Fire Cider: An Ancient Miracle Remedy That Kick-Starts Metabolism And So Much More

We're in the middle of the cold season, and many areas around the country are being plagued with the terrible flu. Fire cider has been a staple in many nutritionists and herbalists’ medicine cabinet as it is seen as nature’s natural flu shot since the 1980’s. Fire cider has so many benefits even beyond keeping the flu at bay, including boosting our immune system and increasing our digestive fire so we can properly break down food.

If you are someone who suffers from frequent illnesses and infections, this is your lucky day. You’re about to discover a highly effective and very affordable natural remedy that is completely safe without any side effects. Some people even consider it tasty, incorporating it into their cooking or cocktail recipes.

Fire cider is a medicinal concoction that has been used for many generations to support healthy digestion, keep away seasonal infections, boost circulation and get rid of sinus congestion. It is essentially a collection of health-boosting herbs and vegetables, which are mixed together and soaked in vinegar over a period of time. The vinegar acts to draw out the active medicinal constituents of the plants.

Fire cider provides very similar immune-boosting benefits to that of elderberry syrup; fire cider can be diluted with water or tea and be taken when you are feeling under the weather. However, the benefits of fire cider go way beyond cold and flu season, it can be considered as a preventative measure while you are healthy and additionally, it can be taken to promote and stimulate healthy digestion and enzyme production. You’ll want to add the recipe to your collection after reading of all the wonderful benefits.

What makes fire cider so unique?

Some of the ingredients:

Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is the base of the fire cider recipe. Apple cider vinegar is made by crushing organic apples with yeast, causing the sugar to ferment and turn into an alcohol solution. Live cultures of healthy bacteria are added to the solution, creating more fermentation and converting the solution into acetic acid, the main compound found in vinegar. Often when purchasing raw and unfiltered ACV, you will see it contains “the mother”, this means it includes hundreds of different beneficial bacteria and enzymes. This beneficial bacteria and naturally occurring enzymes help strengthen the human digestive system and regulate proper pH within the body. This can be incredibly helpful when we are struggling with bloating after meals, have sluggish regularity, and consuming highly acidic foods such as meats, alcohol, and sugars. Multiple studies have also confirmed the use of apple cider vinegar improved insulin sensitivity by over 30%, and therefore reducing blood glucose levels. This is great news, as so many people often suffer from elevated blood sugars.

Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb. There are many medicinal benefits of ginger; it can be very powerful when struggling with stomach pain, bloating, gas, morning sickness, and a loss of appetite. Ginger is also a natural motility agent, meaning it helps move things along in the digestive tract. This helps us detoxify and eliminate on a regular basis, which is crucial in today’s toxic world where we're supposed to be eliminating 2.2 lbs of toxins every single day.

Garlic is an antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial herb – which makes it great for both colds and the flu. It’s commonly used in the treatment of Candida and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Garlic also has healing properties, which can strengthen the immune system and help fight off bacteria. The active component of garlic is the bulb, called allicin, which allows your immune system to shut down any circulating bacteria or viruses before it is too late.

Horseradish is a root vegetable that is often used in many recipes. The active constituent is the root, which has antimicrobial efficacy against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Horseradish is naturally rich in fiber and many vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Horseradish can naturally lower elevated blood pressure by regulating the movement of fluid between cellular membranes.

Onions are bacterial magnets! They are so powerful against circulating viruses and bacteria. Onions are naturally high in sulfur and contain anticancer and antibacterial benefits along with prebiotics. Prebiotics help feed already existing healthy bacteria in the colon.

Raw honey: Most honey you find in the supermarket has been pasteurized and processed. This renders it basically a simple sugar that isn’t much healthier than white sugar. Raw honey, however, is left in its natural state with all of its medicinal constituents intact.

It is an alkaline-forming food that is made up of numerous vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. This amazing compound has impressive antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has even been recognized by mainstream medicine and is used in hospitals as a treatment for wounds. Raw honey has been shown to strengthen the immune system and help eliminate allergies and respiratory conditions.

HOW TO USE FIRE CIDER:

Shoot It!

For Fire Cider Superfans, and those who love a good spicy kick, taking a straight shot will be your best bet! Our recommendation is a 1tbsp shot each day, but you are always welcome to increase the size of the shot or the frequency of shots (or both!).

Your shots can be chased with water, or any other drink you've got handy, or you could enjoy the burn as it lingers on your tongue.

Mix It!

For those who aren't quite as psyched about the spice, mixing it into another drink (water, juice, tea, cocktails) is another great way to get your Fire Cider in each day. Whether you pour a serving into your morning tea, or add it to your evening cocktail, mixing it is a great way to get your daily dose of Fire Cider.

 If you're looking for some recipe inspiration to get your drink on, head over to our blog for lots of delicious drink ideas (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic!).

Add It!

We're always big fans of a good marinade or salad dressing, and Fire Cider provides lots of yummy ingredients and flavors that work perfectly for these things. If you're throwing together a salad or side dish, or looking to spice up your main entree, Fire Cider is the perfect finishing touch!