Curious about the benefits of apple cider vinegar? Here are all the reasons why everyone is drinking apple cider vinegar, plus helpful tips on how to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet.
In This Post You'll Find:
- Listen To This Article
- Watch My Video On Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits
- What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Why Drink Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Health Benefits
- Weight Loss Benefits
- Apple Cider Vinegar And Blood Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Heart Health
- How To Pick The Best ACV
- Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
- Reviews
Lately, everybody seems to be talking about the benefits of apple cider vinegar- how amazing it is and how it has so many health benefits. Is this just hype or is apple cider vinegar actually amazing? Are there actual health benefits of apple cider vinegar?
Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar was used as a natural remedy for health problems for a very long period. It’s an ancient remedy.
Let's get into the benefits.
Listen To This Article
It's important to note that apple cider vinegar won’t work miracles. And it can't replace a balanced diet and exercise. It's also important to recommend you speak with your doctor regarding whether adding apple cider vinegar to your diet is a good idea.
Watch My Video On Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from apples. Duh, right? More specifically, it's fermented apple juice. To make apple cider vinegar, apples are crushed and exposed to yeast. By doing this, the natural sugar from the apple is fermented over time and turned into alcohol (like you would do with wine).
The difference between apple cider and apple cider vinegar is the apple cider vinegar is fermented twice–once to make alcoholic cider and a second time to make it vinegar.
Why Drink Apple Cider Vinegar?
As crazy as it may sound at first, drinking apple cider vinegar may bring you many health benefits which will be discussed in detail in just a sec. Additionally, apple cider vinegar may reduce cravings by inducing satiety (the feeling of fullness), making apple cider vinegar potentially helpful for weight loss.
Health Benefits
There has been some debate on the benefits of apple cider vinegar, which is why I am only sharing findings from trusted research articles. Based on my research, apple cider vinegar may...
- lower blood sugar levels
- improve insulin sensitivity
- increase satiety
- reduce belly fat
- lower cholesterol
- improves heart health
In the following sections, I'll break these down into how they might be impactful.
Weight Loss Benefits
A 2009 study by Kondo, et al. concluded apple cider vinegar might be effective for weight loss because the apple cider vinegar groups showed reduced body weight, BMI, visceral fat area, and waist circumference, compared to the placebo group. Another study found beneficial effects of ACV on weight management, and in particular, for overweight or obese individuals in that a combination of calorie restriction and apple cider vinegar intake led to a decrease in appetite, body weight, BMI, and hip circumference.
So...how does this happen? Apple cider vinegar may increase satiety (your feeling of fullness), which would help cue your body to stop eating.
For more on apple cider vinegar and weight loss, read this post.
Apple Cider Vinegar And Blood Sugar
Apple cider vinegar has been associated with reduced blood sugar levels when one is fasting, which could be beneficial for people who have difficulty regulating their own blood sugar levels, like those who have diabetes. However, the research authors note more research is needed to test this correlation further.
If you have diabetes and take insulin or prescription drugs, you should talk to your doctor before drinking apple cider vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Heart Health
Drinking apple cider vinegar before a meal may help lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar reduces LDL (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL (good cholesterol) in rats. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature concluded a significant favorable effect of ACV consumption on blood lipid levels.
A 2023 meta-analysis by Tehrani, et al. found that consumption of apple cider vinegar had a favorable effect in decreasing some Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) risk factors, which are a set of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
How To Pick The Best ACV
Watch how to choose a good-quality ACV and the best way to drink ACV.
Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
It is important to note there are certain instances when apple cider vinegar is not recommended. Potential side effects of Apple Cider Vinegar may include:
- Tooth decay and weakened tooth enamel: As a reminder, drinking apple cider vinegar without diluting it is not recommended because it is acidic and may cause the breakdown of your tooth enamel. If you choose to drink apple cider vinegar, be sure it is diluted in water or another liquid.
- Skin and throat burns: Applying apple cider vinegar to the skin and throat may cause chemical burns in some people.
- Lacking long term appetite suppression – while the research did find ACV to help lower appetite, it is also noted it was only observed for the short term, not for the long-term
- Small studies have suggested that apple cider vinegar may reduce the rate at which food leaves the stomach and enters the lower digestive tract, which could slow the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream and lead to heartburn, nausea, and bloating.
Have you tried apple cider vinegar? Let me know in the comments below!
jayze
Informative and well researched, but it is a long-winded article - takes too long to scroll, read info or find a key fact or recipe - the text is pale and small. Please consider more legible pages over this thin and skinny style.
Aasia Batool
Awesime post. It was very helpful.
Merrikate
Helps to install an ad-blocker app on the device you're using. There are no ads blocking my view here ... and my blocker tells me that it has blocked EIGHT of them! (There are lots to choose from. I use AdBlocker Ultimate.)
Nephi Kessinger
Vinegar worsening acid reflux symptoms is not true though. For me I have the 2nd worst version of the disease and nothing works to keep it in check. I tried taking it many times and it gave immediate relief for a short time. By itself or diluted gave the same results and as I theorized how it works with acid reflux is it counteracts the bad acid in your system thus balancing the acidic levels despite vinegar having high acidity and my specialist confirmed that was exactly the case and why it gave me relief. Had a few others try it and they said they got the same results. So do not hesitate consumption if ya have acid reflux as it does not worsen it though results may vary from person to person and symptoms.
Ann
I also would get phlegm from acid reflux. Sore throat and hoarse voice. I started with about one tbls in small glass of water drink through straw to prevent contact with teeth. I feel so much better. It worked for me
Bridge
Thanks
STEFFI
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO DRINK APPLE CIDER? BEFORE BREAKFAST?
Umira
As per many accounts, 1 teaspoon before each meal. Diluted with water, honey, lemon, cayenne, or any other blend of (healthy) ingredients
Ine spencer
Can i take warm water with ACV first thing in the morning?
pawan kumar
Super article. detail information. I always love to read it.
Tom
1 started to use rhe raw honey drink posted on the Bragg bottle
Emily
I take only a capful and dilute with a cup of water every morning first thing.. i always use a straw to drink as i dont want that to touch my teeth at all.. then have my usual cup of tea....
Laura
I take 20ml straight out of a child size medicine cup. Then I quickly rinse my mouth with water while getting my toothbrush ready. Then brush my teeth. I do this right before bed.
Julie Mallory
This is not a good idea. ACV will cause problems later on as it happened to a friend of mine. Please dilute before drinking.
Nelda Garza
Has drinking helped you so far?
Dana
ACV is harsh on tooth enamel. Shouldn't brush your teeth right after. I assume it does the same to enamel that lemons do. Shouldn't brush your teeth an hour to two hours after to let the enamel to re-harden.
Mwidu
I am quite excited about the benefits of apple cider vinegar.i am definitely gonna try it out especially for weight loss. I will share my findings. Thank you very much
Leo
I don't think it helps directly to lose weight. Not for me at least. But there are advantages. I haven't met any one personally yet who has any experience about these wonderful benefits of ACV. It' only on internet that we find such positive reviews. For underlying problems it's best to get the doctor in the loop as you could cause unintentional harm to your body. I have used this several times (intervals of 4- 6 months) for 3 -4 years. Haven't seen any notable change though.
Gayline Johnson
I can’t stand it mixed with anything sweet but I LOVE it with V8 juice which I add a splash of Worcestershire sauce and some lime juice...... I drink after dinner about an hour before bed!
David
Here is an easy, quick and delicious way to drink it. Mix your apple cider vinegar with 8oz of apple cider, either regular or spiced. For taste and convenience, this is great. But be aware of the higher sugar and calories.
Babina
I just took a glass of water mix with 1tsp and amazingly, my chest pain has vanished😊. Hope to have more testimonies to share onwards.
Toni
I stumbled accros the perfect concoction, V-8 juice with 2 Tbls ACV, I have it every morning. I can't taste the vinagre but it gives the v8 a splash of sing and I add seracha to it when I need a bit of spice in my life.
Michelle Lentini
I mix in fresh lemon juice, warm water and some Trader Joe's Pomegranate White Tea!
Ramrada
I will try your way. sound to easy to drink. but I still afraid. this vinegar "Bragg" is my first time. Please God help me.
Jacqueline Gibson
I really enjoyed all of the replies. I want to lose 6-8 lbs in 19 days. I am going to try ACV..
Patty
How did the acv work for you?
Joyce Barylski
I buy Vermont Village raw & unfiltered ACV with blueberries & honey. Tastes good and after two months of use every morning I do not have to suck it in to button my pants. I am losing my belly fat. Hooray!
gracie gritton
Where do you find that?