Can you take turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together?

Turmeric vs apple cider vinegar - do they interact?

To be able to determine whether you can take turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together, we first need to understand what each ingredient is.

Apple cider vinegar is made by adding yeast to crushed apples, which ferments the sugars and turns them into alcohol.

Next, adding bacteria further ferments the alcohol, turning it into acetic acid — the main active compound in vinegar. 

Essentially, apple cider vinegar is basically fermented apples. 

Turmeric on the other hand is a spice that contains lots of different antioxidants. The most well-known is curcumin which is what's believed to exert its positive health effects. 

In essence, you'd be combining a spice with a mild acid. Provided turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements aren't taken in excess, it shouldn't cause any problems. 

So to answer the question of whether you can take turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together; yes, it's fine to take them together.  

Next up, we'll take a closer look at whether there is actually any point in taking them together. 

Turmeric and apple cider vinegar benefits

Now before we get into this section. It's important for us to highlight that any reported benefits and health claims for turmeric and apple cider vinegar have not been recommended or accepted by governing bodies such as the FDA or MHRA. 

There are some research studies into these supplements, but often the studies are small and nowhere near the standards seen in proper drug trials. 

Therefore, the benefits reported from studies should be interpreted with a pinch of salt. In other words, they're not fully proven.  

With that out the way, let's take a closer look at any potential benefits of taking turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together. 

Apple cider vinegar benefits

Many websites and natural healthcare proponents claim that apple cider vinegar has exceptional health benefits, including boosting energy and treating disease.

Unfortunately, there’s very little research to support most claims about its health benefits.

Ultimately, apple cider vinegar is just fermented apples. It contains negligible amounts of vitamins and minerals and even fewer antioxidants. 

There are a handful of small studies that suggest it may offer some benefit in lowering blood sugar in diabetics and supporting weight loss. (1)(2)

But these studies are small and the impact of the benefit was small. for example with the study in weight loss, test subjects saw an average loss of 1 to 1.5kg.  

And the studies suggest it's the acetic acid component that is responsible for any effect which means any vinegar will do. In other words, it doesn't have to be "apple cider vinegar" and any standard vinegar of any kind should theoretically have a similar effect. 

Turmeric benefits

Contrary to apple cider vinegar research, many better-quality studies show that curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) has the potential to have a significant impact on your body. 

Curcumin is well-known to be a powerful antioxidant and is most researched in the field of inflammation. 

Studies have shown that curcumin has similar effects to anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen for pain. Furthermore, it's been shown to improve brain health in people with Alzheimer's.(3)(4)

The main problem is that curcumin is very poorly absorbed from the gut. So very large daily doses are required in studies which makes it an unrealistic therapeutic option. However, nowadays, there are new highly bioavailable options on the market that may have a more promising future. 

While in no way is curcumin a magic remedy for disease and health, the research is certainly promising. 

If you're thinking about taking turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together, the lack of proven health benefits from apple cider vinegar may make you reconsider. 

Are there any side effects taking turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements together?

Both turmeric and apple cider vinegar have been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for ailments. 

In the case of turmeric, up to 8-12g a day over a short period was deemed safe. That's several times higher than doses seen in traditional supplements.(5)

The side effect profile of both supplements is generally low.  

With that said, side effects are still definitely possible and have been reported in rare cases. The most common of these are allergic reactions, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.(6)

The other thing to consider is if that apple cider vinegar is an acid and turmeric being a spice can cause and exacerbate reflux symptoms. 

If you do experience any side effects, stop taking both supplements and discuss with your clinician. And you should always speak to your clinician before starting a new supplement if you have any underlying health condition or take any regular medications. 

Taking turmeric and apple cider vinegar supplements - The verdict

That brings us to the end of our look into whether you can take these two supplements together. 

Taking them together in the short term and at regular supplement doses available on the market should not cause any problems. They are not known to interact and both have good safety profiles from traditional use. 

The main consideration is whether it's worth taking apple cider vinegar with turmeric supplements. Because the evidence for apple cider vinegars' health claims is limited at best. 

If you're interested in what makes a turmeric supplement stand out, check out our post on the best turmeric supplements.