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Can mouth-puckering mocktails really flatten the belly, dial back appetite, ease pain and increase energy? Health and wellness expert Jorge Cruise weighs in
Back when we were girls, our grandmother would sip an apple cider vinegar tonic — and make us drink it when we were under the weather. And for good reason: Fermented mixtures of vinegar, fruit and herbs have been used as medicinal cordials to cure everything from indigestion to fatigue to the flu for centuries.
Though we didn’t fully appreciate Grandma’s wisdom back then, we were intrigued when we heard that apple cider vinegar has come into vogue, thanks to celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum and Reese Witherspoon, who are said to sip the tart tonic for its hunger-dampening effects. The trend is becoming so popular that hot spots in Los Angeles, New York City and London are even putting vinegar-spiked cocktails on their bar menus.
Modern-day health experts have also been buzzing about the sour liquid’s powerful slimming effects. Studies show that the acetic acid in vinegar turns off fat-storage enzymes in the liver and activates key fat-burning genes. And proponents tout the tonic’s ability to balance the body’s pH levels, which helps ensure slimming organs like the liver and thyroid function at their peak. All told, these effects fire up metabolism so effectively that subjects in one Japanese study shed 10 percent of their body fat after just six weeks of sipping vinegar — despite the fact that they ate a diet specifically designed to cause weight gain.
The tangy beverage has also been proven to dampen cravings to make slimming feel effortless. How? The acetic acid in vinegar slows the rate at which carbs are broken down and released into the bloodstream, curbing hungercausing blood-sugar spikes by as much as 40 percent. The payoff: An Australian study found that sipping vinegar before meals helped women consume
“Apple cider vinegar tonics can help you look and feel your summer best.” —Jorge Cruise
1,900 fewer calories per week than those who skipped the drink. That’s enough calorie savings to lose 28 pounds a year without making any other lifestyle changes!
More good news: Enthusiasts claim that sipping vinegar can help reduce bloat, thanks to the drink’s rich stores of enzymes that relieve gas and flush fluids. Other reported perks include easing arthritis pain, soothing a sore throat, curbing middle-ofthe-night leg cramps and even lowering cholesterol.
Despite the many potential benefits, some doctors warn that vinegar should be consumed with caution. They explain that vinegar’s acids can burn the tender tissues lining the mouth and esophagus and erode tooth enamel if consumed too frequently. And because vinegar can interfere with some medications (including diuretics as well as those used to treat diabetes and heart conditions), experts advise consulting a health-care practitioner before trying this trend.
For women who get the goahead to sip apple cider vinegar tonics, experts recommend combining 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar with 6 oz. of water and 2 oz. of fruit juice for a quick refresher — we especially like it with 100 percent cranberry juice or fresh-blended watermelon juice. Or for those who prefer to purchase a premade vinegar mocktail, consider Suja Juice Drinking Vinegars ($4, supermarkets). In addition to the slimming apple cider vinegar, this sweet-tart sip delivers a dose of Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic strain that has been shown to improve digestion and dial back belly bloat.
“A good snack is hummus with mashed tomato and avocado with pita bread or
vegetables to dip.”
—Susan Lucci, 70