long before the invention of sugary sodas energy drinks and vitamin water there were switch 'l an old-timey beverage to be sure switch allows many things thirst quenching refreshing energizing healthful and it has recently regained some of the limelight it once enjoyed thanks to both hipsters and health enthusiasts to like easy to make switch will contain just four basic ingredients water vinegar sweetener and ginger it was a popular alternative to iced water which was very difficult to obtain before the age of ice boxes and freezers and physicians of the era warned against drinking it because they believed cold drinks on hot days would cause indigestion although it was originally made with vinegar water and either molasses honey or maple syrup as a sweetener eventually ginger was added to the mix to prevent bloating allowing people to drink it all day long without worrying about upsetting their stomachs the benefits of drinking switch 'el one it restores electrolytes electrolytes are minerals present in bodily fluids like blood and urine that carry an electrical charge we need these positively or negatively charged ions in our bodies they transmit the voltage needed for many physiological functions such as muscle contractions and nerve signaling we lose electrolytes anytime we exercise sweat or go to the bathroom most commonly electrolyte imbalance occurs during times of dehydration when we lose fluids through rigorous physical activity or when we get the flu the tell-tale signs of an electrolyte imbalance include muscle aches anxiety headaches heart palpitations stomach cramps joint pain fatigue trouble concentrating and dizziness but electrolytes can be quickly replenished by consuming things that contain electrically charged minerals like calcium potassium magnesium sodium and chloride because switching is made with apple cider vinegar a rich source of potassium and pure maple syrup it's an all natural alternative to sugary sports drinks that will help maintain a good electrolyte balance in the body too it helps ease pain and inflammation it's no wonder that farmers toiling all day turn to switch all as their refreshment of choice it combats pain and inflammation allowing them to work just as hard the following day and indeed switch is a wonderful post-workout tonic the key ingredient here is the presence of ginger which not only suppresses pro-inflammatory enzymes associated with the aches and pains that often accompany intense exercise it can also help with other expressions of inflammation like acne arthritis eczema depression and the physical signs of aging ginger all the active constituents of ginger is an effective pain reliever - which works just as well as over-the-counter medications used to alleviate pain but without any adverse side effects free yet your daily dose of apple cider vinegar in addition to replenishing electrolytes there's a lot of good reasons to imbibe apple cider vinegar it helps balance the body's pH levels keeps blood sugar levels balanced aids in digestion by fostering the growth of healthy gut bacteria protects the heart and promotes healthy weight loss while taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water may not be the most alluring beverage on the planet switch will offers a tasty way to get your ACV fix for enjoy the healthful effects of ginger unless you are already consuming an ample amount of ginger in your diet you really don't want to miss out on the amazing benefits of eating or in this case drinking ginger among gingers myriad benefits it has been shown to help lower cholesterol improve blood circulation reduce blood sugar levels and ease the symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn bloating and nausea since ginger all has antioxidant properties it can help give the brain a boost by improving mental processing working memory attention span and reaction time 5 the hidden wonders of pure maple syrup although switch will can be sweetened with raw honey the time-honored way to make it is with pure maple syrup like other natural sweeteners real maple syrup is a much healthier alternative to our official and refined sugars as the only product in our diet that comes from tree sap maple syrup is quite nutritious containing a goodly amount of calcium manganese riboflavin zinc and potassium and because maple syrup is a plant-based sweetener it also carries the advantage of a slew of antioxidants 63 different types of free radical scavengers in fact spanning gallic acid content and corseting how to make traditional switch whole while there are several drink manufacturers that have jumped on the switch a bandwagon replete with extras like cherry and blueberry flavorings it's really easy to make your own switch at home with these all-natural ingredients 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup 6 ounces of fresh ginger root 4 cups of water or club soda method to make great ginger root or pass it through a juicer until you have about 1/3 of a cup combined ginger apple cider vinegar maple syrup and water in a large container and stir until the maple syrup has completely dissolved if you graded your ginger the bits will sink to the bottom of the container and this is perfectly fine pour over ice for immediate enjoyment or place the jug in the fridge and let it steep for 24 hours stirring again before serving add a modern twist by including mint leaves and a tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice you you