Cranberry Drink

We love this cranberry drink for a few reasons:

1. Improved Digestion: The mild acids of apple cider vinegar and lemon aid in early digestive processes. Consuming this drink before meals provides extra acid for digestion, which can alleviate indigestion, heartburn (acid reflux), bloating, or distention. Surprisingly, the mild acid often HELPS people with heartburn. If it worsens your symptoms, discontinue the use of vinegar. If the burning persists, stop consuming the drink altogether.
2. Gentle Detoxification: This drink jump-starts a mild detoxification process in your body. The lemon juice slightly alkalizes your tissues, facilitating easier cell cleansing. Cranberry helps your kidneys and bladder eliminate toxins from your body.
3. Reduced Sugar Cravings: The tartness of this drink helps individuals with a sweet tooth "reset" their taste buds, reducing the need for excessive sweetness. By removing sweeteners from your diet and consuming this drink, you may find that other foods, such as fruits and vegetables, taste sweeter. Although this tip is anecdotal and not proven, we have observed it frequently.

Ingredients:

• 4 ½ cups of Spring Water or Filtered Water
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened, organic cranberry juice (ensure it is 100% pure by reading labels!)
• 4 tbsp organic lemon juice
• 1-2 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar

Directions: Drink one 8-oz glass up to 3 times a day, 5-15 minutes before each meal.

Tips:

1. Prepare a concentrate in bulk by mixing the ingredients in a canning jar and storing it in the fridge. Add water to the concentrate when making 2-3 days' worth at a time.
2. This drink may be an acquired taste for many individuals. Keep trying! If needed, add a small amount of stevia or monkfruit sweetener (without erythritol or sugar alcohols) at first to help adjust to the tartness.
3. Some people add up to 1 tablespoon of fiber per day, such as ground flax or psyllium, to aid digestion, relieve constipation, promote toxin elimination, and benefit the circulatory system. If you haven't included fiber in your routine, start with ½-1 teaspoon and gradually increase the amount. Introducing fiber too quickly can cause bloating and discomfort.

Warnings:

If you are prone to forming oxalate kidney stones, remove the cranberry from the recipe or consult your medical provider. Cranberry contains high levels of oxalates.

In rare cases, individuals may be unable to tolerate apple cider vinegar. If this applies to you, omit it from the recipe.

Future:

We recommend consuming this drink 3 times a day for the first month. During the detox period (weeks 5-6), you can reduce the consumption to 1 time per day or discontinue it entirely. Many people choose to continue drinking it once a day after completing the detox program.