Does Apple Cider Vinegar Break a Fast?

Cordelia Tan | Author

Cordelia Tan, is a passionate advocate for women's health and well-being. Known as Fasty's number one fan, she expertly blends Eastern and Western health practices, offering a holistic approach to diet and wellness. Her work focuses on empowering women with knowledge and practical strategies for a healthier life.

You are itching to integrate apple cider vinegar (ACV) into your fasting regimen, we sense it. You’re well aware of its promising health benefits and unparalleled flavor. Whether you consumed ACV before initiating intermittent fasting or not, incorporating it into your fast doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. But, with its fruit-derived origin and inherent sugar content, does apple cider vinegar break a fast? 

Keep reading to learn if consuming apple cider vinegar breaks an intermittent fast and how to optimize your fasting experience with Fastic. 

Apple Cider Vinegar: Nutritional Profile and Benefits

If you’re not new to its particular taste, you know it’s not a taste to look forward to. Apple cider vinegar is a fermented liquid from apple juice. It contains acetic acid, which gives it its sour taste and offers small amounts of vitamins and minerals, such as potassium and antioxidants. A recent study showed that daily consumption of ACV may have beneficial effects on controlling blood glucose levels and improving lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. 

ACV is believed to offer plenty of other health benefits, such as:

• enhance heart health

• improve digestion

• detoxification

• antioxidant support

• antimicrobial properties

ACV is more versatile than you thought. Besides being a great salad dressing and vinaigrette, some of the many common uses it has are:

• household cleaning to disinfect surfaces and remove stains,

• hair care to restore balance and add shine,

• digestive aid to alleviate bloating and indigestion,

• preserving food, and

• skincare to treat acne, soothe sunburn, and balance skin pH.

Types of Fasting Plans and Its Effects on the Body

Fasting entails abstaining from food and drinks for specific periods, depending on the fasting protocol followed. Fasting promotes various physiological processes in the body, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and autophagy. 

Some popular fasting approaches are the 5:2 method, 18:6 plan, and alternate-day fasting. However, more types of fasting protocols are available and can adapt to individual objectives and routines. 

Does ACV Contain Calories that Could Break a Fast?

When we fast, our body enters a state of ketosis, where instead of using energy from food, it will burn stored body fat for energy. Consuming anything that contains calories or triggers an insulin response counts as breaking a fast. Beverages containing sugar or supplements with caloric content can also trigger an insulin response. 

Black coffee and herbal teas contain little to no calories, making them fast-friendly. Most low-calorie beverages are acceptable. So, how many calories does ACV have? One tablespoon of ACV has 3.13 kcal, meaning the chances of ACV triggering an insulin response are fairly low. 

Does Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Break Intermittent Fasting?

Most likely not. Its low to null caloric content makes it highly unlikely to affect your fast. Monitor your daily ACV consumption with the Fastic app, ensuring you know exactly when and how much you’ve ingested to avoid exceeding the recommended limit.

Other Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Helps During Fasting

ACV can help improve health markers and digestion, but it can also help you while fasting by soothing hunger pangs and cravings. Moreover, studies on ACV have demonstrated that it can also act as an appetite suppressant. 

How Often and How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should You Take During Fasting?

Since there aren’t official dosage suggestions, taking about 2 tablespoons (15-30 mL) daily is acceptable. Ideally, you should take them during eating windows to lower the chances of stimulating an insulin response, you can take one before lunch and the second before your fasting hours start. Make apple cider vinegar more enjoyable and reduce its potential to erode tooth enamel, simply dilute it with water. Any quantity of water will do the trick — seriously.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Fasting: Factors to Consider

As with anything else, individual responses to ACV and fasting may vary. Some individuals may be more tolerant of ACV, additionally, fasting responses differ from person to person, as do results and side effects. 

If you have previously consumed ACV during a regular diet, you might be more comfortable blending it into your fasting regimen. If you haven’t tried ACV before, you should do so before starting any fasting regimen to understand better how your body responds to it without any additional factors influencing the outcome.

Tips for Consuming ACV During Fasting

• Dilute ACV in water. The more the better.

• Listen to your body and how it reacts to it. Alternate ACV consumption for a few days, see your body’s reaction and take note.

• Preferably take ACV during eating windows to lower the chances of interrupting your fasting state.

• Consult with a healthcare professional if you experience adverse reactions.

Non-vinegar Alternatives to Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV can be too strong for your taste. Fortunately, other options have additional nutritional advantages that can substitute it.

• Coconut water: An excellent natural hydration option during fasting. It is low in calories and rich in electrolytes.

• Lemon water: Can aid digestion, boost hydration, and provide vitamin C.

• Green tea: Rich in antioxidants and promotes metabolism.

• Herbal teas: Chamomile, peppermint, and ginger tea, provide relaxation and immune support. 

Remember! Whatever beverage you choose, it must not contain any additives like sugar or artificial sweeteners, unless they are calorie-free. If you must add a splash of joy to your drinks, sucralose is a viable option during fasting because it is calorie-free (it is advised you ingest it during eating hours). Nonetheless, if you want to see fasting results faster, and more importantly, not interfere with your fasting state, abstain from any type of sweeteners, artificial or not.

Embrace ACV and Elevate Your Health

Now that we’ve established that ACV doesn’t break a fast, download the Fastic app to discover how to include it in your daily fasting plan. Explore additionally healthy habits and foods you can integrate into your fast to enhance your experience to the fullest. Learn about the 10 things you must know before starting a fast and take that first step into achieving your healthiest self.

Disclaimer: It is advised to speak with a health professional before beginning intermittent fasting or a diet program. There may be side effects for people with certain medical conditions.