How Does the Vinegar Diet Work?

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an acidic liquid created by the fermentation of apples. Juice is squeezed from pulverized apples, and then yeast and sugar are added in the first stage of the process. Next, bacteria are added to this alcohol, resulting in vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, according to the diet proponents, is supposed to work for weight loss because of fat-burning, appetite suppression and satiety effects.

The Diet

In the apple cider vinegar diet, a person drinks 2 or 3 teaspoons of the vinegar before each meal. More than three is not recommended because it can cause stomach upset. There also are apple cider vinegar diet pills which are much easier to swallow than choking down vinegar. These are available in health food stores. Since vinegar is acidic enough to damage tooth enamel, taking pills can avoid that potential problem.

Origins

The diet became popular in the 1950s after apple cider vinegar was proclaimed as a weight loss agent in the book "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health" by a physician named D.C. Jarvis. This doctor stated that apple cider vinegar causes fat to be burned and not stored.

Swedish Study

No research has been conducted that shows the diet works except for one Swedish study utilizing only 12 volunteers. This study was published in a 2005 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and indicated a direct relationship between consuming apple cider vinegar and being satisfied with the amount of food eaten afterward.

Harvard Study

A Harvard University study on common weight loss supplements, including apple cider vinegar diet pills, found these supplements are ineffective. Because the apple cider vinegar diet recommends eating moderately and exercising regularly, it is likely those actions are more responsible for any weight loss achieved.