According to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry (July 8, 2009 issue), researchers in Japan have found that the addition of vinegar to a diet can help reduce fat. The research consisted of putting laboratory mice on a high-fat diet along with acetic acid, the primary ingredient in vinegar. Another test group of mice was given the same diet without the vinegar. This group of mice was given water.

Now here is where the study gets interesting. Both groups of mice gained weight. However, the mice on the vinegar diet ended up with substantially less body fat than the mice that were not fed the vinegar. According to the study, the mice on the vinegar diet had up to 10% less body fat. And when calculating the percentage of body fat, a 10% reduction is a substantial number.

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the physician and author and who has been instrumental in bringing integrative medicine into the mainstream -- "The acetic acid (in vinegar) may work by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes. These genes produce proteins that can break down fats and therefore suppress body fat accumulation."

In the past few months there have been several news reports that have discussed a very popular and effective fat burning food known as the Amazon Superfruit Acai Berry. Even Oprah Winfrey and her frequent guest, Dr. Mehmet Oz, have touted the Acai Berry as one of natures best fat burners. Well, it appears that if you want to learn how to reduce belly fat, there just may be another option besides acai berries and stomach crunches. And this fat burning food is most likely sitting in your kitchen cupboard. Of course, we are talking about vinegar.

While a study on laboratory mice does show promise, there is no guarantee that vinegar will have the same fat reducing benefits for humans. However, the study does show promise that vinegar just may be an excellent addition to fat burning diets.