Apple cider vinegar before meals may be trending - But what does it really do to your gut?
- Martyna Bajer
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
A quick shot, they say, will help digestion and balance your blood sugar. It sounds almost magical, right?
Such a simple (and cheap) ritual promising such big results. But when something feels too easy, it’s worth asking: what’s really happening inside your body when you drink vinegar on an empty stomach?
Each of the six tastes has its own role, so to unpack this trend we need to take a closer look at the sour taste!
Sour has its role in digestion. It stimulates saliva, awakens the gut, and can help prepare the system for food.
That part is true.
But we can’t forget its other qualities! Sour is heating, penetrating, and sharp.
Think about putting vinegar on a scratch in your skin - what do you feel? Burning, right That same heating intensity also touches your gut lining when taken alone. Over time, this can irritate and weaken the very tissues you’re trying to protect.
To give you an idea of just how corrosive vinegar can be: I actually only ever use it in my kitchen when I run out of natural dishwasher tablets 😂 Mixed with a little baking soda, it becomes a powerful cleaner that cuts through grease.
Look at what people have been doing for centuries all over the world : No traditional culture would take vinegar as a shot!
Instead, sour foods are always paired with something to soften their intensity.
Kimchi comes with rice in Korea.
Pickles in India are eaten with bread or lentils.
Sauerkraut balances the heaviness of potatoes in Europe.
Across cultures, sour has always been paired with something grounding, never taken alone. This is no accident, it all reflects a deeper wisdom.
In Ayurveda, all six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent) are meant to combine. Taken together, they bring harmony. Isolated, they create imbalance. And yet, in the 21st century, we see something completely different: vinegar being drunk straight, on an empty stomach.
When you throw back vinegar on its own, you’re NOT giving your body the balance it needs, but rather pushing it further into heat and irritation!
So why people do it anyways..?
Mostly because of blood sugar. Studies indeed show vinegar can blunt sugar spikes after a meal. But here’s the bigger question: and then what?
If the gut lining becomes inflamed, if digestion is weakened, if you’re trading one metric of health for another, is it truly healing?
This is the danger of quick-fix solutions - they focus on one small piece of the puzzle, while ignoring the whole picture of your well-being. Let’s also be honest: today’s wellness market thrives on trends. The apple cider vinegar shot was just the beginning, now influencers sell ACV gummies as the “fun and easy” way to get the same effect. Great business move! 👏
But these products don’t solve the root causes of blood sugar swings or digestive struggles...
Smarter solutions do exist!
There are far better ways to support digestion, balance blood sugar, and regulate cravings: HERBAL BLENDS!
Many of which are antiparasitic, antifungal, and naturally blood- sugar balancing, they work in a far more holistic way than vinegar shots ever could. Some are so simple you can prepare them at home with kitchen spices, no need to order fancy powders online. They don’t corrode your gut lining - they strengthen it, cleanse it, and help your body regulate itself from within!
Please, QUESTION THE TRENDS!
Maybe sour is good for you, but maybe it isn’t. Maybe it needs to be paired with grounding sweetness, or maybe your digestion needs strengthening in an entirely different way.
The point is this: health is never about one single taste, one food, or one “trick.” It’s about creating a symphony of support that nourishes your body instead of shocking it.
Your next step?
If you’re ready to move beyond trends and into real balance, I can guide you there! :) Together we will look at your unique constitution, your health history, and your goals to create a way of eating that doesn’t just lower blood sugar for a moment, but heals you on every level.
