The New Science Behind Apple Cider Vinegar
The science on apple cider vinegar just got stronger.
A 2025 systematic review analysed seven controlled clinical trials and found something remarkable. Apple cider vinegar significantly reduced fasting blood sugar by 21.929 mg/dL and HbA1c by 1.53 in patients with type 2 diabetes. The results weren't marginal. They were statistically significant.
For those of us building products around glucose control, this research validates what we've always believed. ACV works. The question was never whether it could flatten glucose spikes. The question was how to make it convenient, palatable, and part of everyday life.
That challenge is what inspired Level ACV.
The Glucose Awareness Explosion
Something shifted in the past two years – people started paying attention to their blood sugar in ways they never had before. Continuous glucose monitors, once reserved for diabetics, became consumer wellness devices. The market for CGM devices was worth USD 13.66 billion in 2024. By 2033, analysts project it will reach USD 49.87 billion.
That growth tells a story. Millions of people are discovering what I discovered when I tried a Zoe CGM myself. Even if you think you eat well, your blood sugar might be all over the place.
"The UK functional beverage
market is exploding"
I thought I was healthy. I exercised regularly, avoided obvious junk food, and felt fine most of the time. Then I saw my glucose graph after a supposedly healthy lunch. The spike was dramatic. The crash that followed explained my 3pm slump perfectly.
Suddenly, the fatigue, the cravings, the brain fog all made sense.
Why This Matters Now
Research shows that around 80 percent of people experience glucose spikes daily, even if they don't have diabetes. These spikes drive energy crashes, sugar cravings, and long-term health risks like insulin resistance and inflammation. The problem is widespread. The awareness is growing. But the solutions have been limited.
You could take ACV shots, which taste awful and feel like a chore. You could swallow handfuls of supplements. Or you could try to time your meals perfectly, which most people can't sustain. We needed something different. Something that worked with real life, not against it.
The Functional Beverage Shift
The UK functional beverage market is exploding. Data from Ocado Retail shows a 54% increase in health drink sales over the year through June 2025. Younger consumers are driving this growth. They want drinks that do more than hydrate. They want energy support, gut health, cognitive function, and now, glucose control.
The category is ready. The consumer awareness is there. The science is solid.
What was missing was a product that combined all three.
Why ACV and Why Now
Apple cider vinegar has been studied extensively for its metabolic benefits. The 2025 review isn't an outlier. It's part of a growing body of evidence showing that ACV improves insulin sensitivity and reduces post-meal glucose spikes. When combined with fibre, the effect is even stronger. Studies suggest together they can reduce spikes by up to 40 percent.
The mechanism is straightforward. ACV slows gastric emptying and improves insulin response. Fibre slows glucose absorption. Together, they flatten the curve. But here's the thing. Knowledge without convenience is useless. People know vegetables are healthy, but they still skip them. People know they should exercise, but they don't. The gap between knowing and doing is where most health advice dies.
Making It Easy
Level ACV is designed to close that gap.
It's a sparkling drink that tastes good. You drink it before or with a meal. That's it. No shots of vinegar that make you wince. No complicated timing protocols. No pills to remember. Just a refreshing drink that helps flatten glucose spikes whilst you go about your day. We're not trying to replace healthy eating or exercise. We're making it easier to control the spikes that happen even when you're doing everything right.
The Category That Didn't Exist
When we started Level Drinks, there was no functional beverage category focused on glucose control. Kombucha targeted gut health. Energy drinks delivered caffeine. Electrolyte drinks supported hydration. But nothing addressed the root cause of energy crashes and cravings.
"When combined with fibre, the effect is even stronger. Studies suggest together they can reduce spikes by up to 40 percent."
We saw an opportunity to build something new. A category-defining product that put glucose health at the centre of everyday choices. The research now supports what we've been saying from the start. Glucose control matters. ACV works. And with the right formulation, it can be delicious.
What Comes Next
The glucose awareness trend is accelerating. CGM adoption is spreading beyond diabetics. Functional beverages are growing faster than traditional soft drinks. And consumers are actively seeking products that support metabolic health.
Level ACV sits at the intersection of all three trends. We're not waiting for the category to mature. We're defining it.
The science is clear. The market is ready. And the product is here. If you've ever experienced an energy crash, struggled with sugar cravings, or wondered why your afternoon focus disappears, your blood sugar is likely the culprit.
The good news is, you can do something about it.
Take control. Flatten the spikes. Curb the Curve.
