Apple cider vinegar is most commonly used in salad dressing and various cooking recipes, says Bubu Banini, M.D., a hepatologist and obesity medicine physician at Yale Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. “It has been reportedly used as a healing potion dating back to 3300 B.C. for overall health, wound disinfection, strength and athletic performance, sore throat and cold remedies, among other uses,” she says.
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Still curious about ACV pills? *At least* keep the following advice in mind.
It's tempting as hell to believe that losing weight may be as simple as popping a few supplements, but sorry, no. “There's no magic pill for weight loss,” says Rissetto. “As for ACV pills, more human studies are needed to understand how and if they work for maximum efficacy.”
Largeman-Roth agrees, calling ACV pills a waste of money, at the very least. “A 16-oz bottle of organic apple cider vinegar is just $4.99, while a bottle of 60 pills is between $16 and $18,” she says. “If you’re a healthy individual who wants to see if apple cider vinegar helps you in any way, I’d suggest going with the actual vinegar. You can use it in a salad dressing or blend it into a smoothie.”
The bottom line: There is no evidence that shows ACV pills can help you lose weight or offer any real health benefits. If you want to give them a shot, take a small amount per day (like one to two pills) and check with your doc first if you're taking meds for a pre-existing condition.
Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons. Her reported features and personal essays on parenting and women's health have appeared at On Parenting from The Washington Post, Real Simple, Women's Health, The Writer, Today's Parent, and Romper, among others. In her so-called "free time," Sarah is an amateur baker, homeschooler, and aspiring novelist.
Kristin Canning is the features director at Women's Health, where she assigns, edits and reports long-form features on emerging health research and technology, women's health conditions, psychology, sexuality, mental health, reproductive justice, wellness entrepreneurs, women athletes, and the intersection of health, fitness, and culture for both the magazine and the website. She's worked in health media for seven years, holding prior positions at Health, SELF, and Men's Health. When she's not writing and editing, you can find her running, hiking, biking, dancing, listening to podcasts, or planning her next outdoor adventure.