Gut Health

This Drink Will Transform Your Metabolism

If there’s one health habit to introduce over the summer months to help keep your energy, metabolism, digestion AND immune system firing on all cylinders, it’s this morning tonic. A hit at our recent ARTAH breakfast event, this tonic combines our best-selling Digest + Debloat with functional ingredients from your kitchen to give you a serious boost.

So, what’s inside?

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV)

ACV has been in every Naturopath’s arsenal for decades, and recently, it’s become all the rage (again). Its traditional use is as a cleansing tonic to help stimulate digestion and enhance metabolism, and whilst there still isn’t an abundance of research on ACV, the studies we do have are showing a variety of benefits.

- Weight loss and blood sugar: ACV has been shown to improve the glycemic response and blood sugar parameters when taken before a meal (1) and to promote weight loss (2).

- Gut and immune support: Raw ACV has live bacterial cultures and has demonstrated a protective effect on the microbiome; it can inhibit pathogenic bacteria like E coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. (3)

DIGEST + DEBLOAT

Digest + Debloat blends some of herbal medicine’s most potent bitter stimulants with soothing digestive tonics that promote motility, address inflammation and banish bloating. Digestive bitters are powerful promoters of digestion; they interact with receptors in the tongue, stomach, pancreas and gallbladder to increase digestive secretions (like enzymes and bile), thereby improving digestion, nutrient absorption and the natural processes of detoxification and elimination. Digest + Debloat also boasts anti-spasmodic herbs that can help alleviate painful cramping, like Wild Yam and Lemon Balm (which can also help relieve menstrual cramping and PMS).

- Appetite and blood sugar: The components in bitter herbs have been shown to increase the release of CCK, a hormone involved in satiety, and reduce food intake. (4)

- IBS and digestive discomfort: Wild Yam and Lemon Balm have been shown to relieve cramping and nausea associated with IBS due to their anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. (5)

- Detoxification and elimination: Dandelion root is a favourite of many herbalists due to its long list of pharmacological effects against GI disorders, including nausea, reflux, indigestion, liver disorders and gastritis. (6) Because of its broad list of actions, it can be taken both proactively to support digestion and elimination, or occasionally for symptomatic relief.

GINGER

The benefits of ginger span across multiple systems – from immunity and digestion to metabolism and circulation, there are few things it doesn’t support. When it comes to a morning tonic, it’s something worth including – even though it can be slightly labour intensive to prepare. We use fresh ginger in this tonic; if you have a juicer, you can make this in batches and freeze in ice cube trays for easy access. If you don’t have ginger, you can buy pre-made ginger juice (make sure this is juiced ginger – not a sweetened ginger juice) or alternatively, put grated ginger with water in a blender and blend (also freezable). If prepping the fresh ginger is just too much, here are a few other ways to include it in your tonic: steep 6 bags of ginger tea in 500 mls of water and keep in the fridge. Use this as the water component in the drink rather than plain water, or, add 1/8th tsp of dried organic ginger root. This won’t taste as nice as the fresh version, but it will still give you a punch of beneficial properties.

- Prokinetic: Ginger has prokinetic properties, meaning it promotes the motility of our intestines by encouraging peristalsis. This can help encourage bowel regularity without having to rely on a spasmodic laxative.

- Anti-diarrhea: Even though it promotes bowel movement, it also combats diarrhoea. Studies have shown that ginger can relieve IBS –D (diarrhoea predominant IBS) by inhibiting the proinflammatory pathways that lead to IBS-D.

- Immunity and inflammation: Ginger is well known to support the immune system and has potent anti-inflammatory activity.

LEMON

Full transparency – we’ve included Lemon more for its effect on the taste of the drink rather than its medicinal impact. Don’t get us wrong, we still love its benefits; it's rich in polyphenols, Vitamin C and electrolytes, and the citric acid in lemons can help stimulate digestive enzymes.

How to make it.

- 1-3 pipettes of Digest + Debloat

- If you have digestive issues, work your way up to 3. If you’re taking this proactively but don’t have IBS, stick with 1.

- 1 tbsp raw, organic ACV

- Juice of ½ small lemon, or a few tbsp

- 1 tbsp of fresh ginger root juice, about 1-2 inches of fresh ginger

- Water to taste – we use about 150ml

Mix everything together and drink in the morning upon rising, or before a large meal. Disclaimer; it’s strong! So, feel free to dilute with more water and sip over a longer period of time.

Other morning tonics we love:

- For energy and metabolism: Cellular Hydration, green tea and lemon over ice

- For cravings and appetite: Energy Fix and fresh lemon made as a hot tea

- For coffee lovers, who drink a little too much coffee: Stress Tonic mixed into your morning coffee

SHOP ALL

This article is for educational purposes only and the implementation of the theories

and practices discussed is at the sole discretion of the individual. All advice given is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns about your health, you should speak with your physician.

REFERENCES

1. Cheng, LJ, Jiang, Y, Wu, VX, Wang, W. A systematic review and meta-analysis: Vinegar consumption on glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Adv Nurs. 2020; 76: 459– 474.

2. Tomoo KONDO, Mikiya KISHI, Takashi FUSHIMI, Shinobu UGAJIN & Takayuki KAGA (2009) Vinegar Intake Reduces Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, and Serum Triglyceride Levels in Obese Japanese Subjects, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 73:8, 1837-1843.

3. Yagnik, D., Serafin, V. & J. Shah, A. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Sci Rep 8, 1732 (2018)

4. Andreozzi P, Sarnelli G, Pesce M, Zito FP, Alessandro AD, Verlezza V, Palumbo I, Turco F, Esposito K, Cuomo R. The Bitter Taste Receptor Agonist Quinine Reduces Calorie Intake and Increases the Postprandial Release of Cholecystokinin in Healthy Subjects. J Neuro gastroenterol Motil. 2015 Oct 1;21(4):511-9.

5. Ulbricht C, Brendler T, Gruenwald J, Kligler B, Keifer D, Abrams TR, Woods J, Boon H, Kirkwood CD, Hackman DA, Basch E, Lafferty HJ; Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005;5(4):71-114.

6. Li Y, Chen Y, Sun-Waterhouse D. The potential of dandelion in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Jul 15;293:115272. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115272. Epub 2022 Apr 8. PMID: 35405251.

7. Zhang C, Huang Y, Li P, Chen X, Liu F, Hou Q. Ginger relieves intestinal hypersensitivity of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome by inhibiting proinflammatory reaction. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Sep 14;20(1):279. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03059-3. PMID: 32928188; PMCID: PMC7489045.