When it comes to healthy weight loss, apple cider vinegar (or AVC as it’s otherwise known) has long been hailed as a hero ingredient when it comes to shedding a few extra lbs and tackling the bloat.
Beyond its benefits on the waistline, its health-boosting superpowers also include boosting your immune system, supporting healthy digestion, reducing blood pressure and suppressing your appetite.
But does it really matter when you take it? Morning? Evening? Rumour has it that drinking apple cider vinegar in the morning can be more beneficial, but is there actually any truth in it? We investigate.
In the morning
Some experts have recommended that drinking apple cider vinegar in the morning, before you eat or drink anything can make it more effective.
Why? Well, a morning dose of ACV is thought to help with:
- Fresher breath (which let’s be honest, we could all probably do with first thing)
Apple cider vinegar is antimicrobial, which means that it kills bacteria and microorganisms that can fester in your mouth overnight.
Bad morning breath? It’s a result of the build up of this bacteria. Unlike in the day, your mouth dries up and lacks saliva, whereas in the day it produces enough saliva to break down food particles that cause odor causing bacteria to grow.
Pretty gross, right?
- Kickstarting your digestive system
Starting your day with a dose of AVC kick starts your digestive system. When the stomach is empty, It’s thought to have a ‘detoxifying’ effect on your digestive system - with many people referencing the ingredient to have a laxative-like effect on the gut.
Actual scientific evidence on the laxative effect is lacking, although anecdotally, people can feel as though knocking back ACV in the morning helps them feel less bloated and sluggish.
Read more: 5 benefits of apple cider vinegar
How?
Well, it’s due to its natural pectin content - the type of soluble fibre that apples are rich in. To put it, ahem, politely, it softens the stool and decreases the time it takes for it to pass through the digestive tract.
Our verdict on taking apple cider vinegar in the morning
There’s absolutely no harm in taking a daily dose of ACV in the morning. Put two tablespoons (12gms) of apple cider vinegar into a 250ml glass of water and swig down before eating. You could see benefits such as fresher breath and a flatter stomach throughout the day.
However, it’s worth nothing that AVC is very high in acid content. Meaning that if you’re drinking it the old school way (from the bottle) you should always water it down to avoid erosion on your tooth enamel and the lining of the oesophagus.
Before your meals
The key benefits of taking ACV before meals are thought to include:
- Suppressed appetite
AVC is packed with acetate, a key component in acetic acid that plays an important role in suppressing appetite.
If your main goal is weight loss, evidence has shown that taking ACV before your meal can result in you consuming less calories overall. The result? Accelerated weight loss and a flatter stomach as you’re less likely to overeat.
- Lower blood sugar levels
As your food takes longer to digest, it also minimises blood sugar spikes that are caused by the quick conversion of food into energy.
As your appetite is more likely to be suppressed, you’re also less likely to reach for the biscuit tin - the sugary snacks we often reach for when our blood sugar levels take a dive.
Our verdict on apple cider vinegar before meals
If overeating is where you struggle, then before meals is the time to take your ACV. Although, downing a couple of tablespoons of the sour stuff might not be the most appetising. Our apple cider vinegar gummies, give you that ACV fix whilst also giving you a boost of chromium picolinate and vitamin C helping you to better process carbohydrates and strengthening your immune system.
Before you go to bed
It might not be as comforting (or as tasty) as a cup of hot chocolate, but taking a quick dose of ACV before bed can be beneficial for your health.
- It can help lower blood sugar overnight
Taking ACV before you’re ready to drop off can help your wake up with a stable blood sugar. One study with people with type 2 diabetes found that taking 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar at bedtime for 2 days reduced fasting blood sugar levels by up to 6%.
Pretty clever, right?
- It can help stop leg cramping
Suffer from cramps at night? Cramping is caused by low potassium levels within the body. Apple cider vinegar is packed with potassium which helps to keep cramping at bay, helping you to leave your sleep interrupted.
Want your AVC fix without the sour vinegary taste? Give our Known Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies a try.