Cranberries are excellent for lowering blood glucose in the body making them a great addition to your diet if you struggle with Diabetes or insulin resistance.
It turns out even a small amount of vinegar consumed with meals can help control blood sugar, too. One study found consuming two teaspoons of vinegar with carbs may reduce post-meal blood glucose levels as much as 20 percent.
Herbal Vinegars are tasty and pack a punch on the medicinal scale. I use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with "the mother" for its gut friendly benefits and preservation.
Recipe
2 Parts ACV (apple cider vinegar)
1 Part fresh Cranberries (find them in a bag in your local grocery store, do not use the canned variety as it has added sugar)
*When herbalists say "part" we are referring to any unit of measurement. So in this case we'll use "cups" as our measuring tool. 2 parts equals 2 cups and 1 part equals 1 cup.
Directions
Grab a mason jar or glass jar of your choice. First take the fresh cranberries and rinse them with water. After the rinse place the cranberries in a ziplock bag and take a cookie dough roller and roll them over to smash the cranberries. We want the apple cider vinegar to cover as much of the fruit as possible for extraction so smashing them does the trick. I use a ziplock bag because it can get messy. After your cranberries are nice and smashed, transfer them to a clean and dry glass jar. Top the cranberries with your apple cider vinegar. Grab a piece of parchment paper and cover the jar, then place the lid on. We use parchment paper because the vinegar will corrode the aluminum top to the mason jar. Store in a cool dark area for 2-4 weeks. Once per week shake the jar to ensure the ACV is completely covering the cranberries. After 2-4 weeks your vinegar is ready to strain. Use a fine mesh strainer and transfer to a dropper bottle or another clean glass bottle. Store your vinegar in a cool and dark place. Take 1-2 dropperfulls before meals for blood glucose regulation or take a dropperful after meals to aid in digestion. If you are currently taking blood glucose medications check with your provider first as this will lower your blood glucose and could affect medications.
Storage and shelf life
Store in a cool place like a cabinet or pantry. No refrigeration is required. Lasts approximately 9-12 months.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and Spiritual Apothecary makes no claims to cure, treat or prevent any illness.