Vinegar and all it's good for.

And you thought vinegar just tasted good in salad dressing.

Regulating blood sugar levels, providing energy, and even healing your body (according to the ancients), vinegar has long been heralded for its health benefits. But there's one potential perk that has people hungry for more.

New research has shown that vinegar may actually provide just what you need to aid in your goal of weight loss. Though there have been no long-term studies and the current information is based solely on mice-based research, the results are promising. Hopefully the future will continue to show positive effects of vinegar, including how this tasty additive can help humans shed pounds.

Where the Strength Lies

For years, it has been thought that apple cider vinegar lends a hand in weight loss. While any kind of vinegar will yield positive health benefits, the acidic vinegar in apple cider vinegar supposedly contains some magical fat-burning protons or neutrons. While those claims are unfounded, there may be one magic ingredient that will make vinegar your waistline's best friend. According to research, the waist-shrinking strength of vinegar lies in acetic acid.

During a recent study, some mice were given water or acetic acid, which is the main ingredient found in vinegar. All of the mice in the study ate the same amount of food, but the mice who were fortunate enough to get an acetic acid-heavy diet wound up with as much as 10 percent less body fat than their water-drinking peers. That's right - all the skinny Minnies and Mickeys did different was drink up acetic acid instead of water. Will it translate to you and your loved ones? That's still up for debate.

How It Works

Currently, it is not completely understood why the mice who ingested acetic acid gained less weight than those who drank water. However, it is suspected that something in acetic acid flips the switch on a gene that helps the body to tear down fats. Regardless of how it works, the thinner mice are proof enough for diet-hungry folks looking for the next bit (and healthy) way to lose weight.

Despite the preliminary results of the study, researchers caution anyone from leaping head first into a diet with excessive amounts of acetic acid. Instead, they still recommend a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Of course, you could top off some of those vegetables with some sweet and delicious vinegar.

Reduced Tales

Generations of weight-loss lovers looking to lose a few pounds have willingly turned to vinegar. Though there was no scientific evidence to back up their claims, mama's promise that vinegar aids in weight loss was accepted and acted upon regularly.

One of the most common ideas is that a little bit of vinegar before meals helps curb food cravings. Known as the apple cider vinegar diet, this novel way to lose weight requires you to down as much as three tablespoons of vinegar before every meal. While an apple cider diet may help you lose pounds, experts claim the weight loss has nothing to do with the vinegar. Rather, the loss you experience is because the diet requires you to eat less and get regular exercise - which is required of any healthy diet that actually results in weight loss. Of course, you may also eat less because you can't taste your food due to the overwhelming flavor of apple cider vinegar that has taken over your mouth.

Either way, current studies show that you could lose just as many pounds by eating less and not drinking all that vinegar! So put down the glass bottle, pick up a fork of fresh green beans, and enjoy!