Apple Cider Vinegar: The diet secret Cheryl credits with helping her lose weight, but does it work?

Cheryl has revealed the diet secret that has helped her to lose weight.

The singer puts her trim figure down to drinking apple cider vinegar on a daily basis.

Chatting to Dermot O’Leary on Radio 2, Cheryl was asked what she drinks to help her lose excess weight and credited apple cider vinegar for helping her see results.

But according to the mum-of-one it is all about “consistency.”

“I used to do things once or twice and forget about it. You've got to do it for a few months before you see results," she explained.

Cheryl isn’t the only celebrity advocate of the condiment, in fact the vinegar has a huge celebrity following with Scarlett Johansson, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston all touting its health benefits.

While some of us may have a bottle of the sharp stuff languishing in our cupboards, others swear by the acidic potion for its potential pros, claiming it can aid anything from skincare to blood sugar and cholesterol.

READ MORE: Being even slightly overweight doubles your type 2 diabetes risk

But can it really help you lose weight?

The jury is still out.

There is some evidence that the vinegar can help increase the feeling of fullness when consumed with a high-carb meal by preventing overeating later in the day.

Further research from Japan, also revealed that acetic acid, found in apple cider vinegar, helped to reduce body weight, BMI and visceral fat in obese individuals.

The study, on 144 people, found those who consumed two tablespoons a day losing an average of 1.7kg over a 12-week period – with no other dieting.

In a similar study published in the US National Library of Medicine, scientists found the drink also helped slimmers burn more fat by speeding up their metabolism.

READ MORE: Belly fat more dangerous than leg fat for older women

Some experts also believe taking apple cider vinegar can help block starch absorption, preventing blood sugar spikes, which in turn suppresses appetite.

But all the research has limitations, in that some were small and others tested on animals, so while they are promising more research is needed before we can confidently say the vinegar will actually help you to lose weight.

What the experts say

“That it will help you to lose weight has to be one of the top health claims associated with this vinegar,” says Nutritionist Cassandra Barns.

“A commonly cited randomised, placebo controlled trial showed that of 155 adults, those who consumed 1-2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar per day lost more weight than those who consumed despite no differences in caloric intake.

“However it's important to note that there was only a very small difference in weight lost between the groups, and not all studies are in line with these results.

“Whist apple cider vinegar appears to have small effect on weight loss, it should not be considered a magic bullet and attention to diet still needs to be the main focus,” she adds.

Marie De Vathaire, Nutritionist at The Protein Works agrees.

"Due to recent celebrity endorsements - Apple Cider Vinegar has become a popular ‘go-to’ for those seeking weight loss. There are however common misconceptions of its benefits and it will not counter the effects of eating in a calorie surplus,” she explains.

“Celebrity endorsement aside - there is a study that suggests Apple cider vinegar increases the feeling of fullness, leading to a lower intake of calories during the day.

“Since apple cider vinegar is a relatively new product, additional studies would be needed to further explore why this is the case, but as it appears to be safe for consumption and not cause any side effects for the general population.”

De Vathaire suggests apple cider vinegar could be used as an accompaniment to a calorie deficit to help stave off hunger pangs. But doesn’t believe it will counter a weekend binge.

Barns adds that apple cider vinegar is a source of vitamins and minerals within the diet.

“But it's important to only consume vinegar diluted in other foods such as salad dressings, marinades or even within water to avoid causing damage to tooth enamel,” she warns.

It isn’t only apple cider vinegar that Cheryl has added to her health regime, the singer also claims she drinks celery juice to keep her healthy.

“The celery juice is very recent for me. It's not my favourite vegetable to be honest, but it's doable,” she told Dermot.

“So somebody said I should follow this guy on Instagram, he was getting so many testimonials - he's called the Medical Medium - and he thinks you should drink 16oz (half a litre) of celery juice on an empty stomach in the morning before you have anything else, and it's healing for your organs.”