The Question: I’m a Black woman in my mid-30s and I’ve been struggling to lose weight for the past year. I’ve been looking into all sorts of ways to lose weight and I heard that drinking apple cider can help you lose weight? Is this true?
The Answer: Browse many popular women’s fitness magazines and you’re bound to come across some mention of how apple cider vinegar is a magical elixir that can help you get slim. But can apple cider vinegar really help you lose weight? Well, the answer to this question is a little bit of yes and no.
Now as much as I do love apple cider vinegar myself, and have also experienced many of its health benefits first-hand, truth be told there hasn’t been a lot of research to definitely prove that apple cider vinegar is a significant weight loss aid. That understood, in the studies that have been conducted, it has been shown that vinegar may help promote weight loss through blood sugar control and appetite suppression.
In addition to that, apple cider vinegar does possess certain properties that one could then use to reasonable argue as to why it’s good for weight loss. For example, apple cider vinegar contains pectin (a soluble fiber), and apple cider vinegar can also help delay gastric emptying – two factors that can certainly help you lose weight since they promote satiety, which means you’ll be less likely to overeat.
Another thing to point out about apple cider vinegar is that it packs a major punch when it comes to antioxidant content. And since science has shown that a diet rich in antioxidants helps protect cells and provides a whole range of health benefits far exceeding just weight loss, for me that’s good enough reason to add some apple cider vinegar to your life.
That said, apple cider vinegar is a pretty versatile food and if you’ve never tried it, the taste is a nice tangy, yet mildly sweet flavor with zero calories – which certainly won't hurt your waistline. Plus,...... apple cider vinegar as a whole is some pretty awesome stuff as seen from these 8 Surprising Health, Beauty and Home Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar.
Bottom line, apple cider vinegar certainly isn't bad for you – actually it’s quite good for you! So if you dig the flavor of it, or if you just honestly feel like drinking apple cider vinegar makes you feel healthier, then I say go for it! At the end of the day, I'm all about anything that will encourage people to eat healthier. Just don't expect apple cider vinegar to make the weight magically fall off, because it won’t.
Remember, weight loss is simply a byproduct of living a healthy lifestyle overall, which involves both eating healthy foods consistently and exercising regularly.
Dr. Phoenyx Austin, M.D. is a certified Sports Medicine Specialist, bestselling author, and the creator of women’s FitBeauty products for healthy hair and fit body. Find Dr. Phoenyx on her website, YouTube channel, and follow her TeamFitBeauty Instagram page for natural hair and healthy living inspiration.