Cider Vinegar Diet For Weight Loss

Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a having medicinal properties. Hippocrates used apple cider vinegar in 400 BC to treat abrasions and ease the pain of aching joints. Apple cider vinegar as a diet supplement came into use in the 1970s, but there was no scientific data to support the weight loss claims. Since the turn of the century, researchers began to closely examine why apple cider vinegar had such a reputation as a health tonic.

Fat Reduction Mechanism

Acetic acid, CH3COOH, is thought to be the primary compound responsible for weight loss in an apple cider vinegar diet. Two studies done in Japan by the Central Research Institute of the Mizkan Group state that acetic acid in vinegar may have the ability to reduce fatty acid deposits in rats and humans at a genetic level. Mizkan researchers noted an activity increase in the PPAR-alpha after vinegar was ingested. The PPAR-alpha is an organelle, functioning like a small organ inside the body's cells, eliminating toxins and releasing enzymes that oxidize fatty acids and stimulate the burning of calories.

Appetite Suppression

Apple cider vinegar has long been used to help suppress a person's appetite. However, until recently, vinegar's ability to provide a more sated feeling was nothing more than an old wives tale. Dr. Earl Mindell states in his book, "Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar " that adding pickled foods and drinking diluted vinegar before or with meals, provides a fuller feeling. Dr. Mindell's statements are backed by a Lund University study that came to the same conclusion.

Dosage

Almost every study regarding the apple cider vinegar diet available to the public indicates that 2 tbsp. is the effective dosage required to achieve efficient weight loss results. However, vinegar should be diluted with water or another beverage to avoid the tart taste, pungent odor and possible soft tissue damage. Advocates recommend using only raw apple cider vinegar that contains sediment or vinegar "mother." The "mother" is the live fermentation cells that have enzymes, nutrients, bacteria and minerals that are said to be essential to an effective diet.

Side Effects

Improper use and ingestion of apple cider vinegar can cause damage to the esophagus, stomach distress and hyperreninemia, an adrenal gland disorder that affects the kidneys and can cause high blood pressure and other related health problems. Osteoporosis, tooth enamel decay and insufficient potassium levels are also side effects of vinegar over-use or overdose. While there is no medically recommended dosage for apple cider vinegar, consult with a physician before starting an apple cider vinegar diet regimen.

Theories/Speculation

Although there have been various recent studies documenting vinegars usefulness as a weight loss aid, some opponents of the diet state that apple cider vinegar has nothing to do with losing weight. Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian with the Mayo Clinic says that while proponents claim that "drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar before meals or taking an apple cider vinegar supplement helps curb appetite and burn fat. . .there's little scientific support for these claims." She continues by noting that apple cider vinegar is safe for most people but may cause health problems.