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Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Can apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?

Apple cider vinegar has many impressive health benefits. This article explores whether adding it to your diet can help you lose weight.

Weight Management
Evidence-based
This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts, and fact-checked by experts.
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Can apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?
Last updated on April 19, 2023, and last reviewed by an expert on October 4, 2021.

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

Can apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?

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?

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:

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

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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.

Suggested read: Apple cider vinegar dosage: How much should you drink per day?

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:

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

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.

Suggested read: Should you drink apple cider vinegar before bed?

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:

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.

Suggested read: Apple cider vinegar pills: Should you take them?

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.

Summary

At the end of the day, taking a moderate amount of apple cider vinegar appears to promote weight loss and provide several other health benefits.

Other types of vinegar may provide similar benefits, although those with lower acetic acid content might have less potent effects.

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