Apple Cider Vinegar Pills vs. Liquid- Which Works Best?

by Jori Geck April 26, 2021

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a versatile tool that has been around for centuries. It has a variety of culinary applications, from salad dressings to marinades, but can also be used for cleaning, improving health, skincare, and much more. As most are familiar with the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. With the increased quantity of research and growing popularity, new forms of ACV have been developed, such as apple cider vinegar supplements and pills. Today we are going to look at the benefits of apple cider vinegar and the effectiveness of both liquid ACV and capsules to determine  if the consumption method matters. Let’s first discuss the liquid form of apple cider vinegar and the benefits it provides. 

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is produced from apples that have been crushed, distilled, and fermented to create ethanol which is an alcohol. This alcohol is then converted to acetic acid. Strands called the “mother” will also form in the cider. The mother is a flaky brown substance that contains beneficial probiotics and enzymes. Both the acetic acid and the mother hold powerful benefits, acetic acid supports nutrient absorption that will contribute to overall health and wellness. The mother supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract and assists with digestion due to the probiotics and enzymes it contains. 

Some of the top research-backed benefits of apple cider vinegar are as follows:

Research also shows that ACV can lower blood sugar levels, especially type 2 diabetics who experience insulin resistance. One study suggests that ACV may improve insulin sensitivity by 19%-34%, especially during a high carb meal (1). It's said that apple cider vinegar increases insulin sensitivity and slows the rate at which food leaves your stomach, which can assist with blood glucose levels. 

Another benefit of ACV you may have heard of is weight loss. Multiple studies show that apple cider vinegar supports the feeling of fullness, and increases satiety. This can correlate with lower calorie consumption. According to a small study, individuals who consumed ACV with a high-carb meal consumed 200-275 fewer calories compared to those who did not take the ACV (2). Although studies are limited, a 2012 study with 19 participants showed that drinking apple cider vinegar over 8 weeks showed lower cholesterol levels which can help combat heart disease (3). 

Along with lowering cholesterol, some research has been done that shows ACV may also lower blood pressure. In a small animal study, rats with high blood pressure consumed apple cider vinegar over an extended period of time showed a decreases in blood pressure and a specific enzyme called renin. Researchers say that the lower renin activity correlates with lower blood pressure (5). 

To yield the most benefit from apple cider vinegar, it is important to follow the recommended clinical dosing. According to the research, it suggests to consume 1-2 tablespoons of liquid apple vinegar twice a day. Consuming ACV before meals, in the morning, or before bedtime are all great options. You can drink ACV alone, or diluted in a glass of water(4). Now that we have gone over what apple cider vinegar is and the benefits, let's dive into the effectiveness and differences between liquid form and pill form.

Liquid Apple Cider Vinegar

Most are familiar with the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. With the number of brands producing liquid ACV, some exclude the ingredient known as the mother. Again, the mother contains probiotics and enzymes that are going to support healthy digestion and gastrointestinal health. If you are purchasing liquid apple cider vinegar for health purposes, you are going to want to make sure you are getting unfiltered, organic, and unpasteurized ACV. This form of apple cider vinegar is a good way to ensure you are getting the real deal. The research-supported benefits of apple cider vinegar are primarily concluded with participants using the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. While liquid ACV is a great option, some find discomfort in the strong taste and potential damage to tooth enamel that may occur due to the acidity of the vinegar. This is when the option of apple cider vinegar pills can be helpful. Let's take a look and their ingredients and effectiveness. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules/Pills 

ACV pills and capsules have been increasing in popularity in the area of natural health. Many brands of apple cider vinegar capsule ingredients contain primarily acetic acid. As mentioned earlier, acetic acid can hold benefits towards increased nutrient absorption, but these capsules may be missing the component that offers benefits towards improved digestion and gastrointestinal health which is the “mother”. While these capsules can be labeled as apple cider vinegar, this can be misleading as some brands contain less of the clinical dosing required to yield its benefits. While these capsules can look appealing due to convenience and lack of strong taste, you will want to ensure you are getting capsules that include the mother. 

Now let's take a look at NuVision Health Center’s apple cider vinegar capsules. These capsules are produced from 10 real, wild picked apples that are pressed and fermented. Two capsules equal 1 oz (or 2 tablespoons) of raw, unfiltered, non-GMO and organic apple cider vinegar, which follows the recommended clinical dosing and preserves beneficial ingredients such as the mother. Below are the active, and inactive ingredients included in NuVision Health Center’s apple cider vinegar pills:

  • Fermented apples 
  • Bacteria 
  • Vegetarian capsule
  • Rice concentrate 

With these capsules, you can avoid the taste and potential enamel damage while still gaining the health benefits from the high-quality and preserved ingredients. 

Possible Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

Side effects of apple cider vinegar are uncommon and rare, but like any supplement, few may occur. The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar may cause throat irritation or acid reflux. If you are taking medication, you may want to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional before consuming ACV to ensure there are no drug interactions that may contribute to low potassium levels.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a versatile tool that has been around for centuries. It has a variety of culinary applications, from salad dressings to marinades, but can also be used for cleaning, improving health, skincare, and much more. As most are familiar with the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. With the increased quantity of research and growing popularity, new forms of ACV have been developed, such as apple cider vinegar supplements and pills. Today we are going to look at the benefits of apple cider vinegar and the effectiveness of both liquid ACV and capsules to determine  if the consumption method matters. Let’s first discuss the liquid form of apple cider vinegar and the benefits it provides. 

 

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is produced from apples that have been crushed, distilled, and fermented to create ethanol which is an alcohol. This alcohol is then converted to acetic acid. Strands called the “mother” will also form in the cider. The mother is a flaky brown substance that contains beneficial probiotics and enzymes. Both the acetic acid and the mother hold powerful benefits, acetic acid supports nutrient absorption that will contribute to overall health and wellness. The mother supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract and assists with digestion due to the probiotics and enzymes it contains. 

Some of the top research-backed benefits of apple cider vinegar are as follows:

Research also shows that ACV can lower blood sugar levels, especially type 2 diabetics who experience insulin resistance. One study suggests that ACV may improve insulin sensitivity by 19%-34%, especially during a high carb meal (1). It's said that apple cider vinegar increases insulin sensitivity and slows the rate at which food leaves your stomach, which can assist with blood glucose levels. 

Another benefit of ACV you may have heard of is weight loss. Multiple studies show that apple cider vinegar supports the feeling of fullness, and increases satiety. This can correlate with lower calorie consumption. According to a small study, individuals who consumed ACV with a high-carb meal consumed 200-275 fewer calories compared to those who did not take the ACV (2). Although studies are limited, a 2012 study with 19 participants showed that drinking apple cider vinegar over 8 weeks showed lower cholesterol levels which can help combat heart disease (3). 

Along with lowering cholesterol, some research has been done that shows ACV may also lower blood pressure. In a small animal study, rats with high blood pressure consumed apple cider vinegar over an extended period of time showed a decreases in blood pressure and a specific enzyme called renin. Researchers say that the lower renin activity correlates with lower blood pressure (5). 

To yield the most benefit from apple cider vinegar, it is important to follow the recommended clinical dosing. According to the research, it suggests to consume 1-2 tablespoons of liquid apple vinegar twice a day. Consuming ACV before meals, in the morning, or before bedtime are all great options. You can drink ACV alone, or diluted in a glass of water(4). Now that we have gone over what apple cider vinegar is and the benefits, let's dive into the effectiveness and differences between liquid form and pill form.

Liquid Apple Cider Vinegar

Most are familiar with the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. With the number of brands producing liquid ACV, some exclude the ingredient known as the mother. Again, the mother contains probiotics and enzymes that are going to support healthy digestion and gastrointestinal health. If you are purchasing liquid apple cider vinegar for health purposes, you are going to want to make sure you are getting unfiltered, organic, and unpasteurized ACV. This form of apple cider vinegar is a good way to ensure you are getting the real deal. The research-supported benefits of apple cider vinegar are primarily concluded with participants using the liquid form of apple cider vinegar. While liquid ACV is a great option, some find discomfort in the strong taste and potential damage to tooth enamel that may occur due to the acidity of the vinegar. This is when the option of apple cider vinegar pills can be helpful. Let's take a look and their ingredients and effectiveness. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules/Pills 

ACV pills and capsules have been increasing in popularity in the area of natural health. Many brands of apple cider vinegar capsule ingredients contain primarily acetic acid. As mentioned earlier, acetic acid can hold benefits towards increased nutrient absorption, but these capsules may be missing the component that offers benefits towards improved digestion and gastrointestinal health which is the “mother”. While these capsules can be labeled as apple cider vinegar, this can be misleading as some brands contain less of the clinical dosing required to yield its benefits. While these capsules can look appealing due to convenience and lack of strong taste, you will want to ensure you are getting capsules that include the mother. 

Now let's take a look at NuVision Health Center’s apple cider vinegar capsules. These capsules are produced from 10 real, wild picked apples that are pressed and fermented. Two capsules equal 1 oz (or 2 tablespoons) of raw, unfiltered, non-GMO and organic apple cider vinegar, which follows the recommended clinical dosing and preserves beneficial ingredients such as the mother. Below are the active, and inactive ingredients included in NuVision Health Center’s apple cider vinegar pills:

  • Fermented apples 
  • Bacteria 
  • Vegetarian capsule
  • Rice concentrate 

With these capsules, you can avoid the taste and potential enamel damage while still gaining the health benefits from the high-quality and preserved ingredients. 

Possible Side Effects of Taking Apple Cider Vinegar

Side effects of apple cider vinegar are uncommon and rare, but like any supplement, few may occur. The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar may cause throat irritation or acid reflux. If you are taking medication, you may want to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional before consuming ACV to ensure there are no drug interactions that may contribute to low potassium levels. 

Conclusion

Incorporating apple cider vinegar into your daily routine can be a great way to improve overall health by lowering blood sugar levels, support cardiovascular health, amplifying weight loss, and much more. Liquid form of raw, un-pasteurized organic apple cider vinegar is a great option to ensure you are getting the real deal and utilizing the health benefits it offers. Apple cider vinegar capsules and pills can also be beneficial if you are purchasing the right brand that includes, and protects the important ingredients such as the mother and acetic acid. The capsules also help avoid the strong taste of ACV, and protect tooth enamel. While both the liquid form and capsule form hold multiple differences, they both work to give you the benefits mentioned above if you getting a good, quality brand. Hopefully this article can help you chose the form of apple cider vinegar that works best for you, and your health. 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

1. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.long

2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apple-cider-vinegar-weight-loss

3.http://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life0904/360_10755life0904_2431_2440.pdf

4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apple-cider-vinegar-dosage

5. https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/acv#benefits

 

Jori Geck
Jori Geck

Jori Geck has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Central Michigan University. Jori is a full-time Nutritionist at NuVision Health Center and has a desire to share her passion of healing the body with food, and improving overall health in natural, sustainable ways.



Also in Apple Cider Vinegar

Why Apple Cider Vinegar Works for Weight Loss
Why Apple Cider Vinegar Works for Weight Loss

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski February 18, 2024

Read More
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lower Blood Sugar
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lower Blood Sugar

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski November 07, 2022

Read More
Can an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath Get Rid of Dandruff?
Can an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath Get Rid of Dandruff?

by Patti Croft November 03, 2021

Read More