Boost Weight Loss with Apple Cider Vinegar and Cranberry Juice

Both apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice have incredible health benefits and can help lower blood sugar levels, a crucial aspect of weight loss.

Discover how drinking apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice can shrink belly fat and benefit your cardiovascular health. 

Can apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice boost weight loss?

Yes, apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice can help you lose weight and improve your metabolic health, significantly reducing your risk of diabetes and insulin resistance.

How does it work?

Apple cider vinegar is a rich source of acetic acid, which is an organic acid that supports healthy blood sugar levels and lowers the risk of insulin resistance, a primary risk factor for weight gain and fatty liver disease. 

Research published in Clinical Nutrition found that acetic acid slows gastric emptying and buffers the rise of blood sugar levels after a meal. This avoids spikes in insulin, a crucial metabolic hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and promotes fat storage.

Cranberry juice benefits weight-loss efforts by enhancing your cell's sensitivity to insulin, which promotes healthy blood sugar control and helps avoid elevated insulin levels, the main culprit for belly fat. 

In addition, apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice are rich sources of polyphenols with potent antioxidant properties that help protect the liver from harmful detoxification by-products. 

“Impaired liver function due to lack of adequate antioxidants can lead to fatty liver, weight gain, and stubborn belly fat,” says Dr. Berg. “Regularly drinking cranberry juice mixed with apple cider vinegar promotes liver health, crucial for weight loss and long-term weight management.”

Watch the video below to learn how to make your own refreshing apple cider vinegar and cranberry detox drink.

Apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice recipe

Drinking apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice is an excellent choice to achieve your weight loss goals.   

Making your own cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar drink is easy! Here’s how. 

Ingredients:

2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice 

1 tsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar 

1 tsp fresh lemon or lime juice 

6 oz filtered water  

Directions:

1. Combine cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice

2. Top with six ounces of filtered water and stir

Apple cider vinegar makes this drink taste tart, and you can add some stevia or monk fruit to mask its sharp flavor.

It’s important to note that it’s not recommended to substitute lemon juice with orange juice. Fruit juices are typically high in sugar and carbs and can cause elevated blood sugar levels linked to the development of liver fat and weight gain.   

In addition, choose pure, unsweetened cranberry juice over diet cranberry juice sweetened with potentially harmful aspartame. Avoid sugar-sweetened products such as Ocean Spray cranberry juice. 

While most people prefer this refreshing detox drink before or after a meal to support liver health, taking apple cider vinegar before bed has been found to promote healthy blood sugar levels the following morning.

More benefits of ACV and cranberry juice

Not only can apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice promote a healthy waistline, but they are also linked to numerous other benefits.

Apple cider vinegar 

Research published in The Journal of Food Science suggests that acetic acid has potent antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antiobesity properties.  

Apple cider vinegar’s antimicrobial effects have been found to lower the risk of bacterial respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. 

In addition, acetic acid also promotes a healthy intestinal microflora and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and yeasts in the intestines linked to digestive issues and weight gain.

There also is evidence that apple cider vinegar supports healthy blood pressure levels, which promotes cardiovascular health and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Cranberry juice 

Cranberry juice is rich in antimicrobial proanthocyanidins (PACs) and has been used as a natural remedy to manage and prevent urinary tract infections for centuries. 

PACs are potent anti-inflammatory compounds that may improve metabolic and immune system functions and have been linked to a lower risk of cancer. 

A study published in Advances in Nutrition concluded that “there is strong evidence that cranberry bioactives have favorable effects on blood pressure, glucose metabolism, lipoprotein profiles, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

What’s more, PACs' metabolic benefits and antioxidant properties can help reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

This may explain why regular cranberry consumption is associated with improved brain health and cognitive function. 

How much apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice can I have each day?

How much apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice you can have depends on the exact recipe. Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic and can cause irritation and digestive symptoms if consumed excessively. 

One to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar per eight ounces of weight loss drink are unlikely to cause side effects, and you can safely consume up to five glasses per day to shrink belly fat. 

However, if you add more apple cider vinegar, it’s best to limit your daily intake to three glasses to minimize the risk of acid reflux and throat tissue irritation.

Possible risks of drinking ACV and cranberry juice

Excessive consumption of apple cider vinegar can cause digestive issues such as bloating, belching, nausea, throat and stomach lining irritation, and acid reflux.   

Apple cider vinegar can interact with medications such as diuretics, laxatives, and drugs for diabetes and heart conditions. 

If you're taking prescription medication, it’s recommended to consult a healthcare provider before adding apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice drinks to your routine.

Both apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice are acidic and may contribute to tooth enamel erosion if consumed in excess and for prolonged times. 

Drinking a glass of water after taking an apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice drink helps neutralize the acidity in the mouth and prevent potential tooth enamel issues.  

Key takeaways

To help achieve your weight-loss goals, mix apple cider vinegar with cranberry juice to combine two potent weight-loss-promoting ingredients.

Consuming an apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice drink daily can boost fat burning and support balanced blood sugar and insulin levels linked to improved metabolic health and a lower risk of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. 

FAQ

1. What does drinking apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice do?

Drinking apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice promotes balanced blood sugar levels, which is crucial to boost fat burning and helps minimize the adverse effects of elevated insulin, including weight gain and insulin resistance.

2. What is the best formula of apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice for weight loss?

It’s generally recommended to combine four ounces of pure cranberry juice with one to two teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar and top with six ounces of fresh water. It’s crucial to avoid sugar-added cranberry juice, which can cause blood sugar imbalances and weight gain. 

3. How often should you drink cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar?

To maximize the weight loss effects of cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar, it’s recommended to drink between two to three cups throughout the day.

4. How many times a day can I drink apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice?

You can have apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice up to five times daily. However, if you notice gastrointestinal upset, including reflux or stomach pain, it’s best not to exceed three glasses of apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice daily.  

5. Can apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice harm tooth enamel?

Apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice are highly acidic and can cause tooth enamel erosion if consumed excessively.

Rinsing your mouth or drinking a glass of water after taking an apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice drink returns the mouth’s pH to normal and helps prevent potential issues with tooth enamel.

6. How does ACV and cranberry juice support weight loss?

Apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice contain natural acids and polyphenols that increase cellular sensitivity to insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and stimulates fat burning. 

7. Should I dilute apple cider vinegar?

Yes, it’s crucial to dilute apple cider vinegar as it’s highly acidic. Consuming it undiluted can lead to tooth enamel erosion and may irritate the mucosal lining of the throat, esophagus, and stomach.