A doctor revealed the powerful ingredient people should add to their diets to lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
Dr Blake Livingood, a popular video creator, has gained a loyal following of more than 178,000 on TikTok thanks to his health advice.
In one of his most viewed clips, which has so far amassed 1.7 million views, he extols the virtues of apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar is made from crushed fermented apples, yeast, and sugar.
It’s a staple in many vegan kitchens but also features in many mainstream foods like salad dressings and marinades. It has long been hailed as a home remedy for various ailments, including heartburn and improving hair growth and shine.
Recent research suggests it may indeed offer some genuine health benefits – a view shared by Dr Livingood. In his viral video, he explains: “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.
“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 a medicine commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
TikTok users were quick to jump into the comments section to share their personal experiences with the trending health hack. One user exclaimed: “I take 2 tablespoons daily with a little honey and lemon and lost A LOT of belly fat!” Another suggested a more direct approach: “Just drink it, like a shot glass!”
A third shared their morning routine: “I squeeze a lemon with one tablespoon every morning and sip it through a straw to keep my enamel.”
Curiosity arose among the followers, with one 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 addressed the concern, stating: “We haven’t seen that, but as always, if you’re concerned it’s best to speak with your physician!”
WebMD provides insight into the apple cider vinegar found on supermarket shelves, noting most are clear, pasteurised, and filtered. However, there’s also the option to purchase raw, unfiltered ACV containing a cloudy sediment known as “the mother” composed of bacteria and yeast.
The website’s guidance suggests: “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.”