Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

Apple cider vinegar is a honey-colored liquid produced by fermenting apples or apple juice. Rich in vitamins and minerals-including vitamin C, potassium, and iron-it has been used throughout history as a health tonic, treating many ailments from diabetes to heartburn. Apple cider vinegar gained U.S. recognition in the 1950s when D.C. Jarvis, MD, author of Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health, promoted its health benefits. Through his own research, Jarvis believes that apple cider vinegar assists the natural process of breaking down food in the stomach, which may help promote weight loss.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss

Many feel that apple cider vinegar is a good dietary aid because it helps the digestive system work more efficiently. The acidity of the vinegar combined with the pectin in the apples is said to create a fat-burning effect. The acid neutralizes toxins in the digestive system and increases your metabolic rate. The pectin absorbs water and fills the stomach acting as an appetite suppressant. Also, the potassium found in apple cider vinegar decreases water retention by balancing your sodium levels.

According to the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a 2005 study performed by scientists at Lund University, Sweden states that vinegar ingested before a meal helped subjects eat less. (Reference 2) The acetic acid (found in apple cider vinegar) increased overall satiety.

The Diet Method

Take up to 3 tsp. of apple cider vinegar before every meal. It's recommended that you start with just 1 tsp. and work your way up to three. There are no set meal plans or food restrictions. However, if you want to accelerate weight loss, combine this procedure with regular exercise and sensible eating.

Apple cider vinegar is very pungent, so if you don't like the taste, there are tablets you can take instead. However, because these supplements aren't FDA-regulated, check with you doctor first to make sure they are safe. In recent years, questions have been raised about the quality of some apple cider vinegar supplements since ingredients vary from one brand to another.

Pros

This diet plan is inexpensive and easy to follow. Apple cider vinegar may act as a natural detoxifier for the body, and some animal studies suggest that apple cider vinegar may help treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Cons

Apple cider vinegar is contraindicated with several medications, including insulin, diuretic drugs and digoxin. Check with your doctor if you have diabetes. Vinegar acidity may cause stomach or throat irritation. Independent human studies of the benefits of this diet have not proven its effectiveness. Drinking 8 ounces or more of apple cider vinegar per day or regular ingestion of apple cider vinegar supplements may lower your potassium and cause osteoporosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn't consume apple cider vinegar in any form.

Warnings

Talk to your doctor before starting the apple cider vinegar diet to make sure it won't affect any health conditions or medications you are taking.

Although there are many advocates of the diet, it hasn't been proven as an effective, sustainable weight-loss regimen.