It is believed that apple cider vinegar can not only encourage weight loss but also increase glucose tolerance for those with type 2 diabetes, improve heart health and it can also be a treatment for dandruff. It seems to be considered as a kind of health booster, although, there may be some downfalls involved with using apple cider vinegar.
How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Work?
Apple cider vinegar starts off as apple juice that is fermented by adding yeast which converts the fruit sugar into alcohol. Bacteria then converts the alcohol into acetic acid, which is the ingredient that offers the various health benefits such as raising blood sugar levels after meals which could help to encourage weight loss when following a low-calorie diet.
According to research, it is recommended that you should use apple cider vinegar by taking one teaspoon before a meal. It can also be used by adding it to meals or drinks which may help avoid its bitter taste. This health booster can be used in detox diet plans to improve health and increase weight loss.
Available Forms Of ACV To Choose From
As a result of its rapidly growing popularity, apple cider vinegar is not only available in liquid form. More recently, it is also available in a variety of different health products and even in pill form which would make use a lot more convenient.
Regardless of the convenience of using pills rather than the bitter tasting liquid, it seems that consuming the liquid would be a far better option when comparing the two. Research shows that some studies have been done to compare apple cider vinegar liquid with pills and it seems that the liquid contains between 5 and 6 percent acetic acid while the pills contain between 0.4 and 30 percent of acetic acid. This is concerning because the pills would then range from inadequate and ineffective levels of acetic acid to worrying and potentially dangerous levels.
The Concerns To Consider When Using Apple Cider Vinegar
Even though this seems like a natural weight loss aid and fantastic health booster, there are also some concerns regarding the use of apple cider vinegar according to research. Some evidence suggests that you should use apple cider vinegar with caution because of its high levels of acidity which could possibly cause some damage for your throat, teeth, and stomach. It is somewhat concerning that household products that contain more than 20% acetic acid are considered poisonous because this rule somehow does not apply to dietary supplements and foods.
Using apple cider vinegar can cause your potassium levels to drop which will negatively affect the way your muscles and nerves function which is rather worrying. Furthermore, it may improve insulin levels for those with type 2 diabetes, it can worsen insulin levels for those with type 1 diabetes.
The Bottom Line
Apple cider vinegar does seem to yield the health benefits of boosting weight loss and improving glucose tolerance in people who suffer from diabetes, however, there is not much evidence to support that it really does work. It seems fairly easy to incorporate the use of apple cider vinegar into your diet and there are many suggested methods available online, it can even be added into meals or mixed with drinks. It is also available in other forms, such as pill form which could be more convenient to use, although, the liquid form is far more appropriate when considering that studies show apple cider vinegar pills contain anything from ineffective to potentially dangerous levels of acetic acid.
When opting to consider the use of apple cider vinegar for weight loss, as a detox or to improve glucose tolerance, it is best to consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use to first properly establish the safety and concerns for your individual dietary requirements and ensure that it will not cause any health concerns for you.
