Apple cider vinegar, which is made from fermented apple juice, remains one of the wellness world’s most hotly debated ingredients. Its supposed health benefits continue to spark curiosity – and scepticism – with search interest steadily climbing, according to Google.
The ingredient has even seeped into pop culture, lending its name to a Netflix series inspired by the story of influencer Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed she had cured her terminal brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies.
So as more and more apple cider vinegar products pop up on supermarket and health food aisles, it begs the questions: does it have any real health benefits and should we be taking it?
To separate myth from fact, I consulted nutritionists and dietitians who weighed in on the most asked questions and popular products – with several also sharing their thoughts and recommendations on specific apple cider vinegar options, which I put to the test myself.
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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.
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The best apple cider vinegar products for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Mr Organic apple cider vinegar: £3.50, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for making drinks – Mother Root ginger: £27.95, Amazon.co.uk
- Best canned drink – Willy’s sparkling apple, kombucha & apple cider vinegar: £2, Ocado.com
- Best shot – Willy’s turmeric ACV shot: £22.82, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
I 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.
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Mr Organic apple cider vinegar
Best: apple cider vinegar overall
Size: 500ml
Why we love it
- Versatile vinegar with 'the mother'
- Organic
According to Nicola Ludlam-Raine this is “a good basic vinegar with ‘the mother’ that’s excellent for diluting into water or salad dressings without added sugars”.
I diluted it with some tonic water which made a crisp, bright and easy way to take ACV. The vinegar is rounded with the notes of the apple bringing depth to the vinegar taste.
I found that it’s best to gently shake as ‘the mother sits’ at the bottom but overall it was easy to mix and use with different dishes from salads to in drinks.
Buy now £3.5, Amazon.co.uk
Mother Root ginger
Best: apple cider vinegar for aperitifs
Size: 500ml bottle
Why we love it
- Refreshing
- Suited to evening drinking
Take note
- Expensive
Hailed as an alternative to alcoholic aperitifs, Mother Root’s drink blends ginger, apple cider vinegar, blossom honey, and a hint of chilli for a very refreshing drink when mixed with soda water.
Its bubbles are more subtle than Willy’s sparkling option, making for sophisticated sipping, without the fear of a hangover. At £30, it’s not cheap so I’d save this for a special occasion, whether that’s when swapping alcohol or winding down before the weekend. It is, however, the best tasting apple cider vinegar product I tried.
Speaking of Mother Root’s ginger, Ludlam-Raine said it is a “nice low sugar drink to mix with soda water with added benefits from ginger too”.
Buy now £27.95, Amazon.co.uk
Willy’s sparkling apple, kombucha & apple cider vinegar
Best: apple cider vinegar cans
Size: 250ml cans
Why we love it
- Lovely apple taste
- Blend with kombucha
Take note
- Expensive
I found the apple taste of Willy’s sparkling can to be full-bodied and warming, while the vinegar adds a subtle kick to the drink which is lifted by the bubbles. For those who prefer to keep things milder, the ginger is more subtle and I appreciate the fermented addition with kombucha.
I found the cans a convenient way to incorporate ACV into my diet, I packed one to drink with my lunch at work a few times, for example. Like many “wellness” drinks, the cans don’t come cheap but they are packed with gut-loving ingredients.
“This is a nice mocktail mixer with added metabolic benefits,” says Ludlam-Raine, who also praised the addition of ginger.
Buy now £2, Ocado.com
Willy’s turmeric ACV shot x 15
Best: apple cider vinegar shots
Size: 60ml shots
Why we love it
- Ready to drink
- Has 'the mother'
Take note
- Very spicy
Ludlam-Raine described this Willy’s shot as “convenient”, adding that while it contains around 1tsp sugar per shot, it’s worth noting this comes from honey. She added that is has “a nice addition of turmeric, lemon and black pepper too for piperin, which increases the bioavailability of curcumin in the turmeric”.
Testing the organic shot, it has a serious kick to it thanks to the black pepper, so be warned if you don’t like spice. The apple juice does help to mellow the hit of turmeric and vinegar though and I really enjoyed the complex taste.
When testing, I would reach for a shot for a quick and easy way to get my dose of ACV, but they don’t work as a drink to mull over and enjoy.
Buy now £22.82, Amazon.co.uk
Nutrition Geeks apple cider vinegar+
Best: apple cider vinegar capsules
Size: 90 capsules
Why we love it
- Reduces risk of throat and teeth damage from raw vinegar
Take note
- Chalky taste
- Have to swallow three capsules
Nutrition Geeks’ capsules offer a “more concentrated dose of ACV with no added sugar,” says Ludlam-Raine.
I agree, and if you don’t like the vinegar taste, then these are a really good choice. While they have the slightly chalky taste like most supplements, this form avoids damage to the teeth and throat from acidity which is a plus.
During testing, I did find it difficult to remember to take them but if you’re good at taking supplements and don’t mind adding another into your routine, this works well. You do lose out on the delicious taste that many of the vinegars out there have though.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions about apple cider vinegar answered
What 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.
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 ACV 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 the best apple cider vinegar products were tested
While testing the different forms of apple cider vinegar, I kept the following criteria in mind:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice 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.
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