A doctor says adding two tablespoons of a ‘superfood’ into your diet before going to bed daily can help ‘perfect’ your blood sugar levels. Dr Eric Berg DC uploaded a video on his YouTube channel, which boasts 12.7million subscribers, explaining the benefits of taking apple cider vinegar with water, especially in the evening.

Dr Berg is a healthy ketosis and intermittent fasting expert. He is also the author of the best-selling book, The Healthy Keto Plan, and the Director of Dr Berg Nutritionals.

He told viewers the nutritious beverage can lower the amount of sugar in your blood and is usually available at most supermarkets and chemists. At the start of the video, he warned: “There are so many people with blood sugar issues.”

Blood glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, is the primary type of sugar present in your bloodstream. It serves as your body’s main energy source and is derived from the foods you consume.

Your body processes most of these foods into glucose, which then enters your bloodstream. When the blood glucose level rises, it prompts your pancreas to produce and release insulin.

For most people without diabetes, normal levels are between 4 and 6 mmol/L before meals and less than 8 mmol/L two hours after eating. High blood sugar most often happens due to a lack of insulin or insulin resistance; this can lead to type 2 diabetes.

When your body doesn’t make enough insulin, can’t use it properly, or both, it can cause glucose to build up in your blood. Around 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

According to Diabetes UK, data shows that 4.4 million people in the UK live with diabetes. Additionally, 1.2 million people could be living with type 2 diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed.

Ways to manage your blood sugar levels include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and eating at regular times. On top of all these things, Dr Berg says adding apple cider vinegar into your diet can help too.

“If you’re not already, you should consider adding apple cider vinegar (ACV) into your diet,” he said. “There are things that can improve your blood sugar levels that go beyond keto and fasting, and apple cider vinegar is one of them.

“The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar gives a very potent anti-glycemic effect, even if you’re not doing keto. It can help buffer the food you eat to bring it lower on the glycemic index. This can help stabilise your blood sugar and insulin.”

Any time you lower your glucose, you’re going to reduce insulin, he added. Reducing insulin will help you:

• Decrease fat on your liver
• Lose weight
• Decrease hunger
• Decrease cravings

Initial signs of elevated blood sugar can manifest as heightened thirst, frequent bathroom trips, headaches, and blurred vision. In the long run, symptoms of high blood sugar may include severe fatigue, unintended weight loss, yeast infections on the skin or in the vaginal area, and slow healing of cuts or wounds.

If you find yourself experiencing high blood sugar, it’s important to consult with your doctor or diabetes care team. Adjustments to your treatment plan or lifestyle may be necessary to maintain your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

How and what time to take diluted apple cider vinegar:

As far as the best apple cider vinegar to take, Dr Berg recommends only buying organic. In terms of the best time to take apple cider vinegar, Dr Berg says: “If your blood sugar is high in the morning even though you didn’t consume a lot of carbs the day before, this is known as the dawn phenomenon.

“If you experience this issue, try taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed into eight to twelve ounces of water before bed.” As the average time Brits go to bed is between 10-11pm, aim to take the drink during that time, such as from 9pm onwards.

Dr Berg also says you can also try taking apple cider vinegar before a meal. However, it is important to note that because apple cider is very acidic, always drink it through a straw so it’s not exposed to your teeth. Make sure you dilute it in a tall glass of water, do not take it on its own.