The so-called “vegetarian coffee” is drawing attention as videos of reviews such as “I drank it on an empty stomach in the morning, and my appetite decreased” and “I lost my bloating,” focusing on Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) and Xiao Hongshu.
In fact, a number of contents related to the “Apple vinegar coffee diet” are posted on Douyin, and posts on an empty stomach, swelling management, and dietary suppression are spreading in Xiaohongshu. Recently, as the Chinese MZ generation has become more interested in diet and blood sugar management, vinegar coffee is also being consumed as a diet routine. Vinegar coffee is a method of drinking black coffee with a small amount of apple vinegar or fruit vinegar. On Chinese SNS, it is mainly introduced as an ice-filled form with ice and a routine to drink before an empty stomach or exercise. The biggest reason for its popularity is the expectation of an appetite suppression effect.
Studies have shown that caffeine in coffee can help increase activity along with arousal effects, and that the acetic acid component of vinegar can partially help slow the rise in blood sugar after meals. In particular, the vinegar beverage market itself is growing as interest in low-sugar and blood sugar management diets has grown in China recently. However, experts point out that the dramatic weight loss effect on SNS is highly likely to have been exaggerated. The reason why one feels lighter after drinking vinegar coffee is that caffeine’s diuretic effect and fasting state overlap, and the swelling is often temporarily lost. In fact, body fat loss is possible only when the overall diet and exercise amount change together.
In particular, provocative late-stage videos such as “losing several kilograms in one week” are spreading in Douyin, and experts explain that there is a high possibility of reducing swelling. This is because vinegar is helpful for dieting, but it is difficult to say that it burns fat directly. The biggest concern for health experts is gastric irritation. Coffee is originally a drink that promotes the secretion of gastric acid, and if vinegar, an acid component, is added to it, symptoms of heartburn and gastritis may worsen. If you usually have reflux esophagitis or gastrointestinal disease, your symptoms may worsen.
Dental health issues are also being discussed. This is because drinking vinegar drinks with high acidity can weaken the enamel quality of your teeth. In fact, experts advise that people avoid drinking vinegar as it is and dilute it with water. Experts say that there is a limit to expecting weight loss effects with just one specific drink. Vinegar coffee also explains that drinking it without diet control and exercise does not mean losing weight. In particular, some point out that one should consider one’s own stomach condition and caffeine sensitivity first, rather than trying too hard to imitate while on an empty stomach, as is the trend on SNS.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
