Drinking apple cider vinegar has become a popular way to lose weight in recent years, but can it really help people slim down?
A new study found that Lebanese teenagers and young adults who drank up to one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar daily for 12 weeks dropped an average of 15 pounds, according to Health.
Study author Rony Abou-Khalil said that the researchers set out to analyse a potential solution to obesity that would align with the growing interest in non-pharmaceuticals.
"We were motivated to explore potential natural remedies for weight reduction that could offer safe and effective alternatives to traditional interventions," he said.
They chose to test apple cider vinegar, which has been used for many years as a health tonic and is prepared from crushed and fermented apples.
While using apple cider vinegar on a daily basis might aid in weight loss, there are more effective and proven weight loss methods.
"To lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, i.e, take in fewer calories than you burn," Melissa Mitri, a private practice dietitian explained.
"You can do this by reducing your calorie intake in your diet, exercising more, or, ideally, combining both."
Ultimately, these old standbys are probably a surer path to long-term weight loss than jumping on the apple cider vinegar trend.
Disclaimer: This may not work for everyone. Consult your doctor before trying this out.