What Is The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet?

Compared To Similar Diets

Like the cabbage soup diet, the apple cider vinegar diet is considered a fad diet, and it is not generally recommended by healthcare professionals. Although it is more sustainable than other types of fad diets that involve severe calorie restriction, it is unlikely consuming apple cider vinegar will result in significant weight loss on its own. A 2009 Japanese study examined the effects of apple cider vinegar on body weight over twelve weeks. The research involved 144 obese adults, and the subjects were divided into three groups. One group consumed one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar each day during the study, and another group consumed two teaspoons per day. The third group received a placebo. All of the participants continued with their regular diets during the study.

After the study, the individuals who consumed a single teaspoon of apple cider vinegar had an average weight loss of 2.6 pounds, and those who consumed two teaspoons lost approximately 3.7 pounds. The patients in the placebo group gained nearly one pound. Since the weight loss in this study was so modest and amounted to roughly one pound a month, the apple cider vinegar diet is unlikely to be helpful for patients who need to lose a significant amount of weight. These patients are advised to consider following a long-term weight loss plan that includes calorie counting and regular physical activity.

Healthier Alternatives For Weight Loss

Medical professionals suggest patients looking to lose weight aim to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes long-term diet and exercise changes. Instead of the apple cider vinegar diet, healthier alternatives for weight loss could include the Meditteranean diet or DASH diet, and some patients have had success with plant-based diets as well. Before starting a new eating plan, patients may want to consider having a medical examination to check for underlying health conditions that could be contributing to weight issues.

Individuals with diabetes may need to follow a special diet for weight loss, and patients with cardiac conditions might be given specific guidelines for dietary fat intake. In cases of severe obesity, doctors might recommend that patients use a meal replacement diet for a few months before they transition to preparing their own meals. Nutritionists can help patients with ideas for healthy meal planning and with finding an appropriate daily calorie intake, and patients might want to consider joining a support group during their weight loss journey.