Burn Off Belly Fat with This Condiment

It's perfect on potatoes, very good on veggies, and divine in salad dressings. And the best news yet? It may help with fat burning. The magic condiment in question: vinegar.

Obese people who took in 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar daily in a study melted significantly more body fat and belly fat than a group taking a placebo -- despite being on the same diet and exercise plan.

A Sour Path to Skinny
Vinegar may offer a weight loss boost thanks to acetic acid. Seems this sour stuff does double-duty fat-blasting, inhibiting the body's ability to store fat while boosting its ability to burn it. And even though apple cider vinegar was the type used in the recent study, researchers suspect most varieties of the liquid seasoning could have the same get-skinny effects. (Find out what the YOU Docs think about vinegar and weight loss.)

Other Tart Benefits
Vinegar also seemed to help lower bad-for-the-heart triglyceride levels and systolic blood pressure at the end of the 12-week study. That's a Sherpa's load of health benefits for one little flavor maker. So get your daily dose of vinegar with one of these tart-tasting, waist-whittling RealAge recipes:

• When you're craving tart: Give your salad and grilled veggies a refreshing citrus-flavored punch with this Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette.
• When you're craving savory: Add a Mediterranean touch to chicken with this Chicken in Garlic-Vinegar Sauce.
• When you're craving sweet: Add a bit of tangy sweetness to dessert with these Balsamic-Spiked Strawberries.

Did You Know?
Apple cider vinegar can make your skin and hair beautiful, too. RealAge author and dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler shares how.