Home Health How to drink apple cider vinegar safely: As study suggests downing the liquid is a ‘weight loss hack’ we reveal the potential dangers

How to drink apple cider vinegar safely: As study suggests downing the liquid is a ‘weight loss hack’ we reveal the potential dangers

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Consuming too much apple cider vinegar can cause your teeth to rot, make you feel nauseous and even affect kidney function

Apple cider vinegar is touted as a cure for all ailments, from an easy weight loss hack to controlling blood sugar levels.

Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston swear by the liquid for its supposed fat-busting properties.

But beware, the latest health hack could do you more harm than good.

Immersing too much of the acidic liquid without proper precautions can cause your teeth to rot, make you feel nauseous, and even potentially affect kidney function.

Although it is safe to consume in small amounts, experts caution that the health benefits have not been thoroughly studied.

Here, MailOnline examines some of the dangers associated with drinking the acidic vinegar and how you can minimize them.

Consuming too much apple cider vinegar can cause your teeth to rot, make you feel nauseous and even affect kidney function

Consuming too much apple cider vinegar can cause your teeth to rot, 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 is, as anyone who tried downing a shot can attest, very acidic.

Drinking it undiluted can erode your enamel, the hard protective layer on your teeth, warns the NHS.

It is recommended that people do not drink the vinegar directly and instead mix one to two tablespoons in water, or another drink, or add it to a food dressing.

This dilution will not affect any of the supposed health benefits, but will reduce the risk of apple cider vinegar eroding your pearly whites.

If the enamel on the tooth’s surface becomes damaged, it can allow plaque and bacteria to reach the softer bone-like material underneath, causing further erosion and even cavities, the NHS warns.

A case examination of a 15-year-old girl revealed that her tooth decay was caused by drinking 237 ml of undiluted apple cider vinegar a day in an attempt to help her lose weight.

It can damage your throat and skin

The acidity of vinegar can not only potentially damage your teeth, it can also damage your throat.

Research published in 2021 in the Journal of Primary Health Care suggested that while apple cider vinegar is safe to drink every day in small amounts, drinking large amounts and applying it to the skin can be dangerous.

Some believe that suing vinegar helps balance the PH levels of the skin, and some people also use it as a spot treatment.

But researchers from the University of Auckland reported direct application to the skin has also been shown to result in skin irritation and chemical burns.

ONE review of noxious liquids accidentally swallowed by children found 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 can actually cause problems further down the digestive process.

Possible side effects of consuming apple cider vinegar directly include acid reflux, nausea, and delayed digestion due to its high acidity, according to a 2018 examination by researchers at Middlesex University.

A controlled study, which suggests that vinegar can reduce food intake and therefore logically help with weight loss, also found that drinking it increased indigestion.

2014 examination reported that although people who took 25 grams (0.88 ounces) of apple cider vinegar reported less appetite, it was mostly because they felt more nauseous.

Celebrities including Kim Kardashian (pictured) swear by the tipple

Celebrities including Kim Kardashian (pictured) swear by the tipple

Celebrity advocate Jennifer Aniston also drinks vinegar as part of her health regimen

Celebrity advocate Jennifer Aniston also drinks vinegar as part of her health regimen

Celebrities including Kim Kardashian (pictured left) swear by the tipple. Celebrity attorney Jennifer Aniston (pictured right) also drinks vinegar as part of her health regimen

Should avoid if you have kidney problems

If you have chronic kidney disease, your body may also struggle to process the excess acid from the apple cider vinegar.

This can cause a build-up of acid in your body, called metabolic acidosis.

As this acid builds up, your kidney function slows again, and as kidney function declines, its ability to process the acid decreases, warns the National Kidney Foundation.

A fast heartbeat, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting and needing 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 fruits, should also not take apple cider vinegar.

An allergic reaction can cause swollen lips, swollen eyelids, stomach cramps, skin rash and an itchy feeling in the throat, says the NHS.

If you experience any unexpected side effects after taking apple cider vinegar, seek medical attention immediately.

WHAT IS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR?

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples, yeast and bacteria that naturally come from the fermentation process.

The sugar from the apples ferments and acetic acid is formed.

It is tis acid that is believed to be the source of the health benefits.

Proponents insist it can reduce your appetite and boost immunity.

It is also said to lower blood sugar and fight cancer, but these claims have been disputed by experts.

What is the mother?

Apple cider vinegar comes in two forms, one that contains the “mother” and one that has been filtered.

The ‘mother’ is a culture of good bacteria that is added to apple cider vinegar as part of the fermentation process.

It can give apple cider vinegar a cloudy appearance or take the form of a gelatinous-looking layer on top of the liquid.

Proponents of apple cider vinegar’s health benefits maintain its positive effects on this good bacteria and encourage people to drink versions with the ‘mother’ intact.

Filtered apple cider vinegar has had the mother removed to give it a cleaner appearance, making it more attractive to shoppers.

But advocates still say filtered versions retain some health benefits, just not as much as one with the “mother.”

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