Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Update: I did some further research, and got some feedback via email and comments, that this diet isn’t a good idea and can have some nasty side effects. I try to keep an open mind, but in general, I think you shouldn’t do this and should stick to healthy eating and exercise.
Here’s my original review of this diet:
The apple cider vinegar diet is basically this: mix one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and drink that before every meal. Et voila, you will shed pounds like nothing before… or so the believers say.
Ok, let’s back up a bit. Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apples. You can buy this “vinegar” at supermarkets and online. It has a number of reported health and beauty benefits, but the one that we’re really interested in, of course, is the weight loss one.
Many people hail apple cider vinegar as some kind of miracle product, which they use to treat everything from dandruff to arthritis. However, a nutritional breakdown shows that this vinegar is just pretty normal stuff, not the nutritional “powerhouse” people are claiming it to be.
Side effects of the apple cider vinegar diet and safety concerns
Before going into anything else, let me clear up any potential safety concerns about the apple cider vinegar diet.
Because this is an all-natural product there are relatively few side effects.
One side effect that has been investigated is the potential for low potassium levels in people who have apple cider vinegar regularly. If you do start up on this apple cider vinegar diet, then you should make sure that you have enough potassium rich foods, or simply have a multivitamin each day.
Do not have undiluted apple cider vinegar: undiluted, this product might damage the esophagus and parts of your digestive tract.
Another concern is that apple cider vinegar might cause or exacerbate osteoporosis. If you are a woman facing menopause or already have osteoporosis, you might want to give this diet a miss.
And of course, if you are allergic to apples, you should not be taking apple cider vinegar since this product is made from apples.
Possible drug interactions of Apple Cider Vinegar
If you are on medication or are a diabetic, consult with your physician before starting to take apple cider vinegar.
Theoretically, because apple cider vinegar could increase your potassium levels, these increased potassium levels might increase the risk of toxicity of certain cardiac glycoside drugs. These drugs include Lanoxin, insulin, diuretecs and laxatives.
Apple cider vinegar might affect your blood glucose and insulin levels. Therefore, if you are a diabetic, you may be affected by these changes and the apple cider vinegar might have an impact on your diabetes medications.
Apple cider vinegar is also supposed to lower blood pressure so if it is combined with blood pressure medications there maybe an adverse effect.
So, Does the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Really Work When It Comes to Weight Loss?
Hmm… yes and no.
Here’s the thing – there really have not been enough scientific studies to determine whether apple cider vinegar really does have a lasting, positive effect when it comes to weight loss. However there have been a few studies and there has been a lot of anecdotal evidence that says it works. For instance, just have a look at weight loss forums and you will see people saying that they use the apple cider vinegar diet.
Personally, I haven’t tried this myself so I don’t know if it works for me or not. And I’ve read of people who haven’t experienced any positive effects at all.
However, if you’d like to read a scientific study about the weight loss properties of apple cider vinegar, here’s one. The researcher wanted to find out the link between apple cider vinegar and diabetes, and found that subjects who drank apple cider vinegar actually lost weight:
Science News Online – Vinegar as a Sweet Solution? – 12/18/04
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041218/food.asp
Also, apple cider vinegar weight loss is a very slow process. So don’t expect to shed pounds miraculously each day. However, you could expect to lose an extra pound or so every months.
How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Work When It Comes to Weight Loss?
I have no idea. Nobody has any idea.
It’s all a great scientific mystery, really. Some people say that this vinegar increases your metabolism, others say that it melts fat, others say it restricts any fat absorption. In any case, nobody has figured out the real reason yet.
Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Video
Here’s a video about how to use apple cider vinegar for weight loss. You might find it interesting.
So What’s The Deal? Do You Recommend The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet For Weight Loss or Not?!
Hmm… tough call.
Let me put it this way. I don’t follow it myself and I would say NO, don’t follow it, at this stage. Anyone who knows me know that I am a proponent of the eat less and work out more school of fat loss.
The apple cider vinegar diet does not seem to be harmful and might, just might, be beneficial. But I think trying it will just make you lose your focus.
There is a limit to how many things we as humans can think about at any given time. And I don’t want you to waste your time thinking about the apple cider vinegar diet!
Also, there is something called a substitution effect. You might think, that because you are following the apple cider vinegar diet, you can relax your efforts elsewhere in terms of eating healthy food and exercising. Now that would be harmful and something we just cannot afford.
So in conclusion – don’t do it. Stick to eating healthy and exercising.
Of course, if you’ve already tried the apple cider vinegar diet, please leave a comment and let me know what you think about it, and kind of results you got!
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I just started the apple cidar vinigar diet. Started on a Monday and now it is Wenesday. I have lost about two pounds. Will let you know how it goes. Started July 17, 2011, hope it works.
Hey Diane how did it go for you? A couple of readers emailed me and said they mostly lost water weight which they put back on!
Overall, I’m going to have to update this post because this diet isn’t sounding too good to me.
I don’t understand how these 2 sentences can describe the same thing:
1) One side effect that has been investigated is the potential for low potassium levels in people who have apple cider vinegar regularly. (then you say to eat potassium rich foods or take a vitamin if you have APC regularly)
2) Theoretically, because apple cider vinegar could increase your potassium levels, these increased potassium levels might increase the risk of toxicity of certain cardiac glycoside drugs.
So does apple cider vinegar raise or lower potassium levels?
And other thing about apple cider vinegar, 1/2 the sites say it can cause osteoporosis and the other half say to take apple cider vinegar to prevent osteoporosis!!
I’ve read at least 20 sites on apple cider vinegar and really don’t know a thing about it because the info is contradicting itself. ARGH.
Sorry Rabbit! I didn’t realise till I read your comment how contradictory my write-up is! I spent a lot of time researching this and compiled what I found.
But overall my finding is that you shouldn’t do this diet, it doesn’t sound very healthy.
I have not tried the apple cider vinegar diet myself, and having researched the potential side effects, I can’t recommend it to any of my friends. So I guess I should clarify my position on this a bit: I like to keep an open mind about things, but I’d say NO DON’T DO THIS DIET for now.
If you’re really really keen on the apple cider vinegar diet, check with your doctor.
If you’re serious about losing weight, I suggest you try an approach that’s worked well for me and a lot of folks, ie healthy eating plus exercise. I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but it does work. And results are what matter, right?
I’m going to be doing a series of posts pretty soon on what works/worked for me and my hubby, so stay tuned for that
Well i have been using this apple cider vinegar for 2 weeks and i can say that it really works on me. Why? everybody at work kept telling me i need to get a new uniform since i cannot zipped my pants anymore LMAO. I got fat. I tried to find out what to buy or do something to lose some weight . I actually 26 years old and had 56 kilos. Its not normal for me. I had 34, 28 , 34 body measurement. Well just this morning i measured my it again and i could say i lose some weight. I now have 32,26,33 …
. Im so happy. Of course i couldnt reach this if i didnt have discipline in food. I also eat less of carbo and sweets and i jogged early in the morning atleast 2x a week. I drink more water, enough sleep so my skin will not get dry…My friends at work are just starting to drink it too hehe…they believe its because of apple cider vinegar…hehe they even saw it on my locker lol, they tried it mixed in the water…yes it doesnt really taste good but if you really willing and ready for a challenge, well try it…theres alot of health benefits u get on the product as it says…but for me it works! i tried some other brands like slimming tea or kankunis or biofit tea,,,but i didnt like to always poo back and fort haha…well i thought i can share here … 
tc!
Unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is actually full of healthy compounds, as are all such fermented foods and drinks. It contains healthy bacteria as well as many vitamins and minerals. The microbiota living in the vinegar produce many beneficial enzymes that the human body can use, and the acidity helps balance digestive and blood ph, which can be especially beneficial for acid reflux and gout, along with many, many other ailments. I use apple cider vinegar internally (2 tablespoons mixed into juice or iced tea with honey) and topically to treat acne and red marks. I don’t know what kind of “nutritional breakdown” you did, but there have been many studies on the benefits of fermented food products, and I can assure you there are tons of nutrients in unpasteurized, unfiltered ACV. Maybe you were thinking of the sterile, filtered version.
Also, apple cider vinegar contains potassium, as do the apples from which it is made, so I don’t know why ACV users would have low potassium unless the vinegar is their only dietary source.