This post will without question put me into the uber hippy dippy category of granola hipsters taking over the world these days. But so be it. At the risk of being labeled a crazy hippy I feel it is important to share this health tip on the off chance someone finds that it makes them feel better the way it has made me feel better. Let me start at the beginning.

I add one or all of these spices sometimes…nutmeg, ground ginger and cinnamon. Sometimes even a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.

A few years ago I went from normal healthy active young adult to a non-functional girl riddled with pain within a matter of days. It was scary and confusing and completely out of the blue. Super crazy long story short, after many many months of testing, research and doctors appointments it turns out I have arthritis. Ummm, excuse me? Arthritis? Isn’t that something that happens to old people? Well, yes, it is, but it can also be something that impacts kids (even really little kiddos) and young otherwise healthy adults as well. You see arthritis is an auto-immune disease. It can show itself differently in each person’s body and what helps one person feel better doesn’t necessarily work for the next. When first diagnosed I spent about a year trying everything under the sun to avoid taking the scary meds the doctor was suggesting but at the end of the day those big scary meds really ended up being a blessing as they pretty much eliminated the near constant pain I was in. I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for the year of experimenting with holistic treatments because I learned a lot of great ways to help keep my body feeling good. If you have perused any of my recipes here on A Touch of Lovely you will notice all of them are gluten free and most of the sweet treats avoid refined sugar, both huge contributors to rough days of not feeling my best. In addition to steering clear of certain foods I have made a point to include foods that are linked to decreased inflammation and healthy joints.

Apple cider vinegar is one of the easiest ways I have found to feel great. I add about 2 tablespoons to a large cup with 2 cups of cold water and sometimes add a sprinkle of spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ground ginger) and a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. I happen to love kombucha and this tastes pretty similar and even has the same healthy probiotics to give your gut a dose of the ‘good bacteria’ it needs to help your body thrive. It seems to really help temper stiffness in my joints and gives a nice little shot of energy too. I have read A LOT about the human body in the last few years (as one tends to do when they are diagnosed with something) and am constantly amazed by how much we can do proactively to feel healthy and avoid sickness. I hope it goes without saying that I am not a doctor and what works for me might not be something that works for you but if you find yourself looking for ideas to look into for optimal health this might be a great place to start. Cheers to your health!

I love the Braggs brand of apple cider vinegar because it is unprocessed and raw. You can find it at most grocery stores and some of their recipes on ways to incorporate it into your diet on their website HERE.

Apple cider vinegar isn’t just good for fighting inflammation in the body, check out this list of other ways to use it.