Morning Detox Drink with Turmeric

Apple cider vinegar, turmeric and other ingredients combine for this morning detox drink that can reduce sugar cravings, provide stable energy and help fight colds and allergies.

What are morning detox drinks?

Why do you drink it?

What are the measurements?

What are the benefits?

This is my favorite morning drink: a hot mix of water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, turmeric and cayenne. I’ve been drinking it for years, and while I sometimes get out of the habit of drinking it every morning, I always come back to it. It’s going pretty strong right now. 😉 If I’m having this in the morning, it’s before anything else: coffee, fruit, or random bites while I make the girls’ breakfast.

Morning Detox Drink

Detox Drink Ingredient Benefits

Warm/Hot Water: can help to promote healing of the body, and decrease free radicals when combined with lemon. According to Ayurvedic medicine, we should drink warm or room temperature water instead of cold, as it can help to remove toxins (ama) from the body. Warm water can also promote healthy digestion, alleviate pain, improve blood circulation, and delay premature aging, according to this site.

Apple Cider Vinegar: this one is helpful in reducing infection, as many germs can’t survive in the vinegar. There are many benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar. It may help stabilize blood sugar and lower LDL (the bad kind of cholesterol) blood levels. It can also help to reduce weight and body fat by encouraging a healthy metabolism which could help with weight loss.

Lemon Juice: lemons contain vitamin C and potassium. When you drink lemon juice first thing in the morning, it gives the body a chance to absorb these nutrients and provide an immune system boost. Lemon juice can also help with maintaining a healthy weight, proper digestion and energy levels.

Even a simple glass of warm lemon water on an empty stomach can help with smooth digestion in the morning.

Honey: Honey is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which makes it awesome for fighting any type of infection. It also contains flavonoids which can help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Honey can also help to improve athletic performance and provide a dose of energy, you can substitute with maple syrup if you’d prefer (or if you don’t have honey).

Benefits of Detox Drinks with Turmeric

The active ingredient in turmeric is a natural compound called curcumin, which has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Like other colorful plant-based foods, turmeric is rich in phytonutrients that may protect the body by neutralizing free radicals (pollution, sunlight) and shielding the cells from damage.” Diets rich in plant-based foods are associated with prevention of medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Brown says, “Anyone who’s trying to manage inflammation could benefit from adding some turmeric to their foods.” She cites inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and other joint disorders, colitis, allergies and infections.” – source: John Hopkins Medicine

Turmeric: Turmeric is well-known for its bold orange color and anti-inflammatory properties as noted above. It has a very mild flavor, so it’s easy to add to dishes and drinks.

Cayenne pepper: can positively affect digestion, relieve joint and nerve pain, includes vitamin A to reduce inflammation, and can boost metabolism.

You could also add a piece of fresh ginger for some spiciness. The lemon ginger ginger combination is great for an upset stomach or sore throat too – so many benefits!

As you can see, there are a ton of benefits to drinking this, but here’s my favorite part:

I think it tastes really delicious.

Liv would beg to differ. When I even bring my mug near her, she asks me to “stop that smell.” She pretty much hates it. Even the other day Tom was like, “WHOA that’s some spicy coffee you’re drinking.”

Haters gonna hate.

What Happens When I Drink My Morning Detox Drink

-I notice that I’m less likely to reach for sugar as an energy boost during the day. It gives me stable energy and dramatically reduces sugar cravings.

-I feel like it starts the morning on a more balanced note instead of chugging coffee and steamrolling into the day. Drinking this while I pack Liv’s lunch and feed the girls breakfast instantly makes me feel more present. I think it’s because it’s a little tangy and spicy; I can’t chug it the same way I do with coffee.

-It helps me fight colds and allergies. My allergies are a nightmare in San Diego – all that beautiful fresh ocean air gives me the sniffles. I know, right? – but I find that when I make this each morning, I’m not quite as red-eyed and sneezy. Whenever I have a cold, I make a super condensed “shot” version of this drink and will have it a few times during the day. I find that even though I get sick way more often right now (preschool petri dish strikes pretty hard over here), it doesn’t seem to last very long.

What Happens When I DON’T Drink My Morning Detox Drink

-I’m a bit of a sugar monster. I think that drinking this encourages me to start the day with a healthy mindset and I feel more encouraged to take time to chop a salad or eat some protein instead of diving into the chocolate chip bag. The other day I ate a lot of chocolate chips and was so annoyed that was the only sweet treat we had in the house haha, and still didn’t feel satisfied. I was trying to figure out why I felt “off” and then I remembered that I forgot to sip this drink the am. I rushed out the door, skipped breakfast because we were late, and ended up craving sweets all day. It’s certainly not a magic potion (I do not drink it to lose weight), but I do think it helps set the tone for the day and keep my digestion happy.

Morning Detox Drink Recipe with Tumeric and Apple Cider Vinegar

Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Morning Detox Drink

10 oz hot/warm water (I just use water from the Keurig)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2–1 teaspoon honey depending on how sweet you like it
1–2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (depending on how acidic you would like it)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne (I usually add a little bit more)