Does drinking apple cider vinegar help you lose weight

Apple cider vinegar is a popular juice that has a long history of being used for medication, like treating sore throat and varicose veins. Researches have also shown that it can cure eczema and lower blood sugar levels. However, in recent years there’re more and more claims that apple cider vinegar can help lose weight? Is it true?

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is a kind of apple juice that goes through fermentation during production. The key element added is yeast and bacteria, the former converting the sugar into alcohol while the latter turning the alcohol into acetic acid. Apple cider vinegar mainly contains acetic acid, with few calories and no carbs.

Because of this, some studies suggest that apple cider vinegar can help weight loss in several aspects. For example, it contains useful probiotic bacteria that is friendly to the healthy bacteria in your gut. With the growth of these beneficial bacteria, you’ll be able to digest and absorb more nutrients from the food you eat.

However, scientific studies claiming that apple cider vinegar promotes weight loss are few and inconsistent. And relevant results are based on small groups of people. The truth is, weight loss can’t live without exercise and diet. There’s no shortcut of shedding a lot of pounds quickly.

Risks of apple cider vinegar

Despite the health benefits, apple cider vinegar carries some risks. It is highly acidic and can hurt your throat and teeth if drinking in a large amount. It may also interact with some drugs like insulin and diuretics. And of course, it may lead to a low level of potassium, a mineral that keeps the function of your muscles and nerves.

How to make use of apple cider vinegar

To avoid irritation, we recommend you to drink diluted apple cider vinegar (1-2 tablespoons of vinegar with water) instead of drinking directly. And it would be better to drink it before meals. To add more flavor, you can add pieces of fresh mint leaves or ginger. Some people also like to use apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing together with olive oil.

The takeaway

Drinking apple cider vinegar is beneficial to your health, but don’t count on it if you want to lose weight. The best solution is to pay more attention to your calorie and diet.