Obesity is a complex health issue that usually results from a combination of causes and factors, such as poor diet and lack of physical activity. Experts consider obesity a significant public health hazard because it diminishes nearly every aspect of health, from respiratory function to memory and mood.

Obesity also increases your risk of developing debilitating and potentially deadly diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Fortunately, studies have found that taking apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help reduce your obesity risk.

ACV is made from the juice extracted from crushed apples, which is then distilled and fermented. Bacteria and yeasts are then added to the juice, which is fermented again to turn its alcohol content into acetic acid.

ACV may help prevent obesity

In a 2017 study, a group of researchers from Tunisia wanted to see whether taking ACV daily would affect cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. The rats had increased levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

The rats developed oxidative stress after six weeks of being fed the high-fat diet. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical formation and the capability of cells to clear them. Free radicals are reactive molecules that, at very high levels, can damage healthy cells and their components. Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation with permanently increased oxidative stress levels.

The researchers orally administered ACV to some of the rats. At the end of the experiment, they found that the rats that received ACV had lower total cholesterol, triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels than the controls. ACV also improved oxidative stress and normalized various metabolic changes brought on by the high-fat diet.

Given their findings, the researchers concluded that ACV is beneficial for reducing obesity-induced oxidative stress. ACV may also help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases.

Acetic acid in ACV is key to preventing obesity

In another study, a team or researchers looked into the specific compounds in ACV that may be responsible for improving oxidative stress and slashing obesity risk. Their study revealed that the acetic acid in ACV can prevent obesity by stopping body fat from accumulating.

In this earlier study, researchers from Japan looked into the effects of acetic acid on the processes that convert food into body fat. They began by feeding mice fatty foods to induce obesity. The mice were then divided into a control group and two treatment groups.

The control group received water every day for six weeks, while the treatment groups received either a 0.3 percent or a 1.5 percent dose of acetic acid. During the treatment period, the animals were measured for any weight gain. After the treatment period, the researchers collected blood and liver samples for analysis.

The researchers measured the amount of body fat and liver fat in the samples. They also cultivated human HepG2 liver cells and added acetic acid to the culture.

The researchers found that the control mice had clear symptoms of obesity, whereas mice treated with acetic acid didn’t become obese. The researchers surmised that acetic acid stopped body fat from accumulating and may have prevented the formation of excess fat in the liver as well.

Given their findings, the researchers concluded that the acetic acid in ACV can block the accumulation of fat in the body, as well as the formation of excess fat in the liver.

ACV is a superfood with many health-supporting properties. Many studies show that it may help lower your risk for obesity either by reducing oxidative stress or preventing fat accumulation. If you want to add ACV to your diet, try using it to make salad dressings, marinades and pickled vegetables.

Alternatively, you can take one to two tablespoons of ACV diluted in a glass of water and drink this before meals.

Sources:

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

LiebertPub.com

Pubs.ACS.org