Apple cider vinegar is making it’s come back in a big way. Welcome to Hollywood! This cloudy brown, bitter stuff is mainly found covered in dust and rarely touched in kitchen pantries across the country, that is until now. Celebs are flocking to this old folk remedy in an attempt to keep their figures. Fergie, for example, told People magazine that she takes two tablespoons of the raw apple-cider vinegar twice a day, once before lunch and once before dinner in order to stay slim. So all I have to do is drink this stuff and I’ll lose weight? Not quite! While we can dream, a lot more research needs to be done on the several anecdotal benefits of apple cider vinegar. Here is what we DO know.

For thousands of years apple cider vinegar has been used as a remedy or treatment for all kinds of health issues. Dating back to the time of Hippocrates in 370 BC, vinegar has been touted to lower cholesterol, improve digestion, aide in weight loss, and clear up acne, among other topical applications.

In terms of weight loss or management it’s understood that apple cider vinegar taken before a meal will help you feel satisfied or full more quickly, meaning you’ll probably eat less. In Traditional Chinese Medicine this effect is attributed to vinegar’s sour and bitter taste. Sour and bitter flavors reduce accumulations in the liver and abdomen resulting from a diet rich in fats and red meat. It’s said to drain “damp” conditions which include swelling, acne, and obesity. Helping with that bloated feeling and retaining access water! Bitter vinegar also increases intestinal muscle contractions, meaning your food moves more quickly through you and thus increasing your metabolism.

The sour quality of apple cider vinegar is most active in the liver where it breaks down excess fats and protein – one reason vinegar is used in detox programs. It also helps one’s digestion by dissolving minerals for easier absorption. Sounds fantastic!

I know how great I feel after drinking Kombucha (another awesome vinegar elixir), so I’m interested to test apple cider vinegar out. Wanna try? Here’s the mix:

Drink It: 1/3 cup water mixed with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar two or three times daily. Add 1 teaspoon of honey for more effectiveness.

Eat It: Try a few teaspoons on your salad mixed with olive oil.

Have you ever taken apple cider vinegar and felt any benefits? Let me know in the comments!