You have a new friend in the war against fat. Previous research has shown that Vinegar might be your ally in the battle of the bulge. Latest Japanese research further shows that acetic acid in Vinegar can help you reduce body fat levels, lower glucose levels, lower your blood pressure and manage your weight. Read on to find out how..

Previously, Japanese researchers found that laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet and given acetic acid developed significantly less body fat (up to 10 percent less) than other mice.

Beyond mice, in a recent 12 week study on humans, a group of 175 obese Japanese people were given a 500 ml beverage containing vinegar (or a placebo). Control groups that consumed the vinegar containing beverage lost more body fat, than those who consumed the 500 ml beverage without vinegar. Based upon findings, scientists believe that acetic acid fights fat by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes. The genes churn out proteins involved in breaking down fats, thus suppressing body fat accumulation in the body. In another study at Lund University, Sweden, scientists found that vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses, and increases satiety after a white bread meal, in healthy subjects.

What that means, is that when you consume food with high glycemic index like bread (including brown bread) or sugar, supplementing your intake with vinegar can reduce the spike in blood glucose levels. Since high glucose levels make your body store more fat (read effects of sugar on body fat),  this also reduces the rate at which your body stores fat. Besides lower body fat, subjects also had lower blood pressure levels!

Along with this, test subjects rated meal satiety related to their intake of vinegar. These findings have huge implications to show that vinegar can not only help people reduce body fat levels, but also that it can help you lower your glucose levels and blood pressure levels. With a Indian genetic tendency to heart disease, diabetes and belly fat, this can be beneficial in the fight against fat!

Go ahead, include Vinegar in your diet. Vinegar is found in ketchup, mayo, salad dressing and even sushi (Is this how Japanese people stay fit? j/k). Add it to your salad, or have it with your bread, and reap the fat burning, glucose lowering and BP lowering power of this superfood! .