How to Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Safely: Since Research Shows Drinking the Liquid as a ‘Weight-Loss Hack’, We Reveal the Potential Dangers
Apple cider vinegar is touted as a cure for all ailments, from an easy weight loss hack to controlling blood sugar levels.
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston swear by the liquid for its supposed fat-burning properties.
But beware: the latest health hack could do you more harm than good.
Ingesting too much acidic fluid without proper precautions can rot your teeth, make you feel sick, and possibly even affect kidney function.
Although it is safe to consume in small quantities, experts warn that the vinegar, which costs as little as £2.50 in health food stores, has not been extensively researched.
Here, MailOnline explores some of the dangers associated with drinking the acidic vinegar and how you can minimize them.
Swallowing too much apple cider vinegar can rot your teeth, make you feel nauseous and even affect kidney function
It can erode the enamel
Drinking too much apple cider vinegar can rot your teeth.
That’s because the vinegar, as anyone who’s tried a shot can attest, is highly acidic.
Drinking it undiluted can erode the enamel, the hard protective layer on your teeth, the NHS warns.
It is recommended that people do not drink the vinegar straight, but instead mix one to two tablespoons into water or another drink, or add it to a food dressing.
This dilution does not affect the supposed health benefits, but it does reduce the risk of apple cider vinegar eroding your pearly whites.
If the enamel on the surface of the tooth becomes damaged, plaque and bacteria can reach the softer bone-like material underneath, causing further erosion and even cavities, the NHS warns.
A case study of a 15-year-old girl revealed that her tooth decay was caused by drinking 8 ounces of undiluted apple cider vinegar per day in an attempt to help her lose weight.
It can damage your throat and skin
The acidity of the vinegar can not only damage your teeth, but also your throat.
Research published in 2021 in the Journal of Primary Health Care suggested that while we can safely drink apple cider vinegar in small amounts every day, drinking large amounts and applying it to the skin can be dangerous.
Some believe that suing the vinegar helps to balance the PH levels in the skin and some people also use it as a treatment for pimples.
But researchers from the University of Auckland reported Direct application to the skin has also been shown to cause skin irritation and chemical burns.
a judgement The amount of harmful liquids accidentally swallowed by children showed that acetic acid, found in apple cider vinegar, was a common source of acid throat burns in children.
It can cause nausea and indigestion
In addition to having dangerous consequences for your oral health, drinking apple cider vinegar directly can cause problems further along in the digestive process.
Possible side effects of taking apple cider vinegar directly include acid reflux, nausea and slowed digestion due to its high acidity according to a 2018 study. study by researchers from Middlesex University.
While one controlled study suggested that the vinegar could reduce food intake and therefore logically help with weight loss, it also found that drinking it made digestion worse.
The 2014 study reported that although people who consumed 25 grams of apple cider vinegar reported less appetite, this was mainly because they felt more nauseous.
Celebrities, including Kim Kardashian (pictured left) swear by the drink. Jennifer Aniston (pictured right) also drinks the vinegar as part of her health regimen
Should be avoided if you have kidney problems
If you have chronic kidney disease, your body may have difficulty processing the excess acid from the apple cider vinegar.
This can cause a buildup of acid in your body, called metabolic acidosis.
As this acid increases, your kidney function decreases, and as kidney function decreases, so does its ability to process the acid, the National Kidney Foundation warns.
A fast heart rate, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, vomiting and the need to take deep, long breaths are all symptoms of metabolic acidosis.
Allergic reactions
Anyone with an allergy to apples or pectin, a fiber found in fruit, should also avoid apple cider vinegar.
An allergic reaction can cause swollen lips, swollen eyelids, stomach cramps, rash and an itchy feeling in the throat, the NHS says.
If you experience any unexpected side effects after taking apple cider vinegar, you should seek medical attention immediately.