7 Reasons The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Trend Isn’t Worth All The Hype

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There are plenty of unfortunate diet trends that have followed us into 2018, and the daily downing of apple cider vinegar as a magical health elixir is one of them. We’ve always been a little skeptical of this diet fad, but now, we have seven legit reasons why we most definitely won’t be partaking in the ACV shot-drinking at our super healthy friends’ apartments. (Blegh.)

1. There are much more effective ways of getting the probiotics you need.

Plenty of ACV proponents say that the ones with the “mother,” which is the substrate leftover from the fermentation process, can seriously boost your probiotic health, but there are far too many apple cider vinegar products on the market with little-to-no probiotic value at all that people are consuming for that sole purpose. You’re better off integrating foods like kefir, kombucha, kimchi, yogurt and sauerkraut into your diet if you’re looking for a gut health boost.

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2. It’s horrible for your dental health.

Oh yeah, ACV is highly acidic. So if you’re drinking it daily, you’re exposing your tooth enamel to a shitton of acid. And acid does a fantastic job of disintegrating this crucial layer of your teeth. This detail is especially relevant if you choose to shoot your ACV down all in one go instead of diluting one ounce of it with eight ounces of water. The same logic applies to why we don’t swish around fresh lemon juice just for fun.

3. It could help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Limited studies with very small (and specific) sample sizes have linked acetic acid (the acid that’s in apple cider vinegar) with a minor reduction in blood sugar levels after eating meal, which can slow food’s movement through the digestive system, keeping you feeling fuller for longer and giving your body more time to absorb additional nutrients from the food. However, it’s hard to extrapolate these results beyond their super niche participant groups’ experiences.

4. It can wreak havoc on your stomach and esophagus.

So back to the whole tossing back acid like it’s liquid candy thing. Repeatedly taking shots of ACV has the potential to not only turn your stomach because of the acute influx of acid to your digestive system, but also literally burn your esophagus on the way down. Ouch. Please, if you really insist on continuing with the apple cider vinegar diet trend, just promise us you won’t drink it straight up in the future.

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5. It isn’t a miracle weight loss aid.

This rumor is why people started relying so heavily on ACV in the first place. There are studies that suggest acetic acid could help promote both fat burning and weight loss, but the amount of weight lost by participants in these studies is underwhelming at best, especially when you factor in how long it took. No one seriously looking to lose a few pounds is going to see the success they want in the timeframe they want just by adding apple cider vinegar to their diet.

6. It can react with certain medications — and not in a good way.

If you are taking medications for diabetes like insulin, drugs that regulate your blood potassium levels, diuretics or laxatives, apple cider vinegar is not your friend, especially if you’re thinking of taking it daily as a dietary supplement. It can lead to some serious drug interactions that will easily counteract all of the health benefits you believe you’re getting from it in the first place.

7. There is such a thing as too much.

Again, if you really insist on keeping with your ACV routine, at least limit yourself to no more than two tablespoons a day. Any more than that and you’re going to face some serious internal irritation. Instead of overdoing it on the apple cider vinegar, maybe lean into some actual food that has real health benefits to push your weight management goals along. It’s just a thought.