The #1 Drink for Gut Health, Recommended by a Gastroenterologist

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Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Apple-cider vinegar has been a controversial, trendy topic for quite some time. Does it actually help with weight loss, blood sugar and improve gut health?

Don't worry: Dr. Will Bulsiewicz took to his Instagram to set the record straight on whether the fruity vinegar is truly as healthy as it's made out to be.

"We all have seen the apple cider vinegar explosion in the gut health and wellness space, but is it a fact or a fad?" the gastroenterologist said in his newest post.

Here's what Bulsiewicz had to say about the "interesting" ingredient—plus a three-ingredient way to incorporate it into your healthy eating pattern.

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First, Bulsiewicz breaks down some of the health benefits of vinegar, which aren't necessarily exclusive to ACV.

"Apple cider vinegar, much like other forms of vinegar, can improve our blood sugar regulation around meals, reduce the amount of insulin that gets released and actually make us more satisfied," Bulsiewicz explained. "So there are benefits to consuming vinegar around meals, and that includes apple cider vinegar."

When you're specifically shopping for apple-cider vinegar, be sure to look for particular labeling that Bulsiewicz recommends to help promote a healthy gut.

"The advantage of apple cider vinegar is that you can get it with 'mother' which means that it's unpasteurized and has live active microbes," he said.

So how can you incorporate this newfound gut-healthy pantry ingredient into your diet? Bulsiewicz suggested a simple drink that will make apple-cider vinegar easier to swallow.

"In terms of apple cider vinegar, you can do sort of a cheap, at-home form of kombucha by taking one tablespoon of ACV and mixing it with 8 ounces of water, squeeze of lemon, and if you need a sweetener, add it, stir it up," he explained. "It's actually quite tasty, and conceptually this is very similar to kombucha."

Bulsiewicz mentioned in the comments that it's "important to dilute" the vinegar because of the negative effects it may have on your teeth when drinking it straight-up.

Apple-cider vinegar, water and lemon juice (with an optional sweetener) is all it takes to make a gastroenterologist-approved drink. You may already have these three ingredients on hand, so try it out! If you're looking for more sweetness, we also love our Apple-Cider Vinegar Tonic that uses simple ingredients and a base of green tea instead of water.

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Read the original article on Eating Well.