Are you looking for a quick fix to weight loss because your relative is getting married? Want to add apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your diet? What if we told you this quick fix to lose a few inches can get as severe as kidney or liver damage? If this does not scare you, the complete list of apple cider vinegar side effects will.
You may ask team HLTH, “Why are you doing this to us?”
Well, it is our job to explain the side effects of apple cider vinegar because we are here to show you the reality and not sell products.
“Detox is a very serious word,” said Namita Thapar when a brand pitched on Shark Tank. Their products consisted of one-day detox remedies, which fitness enthusiasts like Anupam Mittal detested.
ACV is majorly marketed and overhyped across the internet to fool you into buying products from big brands. Be it ACV with mother or no mother, they are not healthy for weight loss.
Apple cider vinegar side effects
Here are the top reasons why we do not recommend you add ACV for weight loss:
Apple cider vinegar side effects on kidneys
Many dieticians recommend apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing for weight loss. But they first verify if you have liver or kidney conditions that might negatively impact due to ACV.
Foods that include high levels of acid can trigger kidney damage. This ingredient can be detrimental if someone is already suffering from kidney issues.
You need to add leafy greens to your diet to maintain a healthy kidney. It is best to avoid ACV consumption to keep your kidney free from deterioration.
Apple cider vinegar side effects liver
The number of people diagnosed with a non-alcoholic fatty liver is growing by the day. It is a sign to shift to a healthier lifestyle by regularizing a healthy diet, exercise, and sleep routine.
ACV is produced with the help of mashed apples that are distilled and fermented. It promises to possess detoxifying properties. However, we often neglect apple cider vinegar side effects when looking for such remedies.
Turning to ACV to manage liver conditions will do more harm than help. While acetic acid potion in ACV can reduce liver inflammation, no scientific studies support it.
Not all detox remedies need to be liquid quick fixes and smoothies. You can reverse liver issues by eliminating fried food, egg yolk, and whole grains and consuming fruits, nuts, legumes, and avocados.
Slow the digestion process
Consuming ACV before meals reduces the Glycemic Index of the food, which results in slowing down the digestion process. So, food stays longer in the stomach and provides a satiating feeling for longer.
Marketing apple cider vinegar based on this nutritional fact is easy. The process reduces hunger pangs but disrupts the natural digestion process of your body. If you absorb nutrients slowly into the bloodstream, you are more likely to fall sick. It can also trigger gastroparesis, which is worse for people with diabetes.
Damage oesophagus tube
Drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar or having too much in diluted form can gradually destroy the oesophagus tube. The oesophagus tube connects our mouth with the stomach, and all you eat passes through the same. Some reports show ACV causing burns in the throat. You might also face stomach disorders.
Low blood potassium and bone depletion
According to a case study, excess consumption of ACV reduced blood potassium levels and bone loss. A 28-year-old female consumed 250 ml of diluted ACV daily for six years.
It led her to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed low potassium levels and other abnormalities. Later, the woman was also diagnosed with osteoporosis. It is a bone condition, commonly seen in overweight women over 50.
The 28-year-old female suffered from this condition as her bones were depleted due to the repetitive inclusion of acetic acid in her blood. The minerals of her body gradually depleted, and so did the formation of bones.
It is vital to note that this case proved the extreme side effects of drinking apple cider vinegar. However, there is more study required to back this statement and prove the intensity.
Erosion of tooth enamel
Acidic food erodes tooth enamel, and ACV is a consumable product that triggers the same. Regular consumption of soft drinks can also lead to tooth erosion, but vinegar is more harmful.
A lab test used enamels from wisdom teeth and added them to different kinds of vinegar. The difference in the types of vinegar was due to pH levels ranging from 2.7 to 3.95. Within four hours, the teeth lost 1% to 20% of minerals.
It is interesting that researchers conducted the study only on individual teeth and not humans. As saliva increases acidity, a human cannot retain vinegar on their teeth for four hours.
So, gradual consumption of ACV or large quantities can gradually erode your teeth. The hypothesis was backed by another case study involving a 15-year-old girl. She consumed roughly 250 ml of undiluted ACV for a significant period and faced dental decay at an early age.
Interferes with medication
If you require insulin or insulin-stimulating medications, consuming vinegar can reduce blood sugar or potassium levels. It can also react with diuretics and laxatives.
After reading the points above, you will likely want to avoid incorporating ACV into your diet. However, if you are still not convinced, I suggest you consult a specialist to know if you can suffer from apple cider vinegar side effects.
Apple cider vinegar gummies side effects
If you go to an online marketplace and look up ACV gummies, you will find products with more than 4 out of 5 ratings. They have thousands of positive reviews, but their labels can shock you.
Sold as a dietary supplement, apple cider vinegar gummies are alternatives for people who do not like the natural taste. People trying to reduce sugar found this gummy bear-like candy a go-to weight loss supplement. It is easy to fall for marketing gimmicks, so one must always investigate the labels behind a product.
For example, a brand selling ACV gummies labels the product as including 1 gram of sugar. But the label for carbohydrates records 4 grams. The ingredients used have organic cane sugar and organic tapioca. Tapioca is a starch used for baking. Turning it into syrup and adding it to the gummies increases sweetness.
Some brands sell ACV keto gummies and market themselves as sugar-free. But the labels include carbs as high as 6-8 grams and sugar from glucose and maltitol syrup.
In the best scenario, you might not face apple cider vinegar pills side effects and see changes in your body. In retrospect, you will know it is a quick fix that gives you temporary results, as you cannot consume it forever.
Uses of apple cider vinegar
As a team of health consultants, we want to show you two sides of every coin. Even if I do not recommend apple cider vinegar for weight loss, results reflect other positive usage of this ingredient.
Here are some points that reflect the benefits of apple cider vinegar when used for the right purpose:
Aid acid reflux
The acetic acid component in apple cider vinegar can aid acid reflux. Many use it as a remedy for heartburn, but little data supports this statement.
You should consult with a gastroenterologist if you consumed a diluted amount. Also, find out the appropriate proportion that suits your medical condition.
Treat eczema
While some people experienced irritation on the skin due to ACV usage, some reportedly found relief from conditions like eczema. As it is a sensitive skin disorder, we suggest you consult a dermatologist and seek guidance before using it.
Kill germs
Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar free salad greens from bacteria, salmonella, and other harmful infectious elements. So, dieticians who recommend ACV for salads might do it for this reason and not because it aids weight loss.
Hair health
There are multiple ways to incorporate apple cider vinegar for hair. The acetic acid ingredient releases dandruff and promotes lustre. It is believed to fight bacteria and fungi that can improve hair quality.
Many people suffer from hair loss due to the iron content in tap water. It also includes minerals like sulphates, calcium, and magnesium bicarbonate. Apple cider vinegar can help you reduce damage from such mineral content in hard water. However, the reaction of ACV on hair will vary from one to another.
Does HLTH recommend ACV for weight loss?
Falling for marketing gimmicks at a young age is common compared to making middle-aged people believe in the same. When you become fit at 40, you realise there were mistakes you made when you were younger – mistakes that are hard to reverse today.
So, when we recommend the usage of certain food items, we do not only consider how it will impact you today but also in the future. Apple cider vinegar is not an ingredient we promote for weight loss.
Losing weight is not a provisional agenda that you can fulfil to look a certain way within a month. Moreover, when HLTH can guide you sustainably and holistically to see visible results in 28 days, we do not need you to consume apple cider vinegar.