It’s soaring in popularity among celebrities and developing a cult following among the rest of the population. It’s supposed to do everything from suppress appetite to lower cholesterol – and it's affordable and available over the counter. So, what’s this miracle substance? It’s none other than apple cider vinegar - and it’s definitely got some cool uses.

Naturally derived from apples, apple cider vinegar develops via the process of fermentation, when the sugar in apples turns into alcohol. When mixed with a bacterium called acetobacter, the alcohol then turns to something called acetic acid, and then to what we know as apple cider vinegar. There are a lot of claims out there about what apple cider vinegar can do. But how much of that is true? Read on to learn more about this natural wonder product.

Lowers Blood Sugar

One of the biggest claims floating around about apple cider vinegar is that it can lower blood sugar. This may seem like an outrageous claim, but believe it or not, it’s backed by real science!  According to a 2004 study by the American Diabetes Association, taking apple cider vinegar after eating a carb-heavy meal lowered blood glucose levels and acted similar to popular diabetic drugs such as metformin and acarbose.

Helps Weight Loss

Another not-so-out-there claim about apple cider vinegar is that it can help you lose weight. A 2018 study in the Journal of Functional Foods found that drinking diluted apple cider vinegar helped suppress the appetite and stave off hunger when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, though some have argued the healthy diet and exercise were more to thank than the apple cider vinegar in this study.

Now the Bad ....

As with anything, apple cider vinegar isn’t all roses. There are things you need to know before incorporating this so-called wonder drink into your diet.

Kidney Disease. If you are suffering from kidney disease, speak to your endocrinologist before taking apple cider vinegar for any reason. This is because the high acidity levels of apple cider vinegar (and really any vinegar in general) may prove to be too much for your kidneys to handle.

Wears Tooth Enamel. Finally, another buyer beware about apple cider vinegar is that it's very bad for your teeth. A common problem is that, due to its sour, acidic flavor, many people want to brush their teeth immediately after drinking it. The vinegar itself is dangerous to tooth enamel, but brushing soon after ingesting apple cider vinegar is even worse because it can scratch weakened enamel. 

Dr. Lederman recommends if you do ingest apple cider vinegar, follow it with lots of water (rinse your mouth and drink it) and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.

Ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lederman? Give us a call at 516-882-1764.