Apple Cider Vinegar Diet: Review

Apple cider vinegar, also known as cider vinegar, is a household product used in baking and cleaning. For centuries, it has also been touted as the cure all for a long list of medical problems including headaches, cramps, arthritis, asthma, fatigue, depression, even cancer and diabetes, just to name a few. Additionally, the usefulness of apple cider vinegar and apple cider vinegar tablets for weight loss aid has also been furiously circulated.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is a common addition to many households, created when bacteria converts fermented cider to a weak solution of acetic acid. Acetic acid is a chemical compound that gives vinegar its pungent smell and strong bite. As a dietary agent, apple cider vinegar is purported to diminish body fat by causing it to be burned instead of stored.

Is the Apple Cider Vinegar diet just another weight loss fad, or is it actually a useful and effective weight-loss tool? Here is our take on the Apple Cider Vinegar diet:

The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

CATEGORY SCORE COMMENTS

COST: * * Cider vinegar is relatively
inexpensive, but apple cider tablets
supplements can cost as much as $25
per bottle.

GETTING STARTED: * * * * A few tablespoons of apple cider
vinegar, or a tablet several times a
day are all it takes to start the diet.

STICKING WITH IT: * Raw apple cider vinegar everyday?
It is essentially, just vinegar.

BUSY LIFESTYLE: * * It can be difficult to remember to
take pills as many as 3 times during
a busy day, and who wants to stash
a gallon of apple cider vinegar under
their desk and ladle it into
tablespoons during a busy workday?

FAMILY FRIENDLY: * * * It may not smell good, but apple
vinegar doesn't interfere with
activities or meals, nor do cider
tablets.

POTENTIAL: * Apple cider vinegar in liquid or
tablet form has never been shown
to be effective. It may be more of
placebo for those who tout it as
such.

HEALTH & SAFETY: * Apple cider vinegar is harmful to
the body, and the pills could have
damaging side effects.

The Apple Cider Vinegar diet looks easy enough to start. A few tablespoonfuls of apple cider vinegar, or several pills everyday are not difficult to incorporate into one's lifestyle. However, apple cider vinegar is not a safe liquid to consume, nor are apple cider vinegar tablets. Not only are they unsafe, but they ineffective as well.

Safety and Research
Apple cider vinegar naturally contains approximately 5 to 18% acetic acid. Acetic acid is a corrosive material that is also used in a variety of chemicals. Apple cider vinegar cause burning and damage mucous membranes if consumed.

Many apple cider vinegar tablets flaunt the amount of acetic acid they contain, such as one brand that advertises a 35% acetic acid apple cider vinegar tablet. Researchers at the University of Arkansas became quite curious as to the efficacy of the popular apple cider vinegar diets and tablets, and set out to thoroughly research these claims and products. Researchers at the University of Arkansas's School of Human Environmental Science department purchased apple cider vinegar tablets from a variety of sources, and tested the amount of acetic, lactic, malic, and citric acid contained in the tablets. Their results and research shed valuable light on the Apple Cider Vinegar diet:

 None of the 8 apple cider vinegar tablets tested contained lactic acid, an acid additionally found in cider vinegar, leading researchers to question the inclusion of actual cider vinegar in the tablets;
 Five of the tablet samples contained 3 to 10 times the amount of acid found in household vinegar, which causes esophageal damage and burns when consumed;
 None of the samples tested contained the amount of acetic acid advertised;
 Three tablets tested contained high levels of yeast and mold.

Additionally, the popular selling apple cider vinegar tablet that promoted its 35% of acetic acid actually contained only 3.2% acid. Researchers also noted that a product containing 35% acetic acid could be labeled corrosive and poisonous by federal guidelines.
This research may not be conclusive, but it throws questionable light on the Apple Cider Vinegar diet and cider vinegar pills. Consuming cider vinegar is a hazard to the body, and apple cider vinegar tablets have never been proven to be more than marketing ploys. Additionally, the FDA is not required to authenticate the use or efficacy of dietary supplements.

Bottom Line:
The Apple Cider Vinegar diet can almost certainly be placed in line next to other home remedies and quack diets. If apple cider vinegar was as effective and safe a weight loss tool as is advertised, wouldn't everyone be thin? Additionally, the lack of safety control, information on tablet bottles, and false claims made by companies who circulate the usefulness of a cider vinegar diet do little to elevate the Apple Cider Vinegar diet from money-making, fraudulent weight loss tool.

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Categories: Diet,

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