Belly fat is notorious for being one of the body parts which is the most difficult to shift.
It's not only to do with appearance, as carrying too much excess fat around your midriff significantly increases a person’s risk of heart disease or stroke.
A women’s waist circumference should be no more than 35 inches and for men, anything greater than 40 inches puts you in the danger area.
Belly fat is also known as visceral fat, and is fat stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines.
To help get rid of your belly fat, one particular drink comes up on top.
Apple cider vinegar for weight loss
Eating a poor diet, high in sugar and saturated fat, is one of the main causes of visceral fat, so making some simple changes to your diet is key.
While eating fatty foods and too many carbohydrates is advised against, other food and drinks have been found to aid visceral fat loss.
Apple cider vinegar is recommended by experts to help with weight loss and some studies have suggested it can also target visceral fat.
Apple cider vinegar has grown in popularity among the health conscious.
Numerous studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can increase feelings of fullness.
This in turn leads to a person eating fewer calories and burning belly fat.
According to one research paper, taking apple cider vinegar along with a high carb meal led to increased feelings of fullness, causing participants to eat 200–275 fewer calories throughout the rest of the day.
Furthermore, a study in 175 people with obesity showed that daily apple cider vinegar consumption led to reduced belly fat and weight loss.
How much apple cider vinegar should you drink?
The study found those taking one tablespoon of the vinegar led to a loss of 1.2 kg and those taking two tablespoons losing 1.7 kg over a three-month period.
The acid found in apple cider vinegar increases an enzyme AMPK, which scientists claim increases fat burning and decreases fat and sugar production.
Taking one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day is considered safe for most people and may lead to modest fat loss.
But to consume apple cider vinegar safely you should dilute it with water, as undiluted vinegar can erode enamel on teeth.
Apple cider vinegar benefits
Other health benefits from consuming apple cider vinegar include:
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Lowers blood sugars
- Improves symptoms of diabetes
- Improves heart health.
- Boosts skin health