The Wonder Tonics In Your Kitchen

Your kitchen may be filled with ingredients that are absolute powerhouses of health. Ingredients that will help your body achieve balance and keep many common diseases at bay. And if you know me, you know how I love to share the secrets of these hidden gems with everyone who will listen.

There are many “wonder” foods I can discuss but today I am going to focus on my BIG 4- Cayenne pepper, lemons, raw apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil. When these ingredients are combined into a tonic, you have an amazingly powerful preventative and/or remedy for a multitude of modern diseases including what I call the “Mother Disease”- Inflammation.

Systemic Inflammation occurs when our bodies are in an acidic state and when we consume too many carbohydrates. Foods such as trans fats, wheat, animal proteins, omega 6 oils, and sugar all create an acidic environment. To re-balance our PH and regain an alkaline state, you can create a wonder tonic that you can take 3 times a day. Trust me, if you incorporate this into your daily routine, you will notice a difference in how you feel and look within a very short time.

Every morning when you wake up, put a kettle on your stove and heat the water for 3 minutes. It should be warmer than room temp but not hot. Fill a mason jar with the warm water. Cut an organic lemon in half and squeeze one half of the lemon into the water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and stir well. Add 2 tablespoons of raw, organic apple cider vinegar “with the mother” (I use Braggs). Be sure to gently shake the bottle first so that the “mother” sediment (which contains all the magic) is dispersed evenly within the liquid. Now add 1 tablespoon of raw, organic coconut oil and stir until it is melted (it is usually solid unless the air temperature is rather hot.

Now drink it. I am not going to lie. It is not the greatest tasting tonic in the world so I advise against sipping it. It will only prolong the displeasure. Just chug it back and let the magic begin. Wait 30 minutes or so before consuming food to allow your system to process the tonic and receive maximum benefit before having to focus on digestion.

This tonic stimulates the liver, the body’s primary detoxing organ, and kick-starts the digestive system. Your liver releases uric acid and creates bile to safely eliminate toxins. Keeping your liver and digestive system clean and in tip-top shape helps prevent chronic disease.

Lemon juice and cayenne pepper both have anti-fungal, immune boosting, and detoxifying properties:

• Lemon is a natural detoxifier as vitamin C transforms toxins into digestible material. In addition to vitamin C, lemons are also packed with antioxidants and electrolytes including potassium, calcium and magnesium. Lemon is also known to stimulate the liver’s natural enzymes by helping to oxygenate the body.
• Cayenne pepper stimulates the circulatory system by opening the capillaries, aids digestion, and helps regulate blood sugar. Furthermore, and very importantly, it increases the temperature of your body and kick-starts your metabolism.
• Apple cider vinegar, that contains the mother, Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections, may have anti tumor properties, improves skin conditions such as acne, increases metabolism which can result in weight loss, helps prevent muscle fatigue and soreness from exercise, and improves digestion.
• Coconut oil actually feeds your brain. Our brains are 70% fat. And consuming healthy saturated fats actually feeds our brain. In fact, new research is showing that coconut oil has profound effects on Alzheimer patients and children with Autism. It also kills viruses as it is a natural antibiotic. Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath. Sounds strange but recent studies are confirming the benefits of this ancient practice.

Lemons, though acidic, and cayenne pepper, though super-spicy, actually help neutralize the body’s pH by making it more alkaline.This pH imbalance creates inflammation which, again, is the “Mother Disease”.

By adding the coconut oil and the vinegar, you bring together all the elements and benefits listed above.

This drink is also a great energy booster, and has replaced my morning coffee most days now.

When we wake up, our bodies are dehydrated. Rather then drinking coffee, which is a diuretic and further dehydrates the body and causes acidity, this wonder water gives our bodies the hydration it needs and the health boost our bodies need in our modern age.

Make this a daily ritual and you will soon see and feel the near miraculous benefits. Bottoms up!