Does Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar After Every Meal Really Burn Belly Fat?

Drinking vinegar is not most people's idea of a good time. But in the quest for belly fat loss, people will try almost anything.

Although drinking apple cider vinegar after meals may have a slight effect on weight loss, it's not a magic bullet. A balanced diet and exercise are still the best way to lose tummy fat.

Often referred to as just "ACV," apple cider vinegar comes from crushed, distilled and fermented apples. Its active component is acetic acid, which is found in all types of vinegar, regardless of the source, per Harvard Health Publishing.

ACV is widely promoted in the alternative medicine world as a cure for type 2 diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. While there is some evidence to support these claims, most of the studies have been small — fewer than 100 participants — and most have examined the effects of vinegar in general, not ACV specifically.

Two small studies, one from June 2015 in the ‌European Journal of Clinical Nutrition‌ and the other in the May 2015 edition of ‌Journal of Diabetes Research‌ found that drinking vinegar before a meal had beneficial effects on carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism. This improved blood sugar and insulin uptake, both of which are closely linked with the development of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Another May 2014, 12-week study in ‌Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry‌ involving 175 Japanese people with obesity found those who drank 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar each day lost more weight (2 to 4 pounds) than those who did not drink vinegar.

And small April 2018 study in the ‌Journal of Functional Foods‌ randomly assigned people with overweight and obesity a calorie-restricted diet or a calorie-restricted diet supplemented with 2 tablespoons of ACV daily. At the end of 12 weeks, the researchers reported that the ACV group had significantly reduced body weight, BMI, hip circumference, belly fat and appetite.

While these are positive results, but the lack of large-scale studies means it can't be recommended as a reliable belly fat-burning option. Additionally, there are potential downsides to drinking apple cider vinegar after meals.

For one, ACV is very acidic. This can irritate your throat as well as your digestive system. In a small May 2014 study in the ‌International Journal of Obesity‌, vinegar was shown to suppress appetite and calorie intake; but these effects were largely due to nausea after ingestion. Because of this, the researchers concluded that vinegar's promotion as an appetite suppressant isn't appropriate.

ACV's acidity also poses problems for dental health. An 2014 in vitro study in ‌Clinical Laboratory‌ examined the effects of 30 types of vinegar on dental erosion. The vinegars were incubated with human wisdom teeth for up to 8 hours. In all cases, there was a loss of minerals, with some losses up to 20 percent.

But the researchers cautioned that many factors influence enamel surface outside the laboratory and that these findings may not translate to real-world vinegar drinking.

Lastly, Mayo Clinic reports that ACV can interact with certain supplements or medications, including diuretics and insulin. This can lead to a loss of potassium, which can be potentially life-threatening.

Many of the unwanted side effects of ACV come from taking too much. Taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of ACV once a day isn't likely to cause any problems worse than indigestion for most people. However, taking that amount — or more — after every meal probably isn't a good idea.

A better idea is to reduce belly fat with the tried-and-true method of diet and exercise. Reduce your calorie intake and get your calories from nutritious foods.You could drink ACV after eating carbs in the hopes that it will aid metabolism and blood sugar, or you could just choose low-glycemic, complex carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are high in fiber and promote lasting satiety.

Lean protein from chicken, fish and beans is also a crucial component of satiety and appetite control, according to June 2015 review in the ‌American Journal of Clinical Nutrition‌.

If you want to include more ACV in your diet, try using it to dress salads, vegetables and meat instead of using store-bought dressings and sauces, which are often high in fat, sugar and calories. ACV is virtually calorie-free and offers a satisfying tanginess that livens up any nutritious dish.