By Louise Proddow
The latest obsession around our office is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and the amazing benefits it has on your body, especially for weight loss. Combined with exercise and healthy eating the results for one of our team members have been impressive, we’re even teasing this over 50s advocate that he looks too thin now!
And the claims are everywhere, there’s a real hype around ACV.
Katy Perry
Growing up in a health-conscious household, Katy Perry has had ACV from an early age. The pop star’s mum swore by it, Perry tells Self. “I was drinking strange green juices and apple cider vinegar my whole childhood,” Perry says. “My mom made sure that whatever was put into my body was good for my body. I really am glad for that, even though it was disgusting.”
What’s all the fuss about?
Apple cider vinegar is the liquid from apples mixed with bacteria and yeast. This is then fermented and during the second stage of fermentation, an acidic vinegar is formed. The acid has heaps of wellness benefits. It’s rich in acetic acid, a versatile remedy which has a range of medical uses.
Adding ACV to your daily diet is considered by many an aid to help you lose weight. One study carried out in Japan by the Central Research Institute demonstrated this, with a study on three groups. Two drank different amounts of the vinegar and the third drank a drink with no ACV. The results showed the two groups who drank ACV lost weight and had a lower BMI than the third.
Other benefits of the drink include:
1. Reduces Blood Sugar
A Japanese study looked at the effects of acetic acid and dietary vinegar on rats with hypertension (high blood pressure). Both were able to significantly reduce blood sugar. The researchers concluded that this was down to the high acetic acid content in the ACV.
2. Helps weight loss
ACV is labelled by many as the ultimate aid to their diet, and many hold it accountable for their success in dropping the pounds. The vinegar has been shown to work against enzymes in your stomach that digest starch which may help you stop absorbing calories from carbs. This is a dream for dieters and the claim has been supported by a handful of studies (although no one knows exactly how effective ACV is).
3. Detox
If you’re partial to a detox then you’re probably well aware of ACV and the effects it can have in getting rid of toxins. This is thanks to the high potassium content in vinegar which can bind to toxins and get rid of them.
4. Reduces Appetite
The vinegar has been shown to reduce appetite and help you feel satiated, leading to a natural reduction in calorie intake. Although, this one is controversial with people accounting this loss of appetite due to inflammation caused by introducing a large amount of acid to an empty stomach.
5. Aids Digestive Problems
Being acidic, vinegar stimulates the digestive juices that help your body break down food. Additionally, the vinegar delays gastric emptying which gives the stomach more time to break down food and aids digestion. ACV has been found to help diarrhoea, constipation and gas.
The Best Apple Cider Vinegar
There’s plenty of apple cider vinegars out there, it can be difficult finding the best one. We suggest an ACV free of artificial colours, flavours, soya, gluten, yeast and wheat. Look for organic and unfiltered.
Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic
£9.00 from Amazon
