Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar & Weight Loss

Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar & Weight Loss
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Trying to lose weight can be an arduous task. For most, making dietary and lifestyle changes is enough to spur on weight loss, even if it is gradual. Even so, some seek out alternative weight loss methods such as drinking apple cider vinegar to hasten the process. Talk about your plans with your doctor before consuming vinegar on a regular basis.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss

The notion that apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight stems from the fact that it contains pectin. Pectin may cause food to exit your stomach more slowly, leaving you feeling fuller for a greater length of time, according to the Canadian Pharmacists Association. Drinking apple cider vinegar may also increase your metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity in those with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Types

According to Health Services at Columbia, consuming organic apple cider vinegar is supposedly more nutritious and likely to encourage weight loss than pasteurized vinegar because potassium, calcium, copper and iron haven't been filtered out. Bacteria, however, may also remain behind and cause illness. Some people try to get around drinking unpleasant tasting apple cider vinegar by taking tablets instead. According to a study conducted at the University of Arkansas, apple cider vinegar tablets often don't contain the ingredients that are listed on the labels, making them potentially harmful.

Expert Insight

Even though apple cider vinegar is often cited as a weight loss cure, there is no scientific evidence to prove it. According to MayoClinic.com, apple cider vinegar isn't suitable for weight loss and simply reducing your caloric intake, eating healthy and balanced meals, and exercising regularly should aid you in your weight loss goals.

Caution

Though apple cider vinegar is rather harmless when used in cooking preparations, it can cause problems when you drink it directly over an extended period of time. According to MayoClinic.com, regular apple cider vinegar consumption can wear down tooth enamel, cause esophageal irritation and even ulcers. Plus, vinegar can interact with prescription drugs and supplements, potentially causing a dramatic and dangerous drop in potassium.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Jul 13, 2011

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