Extra weight or fat in your midsection is worse for your health than having fat other places on your body. Stomach fat can be either subcutaneous or visceral -- around your organs -- and has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, and diabetes. While it is not possible to specifically reduce belly fat, belly fat does readily decrease with overall weight loss. To do this, you must take in fewer calories than you burn. Drinking apple cider vinegar water may help prevent you from overeating and help you reduce your calorie intake.
Preparation
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting whole apples and can be found in most grocery stores. When choosing an apple cider vinegar for weight loss purposes, look for one that has been minimally processed, so that the vitamins and minerals will still be intact. Mix 1 to 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Drink one glass before every meal.
Affect on Energy Levels
Drinking apple cider vinegar water may help you avoid feeling tired and snacking to keep your energy level up. People who drank apple cider vinegar before eating a meal of white bread had lower insulin and glucose levels than people who didn't, according to a study conducted by Ostman and colleagues. This prevents the spike and crash in blood sugar levels following a meal, making you less likely to snack and thus more likely to lose weight, including belly fat.
Affect on Feelings of Fullness
Apple cider vinegar may help you stay feeling full longer. According to a study published in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition," researchers who gave volunteers a meal of bread with or without vinegar found lower paracetamol levels following the meal in people who had the vinegar. Paracetamol is an indicator of gastric emptying, meaning that the vinegar slowed down how quickly the food left the stomach. If you feel full longer, you will be more likely to eat less and snack less between meals, helping reduce your calorie intake and lose belly fat.
Affect on Satiety
Not only can drinking vinegar before a meal help you feel full longer, but it may also help you feel more satisfied. The researchers in Sweden found that people who drank vinegar water before their meals reported greater feelings of satiety after the meal than people fed the same meal without drinking vinegar did. Furthermore, people who were given a larger dose of vinegar felt more satiated that those given a lower dose. When you feel more satisfied after a meal, you are less likely to continue eating and more likely to lose weight as a result, including belly fat.
Other Considerations
Drinking apple cider vinegar alone may not have a large effect on weight loss or belly fat. To lose weight, you must still eat fewer calories than you use. Try avoiding unhealthy foods, such as those heavy in sugar and fat, and exercising in addition to drinking apple cider vinegar water to lose weight faster. Take care not to overuse apple cider vinegar, because it is very acidic and drinking too much can irritate your throat. Also, check with your doctor before adding it to your routine, since the vinegar can interact with some drugs and supplements.
References
- Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Benefits.com: Apple Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects;E --stman, Y Granfeldt, L Persson and I Björck; June 2005
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Delayed gastric emptying rate may explain improved glycaemia in healthy subjects to a starchy meal with added vinegar; H Liljeberga and I Björck; May 1998
- MayoClinic.com: Apple cider vinegar for weight loss: Effective?
- MayoClinic.com: Belly Fat in Women: How to Keep it Off



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