Many of us have followed the debate about whether drinking apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight. It appears that there is little scientific evidence to support this claim.
However, when ACV pills came into the market, it restarted the whole debate. You may have questions about these pills, and before you go ahead and buy a month’s supply, here are some things to think about.
What are ACV pills?
ACV pills contain dehydrated apple cider vinegar. The idea is that you will receive all the benefits without some of the side effects of drinking apple cider vinegar, such as burning your esophagus and damaging your tooth enamel. The vinegar is very acidic and not well tolerated by some people, especially those with digestive issues.
How do the pills work?
The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is the ingredient that people believe will help them lose weight. The studies on drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss are few and far between, and most of them have been on animals. A study on rats showed minor drops in blood sugar and insulin levels. A small study on humans had similar results.
Some nutritionists say that the bitter taste is what makes the apple cider vinegar work because it makes the stomach produce more enzymes and stomach acid, which helps with digestion. They believe that the pills are completely ineffective.
Are they safe?
Perhaps you are still convinced that the pills will help you lose weight. So your next question is how safe it is to take them. Most people assume that taking ACV pills is probably completely harmless and simply offers more convenience. However, as with any supplement of this nature, no one knows for sure how safe they are because they are not regulated by the FDA.
There is no guarantee on the ingredients and amounts used in these pills. Due to the lack of clinical research, no one is sure about dosage either. One of the consequences of consuming too much apple cider vinegar is that blood sugar levels may drop too low.
Some nutritionists believe ACV pills could be unsafe for diabetics and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Still not convinced? Keep this in mind
As much as we wish we could simply pop pills and lose weight, this is not the case. If weight loss was so easy, there wouldn’t be so many people battling obesity. When it comes to ACV pills, more studies are needed to determine exactly how and if they work as well as optimal dosage.
Buying pills is more expensive than buying a bottle of organic apple cider vinegar. If you want to experiment with apple cider vinegar for weight loss, it’s cheaper to go with the actual vinegar, and you can always blend it into a smoothie or use it in a salad dressing.
If you suffer from acid reflux, gas or bloating, dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water and drink it before meals. It can help with digestion because it boosts your digestive juices. Whether it will make you lose weight is questionable.
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