What’s in your salad dressing?

Have you looked at the label lately? You might be surprised to see that it contains some appalling ingredients, even in the organic versions! Some common ingredients are inflammation promoting oils such as soy or canola and emulsifiers such as xanthan gum or guar gum. (Go here to find out why you should avoid soy. Go here to find out why you should avoid canola oil.  Go here to find out why you should avoid emulsifiers.) 

In addition to avoiding these horrible ingredients, making your own salad dressing literally takes a couple of minutes! Plus, you can use the highest quality ingredients for the best nutrition and taste with none of the JUNK in store-bought dressings! Sold yet? If not, how about I extoll the virtues of raw apple cider vinegar for you?


Benefits of raw apple cider vinegar:

Perhaps you have already seen some of the posts or articles for the 101 uses of raw apple cider vinegar. (If not,  here is an awesome one.) If you have, allow me to remind you.

Raw apple cider vinegar:

  • is full of beneficial enzymes (when it is raw, don’t buy pasteurized!)
  • contains B vitamins, folic acid, and potassium
  • boosts digestion
  • can alleviate heart burn and acid reflux when taken 15-20 minutes before meals. Acid reflux is actually caused by to little stomach acid, not too much. Taking ACV before your meal increase the acid levels in the digestive tract.
  • helps to balance your microbiome which can boost immunity and vitamin and mineral absorption.
  • regulates blood sugar and increases insulin sensitivity. 
  • can help maintain a healthy cholesterol ratio
  • helps with weight loss. Acetic acid increases the enzyme AMPK, which increases fat burning and decreases fat and sugar production in the liver. (Source). It also suppresses appetite.
  • reduces blood pressure by suppressing the activity of the enzyme renin. ACV also prevents excessive clotting of the blood.
  • aids in detoxification
  • improves skin health and appearance (most directly when applied externally to skin, but also by regulating your gut health or “internal skin.”

Now that you’re are convinced that you should find a way to get this amazing ingredient into your daily diet, try this recipe! You can also try my ACV Blueberry-Raspberry Shrub.

This my all-time favorite salad dressing. It is so tasty and so nutritious. I find it a bit addicting.

 

 

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

Raw apple cider vinaigrette

  • 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder (or sub one clove, minced)
  • 3-6 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1-2 tablespoons brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon kelp powder (optional, but so nutritious!)
  1. Put all ingredients into a jar and shake! Let the jar sit on the counter at room temperature for at least an hour so the flavors can blend together. If you want it to emulsify, add a teaspoon of water and blend it with your stick blender.
  2. Keep refrigerated, but pull it out about a half an hour before you plan to use it to let it come back to room temperature. Shake before pouring onto your salad.

 

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Chelsea
An addicting and extremely healthy dressing for your salads.
Prep Time 3 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder or one clove, minced
  • 1-2 tablespoons brown mustard
  • 3-6 Tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake it until it is well-mixed.
  • Let the dressing sit out at room temperature for a bit (about an hour) to allow the flavors to combine.
  • After the flavors have melded, you can use it immediately, or refrigerate for later. It will keep for about a week in the fridge.
  • Pull it out about a half an hour before you plan to use it to let it come back to room temperature.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!