The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet gets a lot of buzz, but just what is all the fuss about? Is this diet just another fad or does it really work?

Apple cider vinegar has been used as a healing and energizing health tonic for thousands of years. First used as an aid to weight loss in the 1800s, it has had several resurgences in popularity since.  Here is how this popular weight loss plan works.

It is important to make sure you use raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, which can be purchased at health food stores or online. This type of vinegar looks cloudy, because it contains the “mother of vinegar,” a murky sediment containing all the beneficial enzymes and nutrients not found in the processed and filtered clear apple cider vinegar on the shelves of your local supermarket.

When taken before meals, apple cider vinegar is said to curb the appetite and reduce cravings. It is speculated that apple cider vinegar also increases your body’s ability to burn fat. Apple cider vinegar further helps you to lose weight by improving digestion, allowing your body to digest foods more easily, and to rid itself of waste and toxins.

To try this at home, drink a mixture of two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and eight ounces of water before each meal. You can add a teaspoon of honey or increase the water to improve the taste. For those who really dislike the taste of this mixture, there are apple cider vinegar diet pills available. However, it is unknown just how these types of apple cider vinegar supplements compare to taking the vinegar in its liquid form.

Many advocates of the apple cider vinegar diet say that you only need to take the apple cider vinegar three times daily in order to see results. However, for increased weight loss and overall health and well-being, it is a good idea to follow a healthy eating plan as well, eating a wide variety of healthy food and avoiding processed foods, excess fats, sugars and additives.