Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEfficacyHow to Take ItSide Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Efficacy
How to Take It
Side Effects
Apple cider vinegarforblood pressureis a popular home remedy, and it’s also thought to help lower blood sugar, curb hunger, and promote weight loss. Research is limited in this area, but studies suggest the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could have some benefits for blood pressure and heart health, especially in combination with other healthy lifestyle habits.
However, if you have beendiagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s important to note that apple cider vinegar is not a replacement for traditional medical treatments, such as medication. Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss the potential benefits and how it might fit into your treatment plan.
This article will explain the potential benefits of apple cider vinegar for blood pressure, side effects to be aware of, and the dosage for best results.
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Apple Cider Vinegar and Blood Pressure: Are There Benefits?
The fermentation creates a compound called acetic acid that has been shown to have antimicrobial properties. It can also contain lactic, citric, andmalic acids. These acids give the vinegar its signature sour taste.
There’s limited research on apple cider vinegar’s effects on blood pressure specifically, but a few studies show promising results:
Researchers have also found that apple cider vinegar may help with controlling appetite, lowering cholesterol, and promoting weight loss.
A healthy blood pressure reading is lower than 120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) for the systolic reading (the top number) and lower than 80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) for the diastolic reading (the bottom number).
How Hypertension Is Treated
Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Although scientists don’t fully understand the mechanics, the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can help to lower blood sugar. One theory is that it may block the activity of an enzyme that converts starchy foods into glucose. This slows the release of blood sugar into the bloodstream. Therefore, taking apple cider vinegar before a carb-heavy meal may help prevent blood sugar spikes.
Apple cider vinegar may also help lower insulin levels and improve cells' response to this blood sugar-regulating hormone.
This can help improveinsulin resistance(a condition where the body produces too much insulin and cells stop responding to the hormone) and reduce the risk of developingtype 2 diabetes.
What to Eat to Better Regulate Your Blood Sugar
Lower Cholesterol
Apple cider vinegar also shows promise for lowering cholesterol levels. In a recent meta-analysis of nine studies, apple cider vinegar consumption was associated with significant reductions in overall levels of cholesterol.
Foods That Lower Cholesterol
Weight Loss
Apple cider vinegar may help promote weight loss.
In one small study, a group of overweight participants were randomly assigned to follow a calorie-restricted diet for 12 weeks and consume 30 ml of apple cider per day; another group followed the same diet without vinegar. Those who consumed apple cider vinegar reported less hunger on the diet and they lost more weight, particularlyvisceralfat (unhealthy fat that forms in the belly).
How Can You Lower Blood Pressure Naturally?
What Are the Best Foods for High Blood Pressure?
How to Safely Take Apple Cider Vinegar
There are a few ways to take apple cider vinegar. Most experts recommend stirring 1-2 teaspoons in water and drinking it before a meal. You can add a few drops of honey to make it more palatable if it’s too sour.
It’s important to dilute apple cider vinegar when consuming it. If it is too concentrated, the acids can erode teeth enamel and may burn the throat or esophagus. As with any supplement, talk with your healthcare provider before adding apple cider vinegar to your diet to make sure it’s the right decision for your health.
How to Take Apple Cider VinegarAdd it to salad dressing recipes. Simply add olive oil and some seasonings to taste.Try it in tea. Or, you can add a few drops to your water.There are also supplements in pill and gummy form available for purchase.
How to Take Apple Cider Vinegar
Add it to salad dressing recipes. Simply add olive oil and some seasonings to taste.Try it in tea. Or, you can add a few drops to your water.There are also supplements in pill and gummy form available for purchase.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Eczema?
Apple cider vinegar is generally considered safe in reasonable quantities. However, the acetic acid in the liquid can be harmful in concentrated or large doses. Additionally, supplements and gummies made with apple cider vinegar are not regulated and should be used with caution.
Some side effects associated with consuming apple cider vinegar include the following:
Apple cider vinegar also contains very small amounts of potassium. People who seek to control their high blood pressure naturally should instead boost their levels with potassium-rich foods like sweet potatoes, bananas, and spinach.
What Is the DASH Diet?
Summary
Treating and preventing high blood pressure starts with making lifestyle adjustments, such as getting regular exercise and eating a nutrient-rich diet. Apple cider vinegar is an old remedy that contains acetic acid and other health-promoting compounds. It might be helpful in lowering blood pressure because it can help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and aid in weight loss, among other things.
Ultimately, however, more research is needed to determine the efficacy of apple cider vinegar for lowering blood pressure. In addition to medication and at-home remedies, creating and sustaining a healthy lifestyle is important to keep blood pressure under control.
Before you try adding apple cider vinegar to your diet, contact your healthcare provider to make sure it’s the right decision for you.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gheflati A, Bashiri R, Ghadiri-Anari A, Reza JZ, Kord MT, Nadjarzadeh A.The effect of apple vinegar consumption on glycemic indices, blood pressure, oxidative stress, and homocysteine in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2019;33:132-138. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2019.06.006
Shishehbor F, Mansoori A, Shirani F.Vinegar consumption can attenuate postprandial glucose and insulin responses; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Diabetes Res Clin Pract.2017;127:1-9. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.01.021
Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Najafgholizadeh A, Clark CCT, Esmaillzadeh A.The effect of apple cider vinegar on lipid profiles and glycemic parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):179. doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03351-w
Khezri SS, Saidpour A, Hosseinzadeh N, Amiri Z.Beneficial effects of apple cider vinegar on weight management, visceral adiposity index and lipid profile in overweight or obese subjects receiving restricted calorie diet: A randomized clinical trial.Journal of Functional Foods. 2018;43:95-102. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2018.02.003
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure.
Launholt TL, Kristiansen CB, Hjorth P.Safety and side effects of apple vinegar intake and its effect on metabolic parameters and body weight: a systematic review.Eur J Nutr. 2020;59(6):2273-2289. doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02214-3
Lim J, Henry CJ, Haldar S.Vinegar as a functional ingredient to improve postprandial glycemic control-human intervention findings and molecular mechanisms.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016;60(8):1837-1849. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600121
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