Our apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe makes a refreshing and therapeutic drink chock full of nutrients.
Add it to your list of National Vinegar Day (November 1) recipes for a unique, vibrant drink.
Healthy, wholesome beverages don’t have to be dull and tasteless.
Our cucumber lemon detox water, this basic lemonade recipe, and now, this ACV drink are all testaments to that.
Apple cider vinegar is a vibrant, nourishing ingredient. Mixing it with lemon juice, sugar, and honey makes a delicious drink with a sweet tang full of health benefits.
Read on to learn what these benefits are and how to prepare apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar Drink?
Apple cider vinegar drink is a potent beverage for remedial purposes. You can occasionally use it for casual drinking while reaping its health benefits.
It's a drink typically made from apple cider vinegar and water. People generally add lemon juice, or other fruit juices, to make it less potent and more palatable.
Take care not to drink straight apple cider vinegar! Consuming vinegar straight can be harsh on the throat and poses a great risk of eroding your teeth enamel.
One study shows how the daily consumption of apple cider vinegar led to enamel erosion. So it's recommended to dilute it before drinking and reduce the consumption of acetic drinks to maintain healthy teeth!
Cinnamon and pepper are some of the popular flavors paired with apple cider vinegar drink to make the drinking experience more pleasant.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a household disinfectant and food preservative. But is there any science-backed evidence to support its many purported benefits?
The better question is, what is apple cider vinegar?
It's a vinegar made by fermenting sugar (from crushed apples) to alcohol. The alcohol further converts to acetic acid, which composes at least 4% of the vinegar.
1. Anti-Diabetic
Acetic acid exhibits antioxidant and anti-cholesterol behavior. So it's no surprise that consuming apple cider vinegar over eight weeks reduced blood lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Hyperlipidemia refers to high levels of fat in the blood that may result from diseases like diabetes. Thus drinking apple cider vinegar can be an inexpensive approach to treating hyperlipidemia.
However, drinking apple cider vinegar should not replace pharmaceutical approaches to treating hyperlipidemia.
2. Weight Loss
Some animal studies also show how it may aid weight loss. Research shows how it improves metabolism, reduces and burns belly fat, and even suppresses appetite in rats.
And though this research is limited to animals, we can hope that future studies on humans will present similar results.
3. Vitamin C
The other main component, lemon juice, is a renowned source of vitamin C. Its antioxidant properties make it a proven force against factors that may harm the body.
Consuming vitamin C helps to fight against aging. It improves your immune system and contributes to building collagen for skin health.
Besides drinking it in this juice, you can regularly have plain lemon water to give you radiant, healthier skin.
4. Less Sugar
Our recipe also incorporates honey and sugar for a sweet element that balances the flavors.
We've added roughly two teaspoons of sugar per serving. This is within the USDA recommended guidelines and is only 37% of your daily added sugar limit.
How Often Should You Drink It?
You can drink apple cider vinegar and lemon juice daily. One 2016 study showed that the daily consumption of 15ml vinegar C (also containing acetic acid) was enough to positively affect hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.
Some people may feel the need to drink excessive amounts of apple cider vinegar to improve overall well-being. But drinking large amounts like 8 ounces may lead to adverse effects such as osteoporosis.
Also, there's no harm in incorporating straight apple cider vinegar in daily dishes like salads, condiments, and marinades. Mixing it with other ingredients helps with its taste and lowers the risk of drinking it straight.
So take care to limit and mix apple cider vinegar with other ingredients. This is the most effective way to reap its benefits without risking conditions like enamel erosion.
If you would like to see more healthy apple cider vinegar options, see our collection of healthy apple cider vinegar recipes.
Can You Substitute Lime Juice for Lemon Juice?
Yes, you can substitute lime juice for lemon juice. Lime and lemon can pass off as duplicates for their similar properties and tastes.
Nutritionally, lime and lemon juices contain similar amounts of vitamin C. The differences are negligible and enough to make them interchangeable for health purposes.
Taste-wise, lime juice is usually more tart. Replacing with lime juice gives more zest— even in this apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe.
You can try this healthy Pineapple Celery Juice recipe or this ACV with pineapple juice recipe to experience lime juice’s punch and taste.
But you can adjust the amounts in your beverage to make it less intense. And you’ll most likely find the overall taste to be the same.
How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar Drink and Lemon Juice
The main components in this drink are (you guessed it) apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water. But to make it more palatable, this recipe includes fresh lemongrass, sugar, honey, and mint.
Start by placing the mint leaves in a pitcher and crushing them with a wooden spoon. Once they release their fresh aroma, add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, water, and sugar.
Stir the mix until the sugar dissolves. Then add honey and lemongrass.
Stir until well mixed and serve it warm or iced. Enjoy it as is or alongside a healthy dish for a well-rounded, nourishing meal.
Make a substitute with buttermilk to create a bone-supporting dairy drink. Or swap in watermelon juice to make a great summer drink.
Calories
This apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe contains a minute 70 calories per serving. That's an incredibly low amount providing numerous health benefits!
Its low-calorie profile also makes this apple cider vinegar and lemon juice convenient for frequent and daily consumption.
Most of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice's calories come from carbs in the form of sugars, followed by protein. It's a negligible amount of carbs that you can also incorporate into a low-carb diet.
However, remember to monitor your overall sugar amounts. Even small portions can contribute to exceeding your daily sugar limit.
Take this recipe with a grain of salt and adjust some ingredients to your taste and nutrition!
You can also try out our recipe for another ultimate summer drink or read this article to find delicious lemon juice recipes.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice Recipe
This apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe is a sweet and sour drink singing with zesty citrus notes. It's a healthy beverage that you can enjoy plain, warm, or iced for cooling refreshment.
- prep TIME 4 mins
- total TIME 4 mins
- COURSE Beverage
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 49 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbspapple cider vinegar
- 1.5 tbsplemon juice
- 2 cupswater
- 2 tbsphoney
- 2 ozlemongrass (fresh)
- 6 mint leaves (fresh)
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep:
Squeeze the lemon juice: cut a lemon in half and squeeze it into a bowl. Measure out 1 1/2 tbsp.
Cut the lemongrass: cut the top of a lemongrass and keep the stalk only. Peel 2-3 outer layers away, leaving only the fragrant root. Hit it on your cutting board lightly with the back of the knife to release more fragrance.
Steps:
Add 2 oz lemongrass stalks, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, and 2 cups water.
Stir for 2 minutes or until the honey dissolves.
Serve and garnish with more lemongrass stalks and mints.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Chef, Culinary Consultant
Neola Muhambi
Writer, SEO Specialist
Luna Regina
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Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer