What are the benefits of fire cider tonic? What is a tonic? What can I do with it besides drink it straight? All valid questions about my fire cider tonic. For some taste buds, its quite potent and the thought of drinking it straight may make you gag (aka my husband).
I will start with the benefits of fire cider. The main ingredient is apple cider vinegar and I always use one with the “mother” so it’s organic, raw, unpasteurized, and unfiltered. The “mother” contains strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a great bitter and bitter is a taste that is lacking in most of our modern diets. Bitters are amazing for the gut as they promote digestion and pH balance. ACV supports a healthy immune system and is rich in enzymes and potassium. It can help soothe dry throat and remove toxins from the body. Our gut health can impact our overall health so adding this tonic to your daily routine will support immune health.
The onion, garlic, horseradish, rosemary, ginger, and turmeric are all powerful ingredients that give the fire cider tonic its “fire.” These herbs and vegetables have properties that are beneficial to our health.
Onion
Contains anti-oxidants (sulfur and quercetin)
Source of vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, calcium, and B6
Manganese content provides cold and flu relief with its anti-inflammatory abilities
Garlic
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral components
Promotes growth of healthy gut flora
Contains Vitamin C, B1, B2, and B3, iron, calcium, folate, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc
Used for centuries as a natural form of medicine for treatment and prevention of disease
Horseradish
Contains phytochemicals that stimulate secretion of gastric, salivary, and intestinal digestive enzymes
Contains Vitamin C which can boost immunity and remove free radicals from body
Contains minerals iron, sodium, zinc, potassium, copper, and magnesium
Some of the chemical constituents carry antioxidant and detoxification properties
Rosemary
Rosemary is a nervine, rejuvenative, stimulant, and tonic
May improve circulation
Stimulates the pineal gland and improves energy levels
Invigorates lungs, promotes immunity
Ginger
Fresh ginger heats the body and provides warmth to immune system
Useful for digestive disturbances
Gentle for people of all ages
Can be used for cold and congestive conditions
Turmeric
Anti-inflammatory properties (NSAID of the herbal world)
Useful for common colds, flu, nausea
Acts as a circulatory stimulant
Contains minerals, Vitamins C and E, and cineole which is an expectorant
By incorporating apple cider vinegar and all these powerful herbs, fire cider tonic is a great additive to your day. It contains many vitamins and minerals along with chemical constituents that support the immune, digestive, and circulatory systems.
There are a number of options for taking fire cider. Some people like to take it straight (a tablespoon a day), you can mix it with olive oil to make a dressing for salads/steamed veggies, add it to bone broth, mix it in bloody marys. The possibilities are endless!
http://www.herballegacy.com/Wilson_Chemical.html
http://foodfacts.mercola.com/onion.html
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/best-vegetables-boosting-immunity/
http://www.herballegacy.com/Motteshard_Chemical.html
https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/horseradish.html
http://www.goldenpoppyherbs.com/blog/rosemary-materia-medica/
http://www.herbaltransitions.com/materiamedica/Zingiber.htm
http://www.goldenpoppyherbs.com/blog/turmeric-materia-medica/
http://www.herballegacy.com/Alter_Chemical.html