Apple cider vinegar is an amber-colored vinegar made from the fermented juice of apples. Manufacturers make the vinegar by crushing the apple to remove the juice, then adding yeast and sugar to it. Many salad dressings, vinaigrettes, chutneys and marinades include the vinegar to give them a slightly sour, tangy taste. In addition to vinegar's culinary uses, many people claim it can also help you burn fat and lose weight.
How It Works
To lose weight, proponents of the apple cider vinegar diet recommend drinking a small amount -- usually 2 to 3 tbsp. -- of apple cider vinegar before your meal. If you don't like the taste of the vinegar, you can purchase apple cider vinegar dietary supplements at many drugstores. Since the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate these supplements, they are not proven safe or effective.
History
Vermont country physician D.C Jarvis, who wrote the book "Folk Medicine" in 1958, recommended a tonic of apple cider vinegar and honey as a weight loss supplement. According to Jarvis, the tonic helps you burn fat instead of storing it. He also imbued apple cider and vinegar with a number of other health properties -- including the ability to stimulate growth and cure a variety of ills, from the common cold to arthritis. Although scientific research failed to prove Jarvis' claims, the book sold hundreds of thousands of copies and stayed on the bestseller list for months.
Effectiveness
Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky cautions that apple cider is not an effective tool for weight loss. Although using the product occasionally will probably not harm you, Zeratsky emphasizes there is little scientific evidence to back up apple cider vinegar's weight loss claims. Instead of trying to find a "magic bullet" for weight loss, include more whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your diet and add regular physical activity to your routine.
Warning
Since apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, it can irritate or even burn your throat and esophagus. It can also cause low potassium levels by interacting with drugs and supplements, such as insulin and diuretics.
Apple cider vinegar dietary supplements might also include hidden products or ingredients that can harm your health. The manufacturer of METABOLISM Apple Cider Vinegar Brand Dietary Supplement recalled the product in 2007 because it contained the weight loss drug sibutramine. The product's labeling did not disclose the presence of sibutramine, which can pose a risk of heart problems to people with a history of heart disease, stroke or arrhythmias.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss
- "American Family Physician"; Common Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss; Robert B. Saper et al.; November 2004
- EveryDiet: Apple Cider Vinegar Diet
- FDA.gov: FDA Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products: METABOLISM Apple Cider Vinegar Brand Dietary Supplement Capsules
- "Time" Magazine: Books: Bestseller Revisited: "Folk Remedy"
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