Health and fitness trends are all the rage on social media, especially in the run up to summer. Whether it's to lose a bit of weight or a new way to make your skin glow, people are always on the lookout for new trends that could help their fitness or health.
One trend that has been doing the rounds on social media, especially TikTok, is the use of Apple Cider Vinegar, or more specifically the gummy version. But what is apple cider vinegar and what is it supposed to do to help our health?
As explained on the BBC Good Food website, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is “created by fermenting the sugars from apples, which turns them into acetic acid - the active ingredient in vinegar.” There are two types of apple vinegar, filtered and unfiltered with the second containing what is called ‘the mother’ - which is a combination of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria.
Read More: Five foods nutritionist says could help you lose weight, including chocolate
If the science behind the use of ACV is correct then having a tablespoon or two of the vinegar, or even taking two gummies a day could have a few positive effects on your health. While there are many speculations and myths around, the BBC Good Food Website says the top 5 possible health benefits include:
Improving glucose and insulin levels after eating carbs
Increase feelings of fullness and help lower calorie intake
May reduce weight and body fat
Could be beneficial for cholesterol and blood pressure
Has anti-microbial properties.
The acidic nature of ACV is also claimed to help those who suffer from bloating, probably caused by poor digestion and low acid levels. While it is not completely proven to stop bloating it has been rumoured to help alleviate the problem.
It is worth mentioning that while many believe there are a range of health benefits, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that it helps with weight loss or prevents bloating and some doctors don't believe it does anything at all, so it is worth doing your own research before trying something new.
Being someone who often suffers from bloating and belly aches, I decided I would give the trend a try to see whether I felt it helped. I decided I would take the gummies, as the idea of drinking vinegar seemed rather unpleasant to me. The ones I bought were from Holland & Barrett and cost me £12.99 for two bottles.
Two weeks on from starting to take these gummies, I feel that they may have helped slightly but not massively. I don’t tend to get as much stomach pain as I did before using the apple cider vinegar gummies and I don’t bloat as often, but I do find that I sometimes bloat at random points.
I personally wouldn’t say that I have lost any weight using the gummies, but I have only been using them for two weeks so it could be too soon to say. However, I have found that I am less hungry throughout the day.
While I feel they may have worked slightly for me, they might not work for everyone and it’s still not 100% clear what the benefits are.
Ready to explore more? Follow Curiously on TikTok , Instagram , Facebook and Twitter .
Up Next:
