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Is the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Good for Weight Loss?

By Tess Thompson

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Apple cider vinegar (ACV) diet ranks among those diets that are difficult to assess. Thought it’s part of a fad diet craze, it also falls under the category of natural weight loss remedies. The apple cider vinegar diet is actually not a proper diet plan. It is just a diet any that is supplemented with a certain amount of apple cider. The diet, therefore, is actually based on the weight loss properties of only one item. The apple cider vinegar diet does not recommend following certain menus. There are no specific food groups that are allowed or restricted either. The diet only suggests moderation and avoidance of mid meal snacks.

The ACV diet primarily promotes the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, which is prepared from crushed apples. The process involves adding yeast and sugar for fermentation. This transforms the alcohol into acid and gives apple cider vinegar its incredible flavor, distinctive taste and weight loss properties (or so it is claimed).

The ACV diet requires consumption of two to three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before every meal. The acidic taste is typically strong and difficult for many people to take it in its original form. The apple cider is equally beneficial as a salad dressing or as part of a sauce or any other manner that suits individual culinary preferences.

There are many other health benefits if the ACV diet too.

Medical trials have shown that small amounts of apple cider vinegar, added to food or taken along with a meal reduce the glycemic index of other carbohydrates being consumed.

The main benefit for weight loss that the ACV diet offers comes from the pectin content of apple cider. Pectin is used to increase viscosity and volume of stool for easy elimination as a treatment for diarrhea and constipation.

Some studies conducted on rats have also shown show that animals fed with acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, had significantly low levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol, the main constituent of vegetable oils and animal fat.

The acidic properties of the ACV diet help to clean the digestive system and remove calcium deposits from bone joints without the risk of decalcification of teeth and bones. The pH of vinegar is typically in the range of 2.5 to 3, which is considered to be beneficial for treating cold as the body tends to become more alkaline prior to it.

Due to its acidity, apple cider vinegar can be extremely caustic and can burn the throat. It should be diluted with fruit juice or warm water and some honey to make ingestion easier. Such a concoction is also sold as a weight loss supplement.

The benefits of apple cider vinegar are still inconclusive despite the fact that it has been used as a weight loss supplement for a long time. On the other side, it is a known fact that the best way to lose weight is through regular exercise. However, since apple cider vinegar does not involve any apparent risks there is no harm in using it.

References:

http://www.dietpolicy.com/diets-articles/diet-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar.htm
http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/Apple_Cider_Vinegar_Diet/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/apple-cider-vinegar-diet.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar