While honey, vinegar and water are standard culinary ingredients, they have also been used for centuries in home remedies. Most saliently, the combination of these ingredients is thought to provide help with losing weight. However, there is no scientific evidence to validate these claims, and you should discuss weight loss options with your doctor before choosing a diet program.
Ingredient Facts
Apple cider vinegar is the primary type of vinegar used in home remedies. It is made by fermenting apples and is generally healthy in its composition, consisting primarily of acetic acid, pectin and water. It's used in salad dressings, condiments and marinades. Honey and water are combined with the vinegar to dilute it and improve its flavor.
The Diet
The Vinegar Diet, as it's called by Dr. Deforrest Clinton Jarvis in his book "Folk Medicine," requires that you drink between 1 and 3 tsp. of apple cider vinegar before each meal. You can mix it with honey to improve the flavor. According to the diet review website EveryDiet, diluting it with water can reduce the bad taste and decrease the likelihood of stomach irritation. The "diet" is really more of a supplement. Other dietary changes are not required.
Potential Risks
Though honey and water don't really cause any negative effects, vinegar can. In fact, according to Mayo Clinic, drinking vinegar on a regular basis could cause throat pain and irritation due to its high acid content. Likewise, Health Services at Columbia indicate drinking vinegar may irritate ulcers and erode the enamel on your teeth. Some drug interactions are also possible if you take diuretics or insulin.
Research
The notion that you can drink vinegar or a combination of vinegar, honey, and water to lose weight just isn't true, says MayoClinic.com. There is no research to back up this claim whatsoever. Though many health gurus like Dr. Jarvis believe it is the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar that can reduce appetite and help you burn fat, it only helps you lose water weight because it acts as a diuretic, says Health Services at Columbia. To lose weight, you need to reduce your caloric intake and exercise more often to burn calories and shed pounds.
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