Vinegar May Be A Fat Burner

The latest fat-busting weapon may be found right in your kitchen. According to health website WebMD, Japanese researchers said that ordinary household vinegar appears to turn on genes that help the body break down fats. This helps prevent fat buildup in the body, thwarting weight gain.

Vinegar has been used in folk remedies since ancient times. In recent years, research has suggested that acetic acid, the organic chemical in vinegar which gives it its sour taste, can help control blood pressure and blood sugar.

The Japanese researchers, led by DR Tomoo Kondo from the Central Research Institute of the Mizkan group Corporation, found that vinegar could influence genes linked to fatty acid oxidation and heat-generating (energy-burning) proteins.

They fed mice a high-fat diet. One group of mice was given vinegar through a stomach tube. Another group was given a lower dose – vinegar diluted with water – and a third group was not given vinegar.

The experiment showed that all the vinegar-fed mice developed a lot less body fat (up to 10% less) than mice which did not receive the vinegar compound. The amount of food eaten by the mice was not affected.

The research suggests that vinegar might help a person lose weight or fight obesity. The findings were published in the Journal Of Agricultural And Food Chemistry this week.