide, which has the rotten eggs odor. Hydrogen sulfate is sulfuric acid and in the diluted form doesn’t have much odor.
Sounds good, but I would add some ginger which is very good for what ails you including viruses
I actually would not simmer the garlic. The heat kills the properties you are going for. Juice the garlic with the whole lemon and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Raw is best for potency.
i hve been taking the mixture since may last year and i thk my pressure is really under control though i hve not visited the hospital. i monitor it at hme. tnx for evethg.
Thank you sharing me those tips I learned a lot and ‘m grateful. I’ll prepare them in the next few days.
Hi. Is this recommended for children under 5 yrs. My daughter is always having the cold. Every month. Im looking for a home remedy.
It’s not merely a cold remedy (although a good one). It serves a number of valuable purposes and as such is beneficial to drink all year round (simple research will reveal more). I take first and last thing each day exc. garlic which I have raw in most meals, but I haven’t contracted a cold since 2002.
One warning, due to the acidity in the lemon juice it is advisable to clean teeth prior to drinking and not after as this can slowly remove tooth enamel, rather like applying paint thinner and scrubbing with a wire brush (speak to dentist if in doubt). All the best x
Help!!! I am making this mixture and for some reason when I heated it up, it turned like a turquoise -y green? What happened? I followed the instructions exactly and used all organic and fresh ingredients!
That would be because of what you cooked it in, Best is stainless or I used Teflon coated and a wooden spoon. It went a brown grey colour. I have read that the green colour doesn’t affect its potency!
My husband has been taking 2 tbsp every morning for 9 months and his lab work shows his blood pressure cholesterol and A1C are in good control. He drinks wine and hard liquor in excess and claims the concoction rids the toxin of liquor from his body. Is this true?
I know the ACV is good for everything but the people with diabetes can take it? Thank you
Is it necessary that in the Mixture honey must be added, if any person is diabetic then how much honey be added
There is a ready- made ‘concoction’ of this and I have read testimonies claiming an improvement in blood pressure readings as well as blood sugar levels. In fact it also claims that it is a good for the heart.
I was coming down with bronchitis after a sinus infection so I made this last night and woke up feeling MUCH better. The congestion in my chest is nearly gone! I made some more around lunch time and while my respiratory system feels better, it gave me an awful stomach ache/nausea. I ate a small amount of carbs to settle my stomach but I don’t think my stomach can handle this again. Any suggestions?
Garlic on an empty stomach can cause aches and nausea. Best to eat a little something before drinking
I would add in ginger it settles the stomach among other cold/flue fighting benefits.
I prepare mine as follows in a nice size mug.
1 pinch of cayenne
2 tbsp Braggs apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tbsp raw unfiltered honey
I have a metal tea strainer (from asian store) that I add 1 inch fresh grated ginger & 1 clove crushed garlic. That way it can steep just like a tea bag. Then I top off with warm (not boiling) water. Stir & enjoy.
I just wanted to know, how long do you have to wait before you take it, and how long after you drink it to eat some food. Thank you. Jim
i made this mixture, i took one cup if each ingredient except honey and mix all together in bowl. when i heat them all , its color changer to green . can you tell me why its happen and it is normal or not.
The doctor ask me to have angiogram,since i have symtoms of heart blockage.i read this recipe so i tried it.I took 1/2 cup of this recipe before bedtime,is there an overdose for this?what are the healing effects?
My wife started me on this, I usually do a double shot in the morning and a double shot at night. I tell ya, I feel better but I lose all taste for anything for about an hour after.
I am amazed at how well this “juice” works! I have had a kidney infection on and off for 3 years. The antibiotics only worked for a little while and then it came back. I finally gave up about a year ago bc I was tired of putting that poison in my body for no reason. However in the last couple of months my back hurt so bad I knew a trip to the ER was imminent. My boyfriend found this recipe and I’ve been doing a shot glass full 3 times a day for 2 weeks. I can’t believe the difference in the way I feel! Thank you so much for posting. I intend to continue drinking a shot a day once the infection is gone 🙂