Your questions about apple cider vinegar answeredWhat is the best apple cider vinegar?Overall, the high quality but basic apple cider vinegar from Mr Organic takes top spot for me as its the most versatile. As a lover of drinks with a punch, I really enjoyed the Willy’s turmeric ACV shot but for fans of mellower drinks I’d suggest trying Mother Root or Willy’s sparkling apple, kombucha & apple cider vinegar, which have great tasting and beneficial ingredients paired with the vinegar.Is apple cider vinegar good for you?Amie Leckie, a registered nutritional therapist and health and wellbeing specialist at Heart Research UK, says: “Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can absolutely form part of a healthy, balanced diet. It’s a fermented food made from apples, and during the fermentation process beneficial bacteria and yeasts develop.”She adds: “When ACV is unfiltered and unpasteurised, it contains what’s known as ‘the mother’, which is a cloudy substance made up of these naturally occurring microbes. These microbes can contribute to the diversity of our gut microbiome – the trillions of bacteria that live in our digestive system.” Leckie explains that having a diverse and balanced microbiome is increasingly linked to a wide range of health outcomes, including digestion, immune function and even cardiovascular health.Nutritionist and registered dietitian Jo Travers agrees, adding that as it contains an acid which slows stomach emptying, apple cider vinegar can help reduce blood sugar after eating.“It has also been implicated in lowering cholesterol, reducing appetite and because it is a fermented food it may benefit gut health,” she explains.However, registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine warns that “while there are some small, interesting metabolic effects in research, it’s not a miracle food”. “Its benefits are relatively modest compared with overall diet quality, fibre intake, physical activity and sleep quality,” she adds.What’s the best way to take apple cider vinegar? “There isn’t really a ‘correct’ way to take ACV, and I think it’s helpful to view it simply as a food ingredient rather than a supplement,” Leckie explains. She often uses it when making things like homemade chips, dressings, or when preparing a lighter version of “tuna mayonnaise”, where she swaps traditional mayo for low-fat Greek yoghurt and adds a splash of vinegar for flavour. Adding it into salad dressings also works for Travers and Ludlam-Raine. If you are taking it as a drink form, all experts stress the importance of diluting the vinegar. “It should always be diluted, as vinegar is quite acidic and can irritate the teeth or throat if consumed undiluted,” Leckie explains. What are the health benefits of apple cider vinegar?As mentioned above, Ludlam-Raine explains that some clinical studies suggest small amounts of acetic acid (the main component of vinegar) can improve post-meal blood sugar responses and feelings of fullness when consumed with a meal, particularly in people with insulin resistance. “There’s also some evidence showing improvements in appetite regulation and modest reductions in fasting glucose,” she adds. “However, these effects are small and inconsistent, and long-term outcomes have not been well established. Other claims around ‘detoxing’, rapid weight loss, or dramatically improved digestion aren’t supported by good evidence, and it could even make digestion worse by causing reflux.”Leckie agrees, adding that there is emerging research suggesting fermented foods and vinegar may have small benefits for blood sugar control when consumed alongside meals. However, she offers a caveat that “ACV shouldn’t be viewed as a standalone health solution”. “The biggest benefits come from an overall pattern of eating that supports both gut and heart health such as including plenty of fibre-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans and pulses alongside lean proteins such as fish, chicken and tofu – this combination of fibre and protein optimises blood sugar control without the need for adding ACV,” she says.Does the form of apple cider vinegar you take matter? “Yes, the form matters mainly in terms of dose, sugar content and context”, Ludlam-Raine explains. “The ‘form’ doesn’t change the fundamental biology – it’s the amount of acetic acid you actually get, and what else is in the product, that matters.” She explains a straight ACV diluted in water gives you acetic acid without added sugar, whereas some shots or pre-mixed drinks can be higher in sugar depending on the added ingredients. She also warns that gummies often contain added sugars and less actual vinegar per piece, so “may give the impression of benefit without delivering a meaningful dose”.What should you look for when buying an apple cider vinegar product?Ludlam-Raine says it is important to look for a clear source of apple cider vinegar with acetic acid content listed at five percent, and no or very low added sugars – especially in prepared drinks or shots. “If you’re concerned about digestion, ‘with the mother’ indicates the presence of beneficial microbes from fermentation (though evidence that this confers benefit in humans is limited)”, she adds.Leckie agrees, adding that it’s important to check whether it’s raw, unfiltered and unpasteurised, and that, if you’re interested in the potential gut health benefits of fermented foods, choosing a product that contains “the mother” is generally recommended. “If the vinegar has been heavily filtered or pasteurised, these microbes are removed,” she explains.However, Travers says that whether to buy raw and unfiltered remains contentious. While this type of vinegar will also contain probiotics, there’s other evidence that suggests that even pasteurised can provide benefits for things like blood sugar control, she explains.How apple cider vinegar products were testedI tested a range of different forms of ACV, including supplements and shots. During testing, I looked for a rounded taste and easy ways to enjoy the vinegar and incorporate it into my diet. I also asked registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine for her opinion on each drink. While testing the different forms of apple cider vinegar, I kept the following criteria in mind:Taste: If you’re going to be drinking the product long-term then it has to taste good. I noted how strong the vinegar is as well as any other notes on the palate.Price: As the cost of wellness drinks can be high, I weighed in on value for money for each.Ingredients: In a drinks item that is meant to enhance a healthy diet, I was looking for products which didn’t include any nasties. Registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine also weighed in on this category. Why you can trust IndyBest reviewsAlice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. As someone interested in the world of wellness, she has previously reviewed the best creatine supplements. From supplements and health foods to supermarket buys like olive oil and wine, the wider IndyBest team have hand-picked the best of the best. As we test everything in real-life settings, we’ll only recommend something truly worth your money.We’ve also rounded up the best collagen supplements, multivitamins and menopause supplements