In the first of a new series of posts Vie and Tim will be offering some recipe’s and ideas on a particular strand of natural eating based on the ancient Indian approach of Ayurveda.

Diet and nutrition are an essential part of mountaineering and I wanted to offer different ideas from different schools of thought, so expect to see other contributors as well, and as always I offer these posts as interesting ideas and tips, not gospel.

Your own investigations, trials and preferences should always come first but maybe you will discover something new and positive and I think we all need to open our minds a little to new things. For more information on Vie & Tim, Ayurveda and even paddleboarding go visit their website AskTime&Vie

This is not about micro dosing LSD or making candy 😉

This is about an extremely old recipe that has been shared among numerous cultures for thousands of years and a multitude of purposes. Its power has been applied in reducing fevers, assisting with arthritis and gout, stimulating digestion, promoting weight loss and even enhancing longevity.

It is called oxymel and it is derived from the Greek word οξύ, which translates to acid and μέλι, which translates to honey.

You guessed it! Vinegar and Honey! Even better, apple cider vinegar and raw honey!

There are several recipes on how to combine apple cider vinegar and honey. We are going to give you our favorite.

Ingredients

• 1/2 gallon filtered water
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• A good size chunk of ginger root, peeled and cut up
• The juice from one or two whole lemons or limes
• About 5 tablespoons of local, raw, unfiltered honey

Preparation

• Add the filtered water and everything else into a glass jar that seals tightly
• First stir it all together to mix well
• Then shake it all up to combine even further
• Try it and adjust to taste
• Seal it
• Let it sit in the refrigerator for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours
• Stir well before serving
• For best results, let it come to room temperature before drinking

Important notes

• Use filtered water, not random tap water that may contain unwanted chemicals.
• You can replace lemon with lime during the hot summer months if you are looking for a more cooling effect. Ayurveda considers lime having a cooling effect and lemon a heating effect.
• You can replace honey with maple syrup as long as it is pure maple syrup, preferably organic. Check the ingredients list and make sure it only contains maple syrup. It is common for companies to add high-fructose corn syrup or something similar.
• Keep in mind though that if your goal is weight loss you want to stick with honey. Ayurveda considers honey, scraping, i.e. promoting weight loss. Maple syrup is considered anabolic (as in building tissues).
• Use properly fermented apple cider vinegar. When you open the bottle you should hear a “pop”. Bragg’s apple cider vinegar is a brand we like. Of course, you can always opt for making your own!
• Peeling ginger becomes very easy if you use the bowl of a metal spoon. Scrape the edge of the spoon against the ginger to peel off the skin. Unlike a vegetable peeler or knife, which will inevitably peel too much meat along with the skin, a dull spoon simply lifts the skin off.
• Ground ginger is an option if you cannot find fresh ginger toot.

Fun ideas

• You can mix and match any of your favorite herbs or berries in the above concoction. The possibilities are endless!
• For a fancier taste, use sparkling water instead of filtered water to give the drink a soda-like sensation.
• And if your age and habits permit… It combines well with alcohol, especially whiskey, gin or rum.

What makes this oxymel drink so unique is that its ingredients have been carefully selected so they can work synergistically to enhance each other’s beneficial properties.

So the result is a drink that helps with

• Maintaining Healthy body weight
• Better absorption and assimilation of nutrients
• Effective transportation of nutrients to targeted body tissues
• Better elimination of waste materials
• Strengthening the respiratory system
• Liver detoxification
• Reducing inflammation
• Increasing energy
• Balancing all three doshas, physically, mentally and emotionally!

And most importantly keeping you grounded, no matter what your environment throws at you!

Disclaimer

There are known contraindications to this drink, so please, always consult your medical professional first. You should not use apple cider vinegar regularly more than 30 days.

Thank you for reading and sharing!

Vie Binga & Tim Ganley are lifestyle entrepreneurs, outdoor adventurers, authors and global teachers of Yoga, Ayurveda, Meditation, Fitness and Stand Up Paddling.Website: https://AskTimAndVie.com Email: training@asktimandvie.com