{"id":11445,"date":"2018-05-08T17:13:49","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T14:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seragpsych.com\/wordpress\/?p=11445"},"modified":"2018-05-08T17:13:49","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T14:13:49","slug":"apple-cider-vinegar-diet-does-it-really-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seragpsych.com\/wordpress\/apple-cider-vinegar-diet-does-it-really-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple cider vinegar diet: Does it really work?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Robert H. Shmerling, MD<\/a>
\nFaculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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\"Vinegar<\/div>\n

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People search for information on a wide variety of health topics in Google and other search engines. That\u2019s no surprise.<\/p>\n

But I\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0surprised to learn that \u201capple cider vinegar weight loss diet\u201d was among the fastest-rising health topic searches for Google in 2017. And then I found out that apple cider vinegar has been used medicinally for centuries!<\/p>\n

Why the renewed interest? And, more importantly, does it work?<\/p>\n

What is the apple cider vinegar diet?<\/h3>\n

Apple cider vinegar comes from apples that have been crushed, distilled, and then fermented. It can be consumed in small quantities or taken as a supplement. Its high levels of acetic acid, or perhaps other compounds, may be responsible for its supposed health benefits. Although recommendations for \u201cdosing\u201d vary, most are on the order of 1 to 2 teaspoons before or with meals.<\/p>\n

What can the apple cider vinegar diet do for you?<\/h3>\n

For thousands of years, compounds containing vinegar have been used for their presumed healing properties. It was used to improve strength, for \u201cdetoxification,\u201d as an antibiotic, and even as a treatment for scurvy. While no one is using apple cider vinegar as an antibiotic anymore (at least, no one should be), it has been touted more recently for weight loss. What\u2019s the evidence?<\/p>\n

Studies in obese rats and mice suggest that acetic acid can prevent fat deposition and improve their metabolism. The most widely quoted study of humans is\u00a0a 2009 trial of 175 people<\/a>\u00a0who consumed a drink containing 0, 1, or 2 tablespoons of vinegar each day. After three months, those who consumed vinegar had modest weight loss (2 to 4 pounds) and lower triglyceride levels than those who drank no vinegar. Another small study found that vinegar consumption promoted feeling fuller after eating, but that it did so by causing nausea. Neither of these studies (and none I could find in a medical literature search) specifically studied apple cider vinegar.<\/p>\n

In all, the scientific evidence that vinegar consumption (whether of the apple cider variety or not) is a reliable, long-term means of losing excess weight is not compelling. (On the other hand, a number of studies suggest that vinegar might prevent spikes in blood sugar in people with prediabetes and\u00a0type 2 diabetes<\/a>\u00a0by blocking starch absorption \u2014 perhaps that\u2019s a topic for another day.)<\/p>\n

Is there a downside to the apple cider vinegar diet?<\/h3>\n

For many natural remedies, there seems to be little risk, so a common approach is \u201cwhy not try it?\u201d However, for diets with high vinegar content, a few warnings are in order:<\/p>\n