Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a home remedy for many maladies, from varicose veins to being overweight. Apple cider vinegar weight loss drink has been around for decades, and people swear up and down that it does work. Apple cider vinegar is made from apple juice.
The apple juice is first turned to alcohol, and then further fermented so that it turns to vinegar through the natural action of bacteria. The result is an excellent vinegar that is wonderful in salads and a perfect ingredient for many dishes. But why does it work, anyway?
Why do people use apple cider vinegar as a home remedy? It has long been thought that the ‘mother,’ or the cloud that you see in apple cider vinegar, is what truly makes it healthy.
The ‘mother’ is an agglomeration of live, probiotic microorganisms that are helpful to the human body. Unlike bacteria that we are more familiar with, these bacteria help the host, and they’re excellent for restoring the natural balance of the body.
Why Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help You Lose Weight?
Acetic acid is the leading proponent of apple cider vinegar, and for years, researchers have hinted that acetic acid may help reduce body weight.
A regular bottle of apple cider vinegar has about 5% to 6% acetic acid only. This is already ideal for weight loss efforts; there is no need to find vinegar with a higher percentage.
Take note also that apple cider vinegar has other components in a smaller percentage, like malic acid. The malic acid, in itself, has various properties that can aid in weight loss efforts.
It has been associated with a natural increase in energy production (at the cellular level), increased endurance during physical activity, and better management of muscular fatigue during exercise.
These benefits are significant for people engaged in weight loss efforts because 50% of the effort in losing weight is getting sufficient exercise every day.
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits
Some additional benefits of apple cider vinegar that are linked to weight loss are:
- In animal studies, it has been shown to improve the uptake of blood glucose from the blood. Specifically, the muscles and the liver benefited from the glucose uptake enhancement.
- Has been shown to reduce the level of insulin with glucagon, which is favorable for burning off fat more efficiently. Apple cider vinegar helps change the body’s mode from sugar burning to fat burning – it is like a natural metabolic switch that you can access any time from your diet.
- Acetic acid appears to be a high-performing short-chain fatty acid. It has also been shown to improve the production of AMPK, which reduces the production of fat and sugar in the liver, and increases the cutting or metabolism of body fat.
- Acetic acid enhanced the expression of specific genes in animal tests that improved the ability of the body to stave off the storage of fat. This led to a decrease in body fat composition and reduced the incidence of weight gain as well.
- Interestingly, it was also shown that consuming apple cider vinegar can stimulate the part of the brain that has to do with appetite. Apple cider vinegar has a suppressive effect on this region of the brain, which means people who are struggling to control their appetite may see an improvement in their appetite control efforts if they can integrate this food into their diet regularly.
- This vinegar can also help people reduce the actual amount of food that they feel that they need per day. This helps significantly in the caloric reduction for weight loss programs.
- One study showed that regular consumption of apple cider vinegar could help dieters lose two to three times more weight per month than people who didn’t consume apple cider vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar Dosage
Below are some dosing guidelines for people who want to take apple cider vinegar for weight loss or just for general health:
- Take one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, or 12 to 30 ml per day.
- You may mix the apple cider vinegar with water if you can’t take it in pure form.
- You can also use apple cider vinegar as salad dressing throughout the day.
- There is no ‘overdose’ for apple cider vinegar if it is taken merely as food.
- You may purchase and use raw apple cider vinegar with the ‘mother’ included in the bottle as these provide additional probiotic support for those who consume the vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar Uses
Additional uses and benefits of using apple cider vinegar can be found below:
- Vinegar has been used for thousands of years to clean and sanitize wounds. Apply the apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball before applying a dressing on the wound.
- Vinegar can also be used to improve the longevity of cooked food. Adding a bit of vinegar to your dishes can help preserve the food longer, even without refrigeration.
- Are you suffering from acne and other skin issues? Applying a little vinegar to your face may help reduce bacteria, which in turn could help clear your skin. A little vinegar can help your skin improve its suppleness and clarity. Do it regularly enough, and you just might end up with radiant, blooming skin.
- You can take apple cider vinegar to help reduce the risk of hypertension. There is also some evidence that apple cider vinegar can help lower blood sugar levels, which is the critical problem encountered by people suffering from metabolic syndrome, which develops before chronic, degenerative diseases like diabetes two and hypertension, too.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
- Too much vinegar can erode the tooth’s enamel. Start with small dosing, and do not overdo it.
- Excessive intake of vinegar can lead to gastroparesis. Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach is delayed in emptying itself. This is more commonly observed in people with type 1 diabetes.
- Some people may experience nausea in addition to appetite suppression. If you are unsure if this is right for you, contact your GP immediately.
