Drinking something as acidic as apple cider vinegar has no evidence of being good for your health, but social media is full of videos with high-profile influencers recommending it on an empty stomach.
Let’s dismantle another nutritional myth.
Apple Cider Vinegar on an Empty Stomach: An Unfounded Myth.
Apple cider vinegar is the fermented juice of crushed apples and contains acetic acid and nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin C. So far so good.
This vinegar is generally used in salad dressings and cooking. However, in recent times, its consumption has spread first thing in the morning, as a “magical, almost miraculous remedy” , to combat obesity, diabetes, athletic performance, kidney stones and many other purposes.
Reality surpasses fantasy.
- It is said that it helps detoxify the body, but the truth is that there are no foods or drinks that detoxify. The body has its own detoxification mechanisms, through the liver and kidneys.(1)
- The same thing happens with pH regulation, the body has its own mechanisms to maintain blood pH at constant levels, it does not change depending on what we eat.
- It can cause heartburn and even damage tooth enamel and gastric mucosa , little by little.(2)
- It is attributed benefits against inflammation, but this will be more influenced by our lifestyle habits: exercise, rest, real food.
In the end it is a matter of common sense and doing things well, meaning well, everything that is aligned with our organism and evolution.
A Personal Experience.
Another habit that I have succumbed to a couple of months ago is the trend of social media. I also used 1 tablespoon of the apple cider vinegar mixed in warm water before my morning eating in my hope that it would increase my metabolism.
The result? It was less than a week before I developed some burning sensation in my throat and a mild stomach pain. My dentist further informed me that already my enamel was acidly eroded. That was a wake-up call.
And now I only begin my day by simply taking a glass of sheer water, this is much safer, and is no less effectual in waking the body.
Specialist Interview: Clinic nutritionist, Guts specialist, Dr. Riya Banerjee.
Q: Is it scientific to consume apple cider vinegar in an empty stomach?
A: Not really. Although apple cider vinegar might possess some low level antimicrobial activity, it has not been determined that it prevents weight loss, detox and empty stomach digestion.
Q: Is there safe way of using it?
A: Yes – in small amounts as salad dressing or as marinades. It should be mixed with sufficient amounts of water when used and individuals with acid reflux or gastric challenges should not use it in any way.
Q: What can be a more appropriate morning routine?
A: Repenstrating with the help of drinking water, balanced breakfast, frequent exercises and sleep. Such a habit has long-term health-enhancing effects much better than the one-shine solution would provide.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Yes, but with this condition, that you must be well diluted and taken with food, and never alone. Excess of it will spoil you teeth and stomach.
These minor studies indicate that it might actually have a chance of diminishing the appetite albeit more favorably than the fact that it can result in a major loss of weight is not well supported. Good diet and exercise do not lose their meaning.
Yes. Individuals having acid reflux, ulcers, kidney issues and sensitive teeth should avoid taking apple cider vinegar in whatever form.
Bottom Line.
Vinegar is never a health miracle that Apple cider vinegar is- it is simply vinegar. Although it does play its part to the cooking trade and it might add flavor to what one is eating, there is no actual health benefit of consuming it on an empty stomach and actually it may turn out to be detrimental to the person in the long run.
The wellness formula is based on dependence on healthy eating, rest and physical activity, which have been put into the real-time test.
+2 Sources
FreakToFit has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, educational research institutes, and medical organizations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Powder Mitigates Liver Injury in High-Fat-Diet Mice via Gut Microbiota and Metabolome Remodeling; https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/13/2157
- [Effects of vinegar on tooth bleaching and dental hard tissues in vitro]; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25571718/
