Read This Before Drinking Undiluted Apple Cider Vinegar

If you've been hearing a lot about apple cider vinegar lately, you're not alone. A combination of apple juice and yeast (via WebMD), apple cider vinegar, or ACV, is not only a kitchen staple that can be used in salad dressings and marinades, it has been especially touted lately for its health and medicinal properties, such as its ability to clear up bad skin, soothe a sore throat, lower blood sugar, and even aid in weight loss (via Everyday Health).

There certainly seems like there is something to be gained by incorporating apple cider vinegar into your diet, and if you're not sure how to cook with it, gulping down a spoonful of the stuff in the morning is another way to ensure you can reap its benefits. However, before pulling the bottle out of your pantry (maybe grab the turmeric too while you're at it) and pouring out a shot, there is one very easy — yet super important — step to incorporate ACV into your diet that can be the difference between curing an ailment, or creating a new one.

If you're ready to follow in the footsteps of Kourtney Kardashian and Katy Perry and take a shot of apple cider vinegar to kick start your day (via Us Weekly), make sure you have some water nearby as well. According to Healthline, ACV needs to be diluted with water rather than being ingested straight up in order to avoid some potentially dangerous side effects that can include damage to your throat or esophagus.

Taste of Home explains that the ratio to follow is eight ounces of water for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to prevent any damage, as well as the addition of some honey or ginger to make the concoction taste a little better. It is also suggested to drink the mixture with a straw so as avoid ruining your teeth.

And if you're looking for an even easier way to up your daily ACV intake, you're in luck, as Trader Joe's recently stocked their shelves with two different sparkling apple cider vinegar beverages that make the chore even tastier.