Can apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?

Apple cider vinegar has been used as a health tonic for thousands of years.

Research shows it has many health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels.

But can adding apple cider vinegar to your diet also help you lose weight?

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This article explores the research behind apple cider vinegar and weight loss. It also provides tips on incorporating apple cider vinegar into your diet.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made in a two-step fermentation process.

First, apples are cut or crushed and combined with yeast to convert their sugar into alcohol. Second, bacteria are added to ferment the alcohol into acetic acid.

Traditional apple cider vinegar production takes about one month, though some manufacturers dramatically accelerate the process so that it takes only a day.

Acetic acid is the main active component of apple cider vinegar.

Also known as ethanoic acid, it is an organic compound with a sour taste and strong odor. The term acetic comes from acetum, the Latin word for vinegar.

About 5–6% of apple cider vinegar consists of acetic acid. It also contains water and trace amounts of other acids, such as malic acid.

One tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar contains about three calories and virtually no carbs.

Summary: Apple cider vinegar is made in a two-step fermentation process. Acetic acid is the vinegar’s main active component.

Acetic acid has various benefits for fat loss

Acetic acid is a short-chain fatty acid that dissolves into acetate and hydrogen in your body.

Some animal studies suggest that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may promote weight loss in several ways:

Lowers blood sugar levels: In one rat study, acetic acid improved the ability of the liver and muscles to take up sugar from the blood.
Decreases insulin levels: In the same rat study, acetic acid also reduced the ratio of insulin to glucagon, which might favor fat burning.
Improves metabolism: Another study in rats exposed to acetic acid showed an increase in the enzyme AMPK, which boosts fat burning and decreases fat and sugar production in the liver.
Reduces fat storage: Treating obese, diabetic rats with acetic acid or acetate protected them from weight gain and increased the expression of genes that reduced belly fat storage and liver fat.
Burns fat: A study in mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with acetic acid found a significant increase in the genes responsible for fat burning, which led to less body fat buildup.
Suppresses appetite: Another study suggests acetate may suppress centers in your brain that control appetite, which can lead to reduced food intake.

Although the results of animal studies look promising, research is needed in humans to confirm these effects.

7 side effects of too much apple cider vinegar

Summary: Animal studies have found that acetic acid may promote fat loss in several ways. It can reduce fat storage, increase fat burning, reduce appetite and improve blood sugar and insulin response.

Apple cider vinegar increases fullness and reduces calorie intake

Apple cider vinegar may promote fullness, which can decrease calorie intake.

In one small study in 11 people, those who took vinegar with a high-carb meal had a 55% lower blood sugar response one hour after eating.

They also ended up consuming 200–275 fewer calories for the rest of the day.

In addition to its appetite-suppressing effects, apple cider vinegar has also been shown to slow the rate at which food leaves your stomach.

In another small study, taking apple cider vinegar with a starchy meal significantly slowed stomach emptying. This led to increased feelings of fullness and lowered blood sugar and insulin levels.

However, some people may have a condition that makes this effect harmful.

Gastroparesis, or delayed stomach emptying, is a common complication of type 1 diabetes. Timing insulin with food intake becomes problematic because it is difficult to predict how long it will take for blood sugar to rise after a meal.

Since apple cider vinegar has been shown to extend the time food stays in your stomach, taking it with meals could worsen gastroparesis.

Summary: Apple cider vinegar helps promote fullness in part due to delayed stomach emptying. This may naturally lead to lower calorie intake. However, this could worsen gastroparesis for some.

Apple cider vinegar may help you lose weight and body fat

Results from one human study indicate that apple cider vinegar has impressive effects on weight and body fat.

In this 12-week study, 144 obese Japanese adults consumed either 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of vinegar, or a placebo drink every day.

They were told to restrict their alcohol intake but otherwise continue their usual diet and activity throughout the study.

Those who consumed 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar per day had — on average — the following benefits:

Weight loss: 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg)
Decrease in body fat percentage: 0.7%
Decrease in waist circumference: 0.5 in (1.4 cm)
Decrease in triglycerides: 26%

This is what changed in those consuming 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of vinegar per day:

Weight loss: 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg)
Decrease in body fat percentage: 0.9%
Decrease in waist circumference: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Decrease in triglycerides: 26%

The placebo group gained 0.9 lbs (0.4 kgs), and their waist circumference slightly increased.

According to this study, adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your diet can help you lose weight. It can also reduce your body fat percentage, make you lose belly fat, and decrease your blood triglycerides.

This is one of a few human studies that have investigated vinegar’s effects on weight loss. Although the study was fairly large and the results are encouraging, additional studies are needed.

Additionally, one six-week study in mice fed a high-fat, high-calorie diet found that the high-dose vinegar group gained 10% less fat than the control group and 2% less fat than the low-dose vinegar group.

Summary: In one study, obese people who took 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of apple cider vinegar daily for 12 weeks lost weight and body fat.

Other health benefits of apple cider vinegar

In addition to promoting weight and fat loss, apple cider vinegar has several other benefits:

Lowers blood sugar and insulin: When consumed with a high-carb meal, apple cider vinegar has been shown to significantly lower blood sugar and insulin levels after eating.
Improves insulin sensitivity: One study in people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes found that adding vinegar at a high-carb meal improved insulin sensitivity by 34%.
Lowers fasting blood sugar: In a study in people with type 2 diabetes, those who took apple cider vinegar with a high-protein evening snack had twice the decrease in fasting blood sugar as those who didn’t.
Improves PCOS symptoms: In a small study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who took vinegar for 90–110 days, 57% resumed ovulation, likely due to improved insulin sensitivity.
Decreases cholesterol levels: Studies in diabetic and normal rats and mice found that apple cider vinegar increased “good” HDL cholesterol. It also reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Lowers blood pressure: Animal studies suggest that vinegar may decrease blood pressure by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for constricting blood vessels.
Kills harmful bacteria and viruses: Vinegar fights bacteria that can cause food poisoning, including E. coli. In one study, vinegar reduced numbers of certain bacteria by 90% and some viruses by 95%.

Summary: Adding apple cider vinegar to your diet may benefit blood sugar, insulin, PCOS symptoms, and cholesterol. Vinegar also fights bacteria and viruses.

How to add apple cider vinegar to your diet

There are a few ways to include apple cider vinegar in your diet.

An easy method is to use it with olive oil as a salad dressing. It proves particularly tasty with leafy greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

It can also be used for pickling vegetables, or you can simply mix it into the water and drink it.

The amount of apple cider vinegar used for weight loss is 1–2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) per day, mixed with water.

It is best to spread this out into 2–3 doses throughout the day, and it may be best to drink it before meals.

Taking more than this isn’t recommended because of potentially harmful effects at higher dosages, such as drug interactions or the erosion of tooth enamel. It’s also best to start with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) to see how you tolerate it.

Do not take more than 1 tablespoon (15 ml) at a time, because taking too much at one sitting may cause nausea.

It’s important to mix it with water, as undiluted vinegar may burn the inside of your mouth and esophagus.

Although taking apple cider vinegar in tablet form may seem beneficial, it comes with potentially large risks. In one instance, a woman suffered throat burns after an apple cider vinegar tablet became lodged in her esophagus.

Summary: About 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of apple cider vinegar per day is recommended to obtain full weight loss benefits. For best results, mix with water and drink.