Apple Cider Vinegar Pros & Cons

Apple cider vinegar derives from fermented apple cider and serves as an alternative to regular white vinegar. This brown-tinted vinegar is useful in a variety of recipes; some people also drink it straight. There are pros and cons for using apple cider vinegar, however. Speak to your health care provider about consuming apple cider vinegar to treat any medical condition.

Pro: Good Source of Manganese

Apple cider vinegar contains 0.6 mg of manganese per 1-cup serving. This may not seem like a great deal of manganese, but your body requires very little each day for proper function; the recommended dietary intake of manganese for adult women stands at 1.8 mg and adult men require 2.3 mg. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need a bit more -- 2 to 2.6 mg, respectively. The manganese available in apple cider vinegar helps your blood coagulate properly, and it also plays a role in aiding your body to absorb calcium.

Pro: Low in Calories and Fat

One cup of apple cider vinegar introduces 50 calories into your diet. If you follow a 2,000 calorie diet, the amount of calories in this vinegar account for 2.5 percent of your daily allowable calories. This makes it a good option for even the most calorie-restricted diets. While some people drink apple cider vinegar for their health, it is common to include vinegar in a larger recipe, which increases the total caloric intake. This vinegar contains no fat.

Pro: May Lower Cholesterol

Drinking apple cider vinegar may benefit you if you have high cholesterol. A study published in the May 2011 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" notes that rats fed apple cider vinegar and a high cholesterol diet experienced a decrease in their triglycerides, bad fats that can trigger coronary artery disease. Take note: imbibing this vinegar boosted total cholesterol and decreased liver function. Human studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Cons: Does Not Taste Good

Apple cider vinegar imparts a sour taste, which may make it unpalatable for some people. You may experiment with sweeteners such as sugar, honey or artificial sweeteners to improve the flavor; however, in doing so, you may add calories or chemicals to the vinegar. If you add apple cider vinegar to a larger recipe, the flavor is likely masked by the other foods.

Cons: May Interact With Some Medications

Be wary of drinking too much apple cider vinegar if you take certain medications. Because imbibing large quantities of apple cider vinegar can decrease the amount of potassium in your body, it may not be a good choice when taking diuretics or insulin as both these medications also negatively impact potassium levels. Drinking a high quantity of apple cider vinegar may also interfere with digoxin, increasing side effects of this medication.