HENRY STANCU/TORONTO STAR

Apple cider vinegar is known for its weight-management boons, but any vinegar will do.

How vinegar can make you thinner

Q. Is apple cider vinegar the only vinegar that works for stabilizing blood sugar and cutting appetite?

A. It doesn't seem to matter which vinegar – white, apple cider or even red raspberry – you use. What's critical is that you use vinegar that has 5 per cent acidity (acidity is typically marked on the label). The waist benefits of vinegar come from its acetic acid. In balsamic vinegar, it's masked by a sweet taste, but it's there.

The anti-glycemic effect is greater the more vinegar you consume: The bare minimum for lowering your blood sugar is 1 to 2 tablespoons. We think the best delivery system is a salad dressing. Mix your favourite vinegar with olive oil at a 2:1 (vinegar to oil) ratio, and serve with mixed leafy greens and other veggies.