A doctor advised incorporating a special ingredient into your diet because it’s said to help in bringing down cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
With a massive following of more than 178,000, popular TikTok health influencer Dr Livingood has become known and loved for his healthcare and lifestyle insights and guidance.
A key video of his, which boasts over 1.7 million views, showcases his support for the benefits of apple cider vinegar – a product made from fermented crushed apples, yeast, and sugar, essential in vegan cooking but also prevalent in various mainstream food products like dressings and marinades.
While commonly used as a remedy for several conditions, including heartburn and enhancing hair shine, current studies are validating some tangible health advantages of apple cider vinegar, which Dr Livingood concurs with.
In his viral clip, he states: “If you’re struggling with heart issues, your blood pressure is up, your cholesterol is up, your triglycerides are up; apple cider vinegar contains a lot of acetic acid.
“A large study was done – Pubmed Research – showing that acetic acid of 15ml to 30ml on a daily basis actually significantly lowered blood pressure issues, triglycerides and high cholesterol.”
Dr Livingood highlights additional health benefits, too. He continued: “At the same time, it took weight off mid-waist waist line, it burned up visceral fat which is the toxic fat around your organs and it lowered blood sugar better than metformin.”
Metformin is widely known as a medication prescribed for managing type 2 and gestational diabetes.
The comments section was flooded with responses from fellow TikTok users, all eager to share their own experiences. One user claimed: “I take 2 tablespoons daily with a little honey and lemon and lost A LOT of belly fat!!” Another suggested: “Just drink it, like a shot glass!!!”
A third person shared their own routine with: “I squeeze a lemon with one tablespoon every morning and sip it through a straw to keep my enamel.”
However, one user expressed concern, asking: “Doc, I read somewhere that it messes up your thyroid. How true is this? I like taking it because it helped me lose weight once.”
Dr Livingood reassured them, replying: “We haven’t seen that, but as always, if you’re concerned it’s best to speak with your physician!”
According to WebMD, most apple cider vinegar sold in supermarkets is clear, pasteurised, and filtered, but raw, unfiltered ACV containing a cloudy sediment called “the mother” is also available.
The website notes: “Some people give the mother credit for ACV’s health benefits. And it’s thought to contain small amounts of probiotics (healthy bacteria) that are good for gut health. But research hasn’t shown that the mother offers any particular health benefit.
“The acetic acid in ACV is thought to be at least partly responsible for any health benefits it has. But other types of vinegar contain acetic acid as well.”