Does vinegar help with high blood pressure

Apple cider vinegar historically has been known for its wide holistic benefits such as lowering blood pressure. Below we will discuss the benefits of using apple cider vinegar.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar (or cider vinegar) is simply fermented apple juice. There are two fermentation processes needed to create apple cider vinegar. The first is created by crushing apples and using the juice from this step to begin the fermentation process. Bacteria and yeast are added to the juice to kick start the alcoholic fermentation process by converting sugar to alcohol.

The second part of the process is the fermentation step, where the alcohol is converted into vinegar by adding a colourless liquid and organic compound known as acetic acid. This gives the vinegar its sour taste.

Types of apple cider vinegar

There are four different types of apple cider vinegar available. Each type has the general foundation of supporting your body for better health and they also have their individual perks to help lower blood pressure.

• Raw or refined
• Unfiltered or filtered
• Unpasteurised or pasteurised
• Organic or non organic

Will apple cider vinegar lower blood pressure?

Studies have shown that taking apple cider vinegar can result in reduced blood pressures. The NHS claims one third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure. Although, many are unaware that they’ve actually got the condition. Because of this, high blood pressure is a silent but very serious condition. If left untreated, there’s a high risk of health complications such as strokes and heart failures.

A study found that apple cider vinegar lowers the enzyme renin and hypertension in rats because of the acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. These results were compared to controls who hadn’t taken apple cider vinegar. From the findings, there wasn’t much difference in the number of angiotensin converting enzyme activity in different organs. Yet, the study suggests that the reduction of blood pressure is due to a significant reduction in renin activity, caused by the acetic acid, and also the reduction of angiotensin.

Another study found that humans who took 100mg of apple cider vinegar every day for 12 weeks found that their blood pressure levels had reduced noticeably.

There’s a debate whether the effects of apple cider vinegar are a true reflection of lowered blood pressure levels, because of the lack of evidence used on humans. Regardless, please seek advice from your chosen medical professional if this is something you want to try. Consuming apple cider vinegar in moderation should not be a problem.

How to add apple cider vinegar to your diet

There are many ways to include apple cider vinegar to your diet.

• Drinking: mix 20g of apple cider vinegar and 40g of water (you can add 1 teaspoon of a sweetener of your choice to tone down the bitter taste). You can add apple cider vinegar to a healthy drink mixture of your choice.
• Eating: Add drops into your food, you can buy powder, gummies or tablets if you prefer to take it whole

It really is up to you how to consume apple cider vinegar. The health benefits are endless, not only to help reduce blood pressure. Apple cider vinegar is also known to lower glucose levels, soothe a sore throat, battle acne and skin irritations. People have also used it as a dandruff treatment, mouthwash and so much more. However you choose to consume apple cider vinegar, always confirm the dosage amount with a medical professional.

Please continue reading to find out whether taking apple cider vinegar can help you achieve healthy blood pressure.

What is the best drink for high blood pressure?

There is no single best drink for people with high blood pressure. Doctors recommend eating a heart-healthy diet such as a Mediterranean diet or DASH diet (DASH is short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). A calorie-restricted diet that can help you lose weight can also help to control blood pressure.

The DASH diet consists of eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, fish, poultry, and nuts. It also involves cutting back on saturated fats and trans fats and minimizing processed foods, red meats, sugar, and salt. The DASH diet also calls for limiting salt intake to 1,500 mg per day (about 2/3 teaspoon). This includes salt used in cooking, added at the table, and included in packaged snacks.

Healthy drinks for people with high blood pressure include apple juice, tomato juice, beet juice, prune juice, pomegranate juice, berry juices (blueberry or cranberry), and skim milk. You should check labels to ensure fruit juices do not have added salt and sugar. Apple cider vinegar is another healthy drink that may help to lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and aid weight loss.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made by adding yeast to crushed apples. The yeast ferments the sugars in the apples and turns them into alcohol. After the fermentation process, bacteria are added to the alcohol, which turn it into acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar (ACV). ACV contains 5-6% acetic acid, which gives it its strong flavor and odor. It is widely acknowledged that acetic acid is responsible for apple cider vinegar’s effects, including its health benefits. 

How does apple cider vinegar lower blood pressure? 

The use of apple cider vinegar in medicine dates back to the time of Hippocrates who used it for wound care. It was also used in the 10th century along with sulfur to prevent infections during autopsies. 

Some studies have shown that apple cider vinegar may help with reducing blood pressure. However, these are animal studies done in rats and there are no large-scale studies that demonstrate the direct effects of apple cider vinegar in lowering blood pressure readings in humans. More research is needed to see if apple cider vinegar can truly lower blood pressure. 

With that said, animal studies have found that apple cider vinegar can decrease the activity of a hormone called renin that is involved in blood pressure control. High renin increases blood pressure. Consuming apple cider vinegar can potentially lower renin activity and thereby lower blood pressure.

It is important to note that apple cider vinegar is not a cure for high blood pressure. It may help, but it should be used along with other lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, weight loss, as well as blood pressure medication if prescribed by your doctor. 

What are the other health benefits of apple cider vinegar?

Other potential health benefits of apple cider vinegar that can indirectly help to lower blood pressure include:

• Lowering blood sugar. Studies have shown that vinegar can help to lower blood glucose in rats. However, there is no strong evidence that it can balance blood sugar levels or reduce blood sugar levels in humans. You should follow professional medical advice for blood sugar control rather than relying on drinking apple cider vinegar.
• Lowering cholesterol levels. Small studies have found that people who consume apple cider vinegar may have lower blood cholesterol levels in as little as eight weeks. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are known risk factors for heart disease. But there is no strong evidence from large-scale studies that apple cider vinegar lowers cholesterol, so it is important to follow your doctor’s advice and proper treatment.
• Weight management. Replacing high-fat and high-salt oils and dressings with apple cider vinegar in salad dressings can help with weight loss. High blood pressure is linked to obesity. Achieving a healthy weight can therefore help with reducing blood pressure.
• Nutrients. Apple cider vinegar contains apples, which contain many nutrients such as vitamin C and B vitamins.
• Killing harmful bacteria. Vinegar is traditionally used as a food preservative and disinfectant because acetic acid can reduce bacterial growth. Because of its antimicrobial properties, apple cider vinegar is anecdotally believed to help with skin conditions like acne, eczema, and dry skin. But there is no strong scientific research to support this claim. Indeed, there is a risk of skin burns from the acetic acid, so caution is advised if you’re thinking of applying apple cider vinegar to your skin. Always consult a healthcare provider before trying any new remedies, especially if you have actively inflamed or damaged skin. 

How much apple cider vinegar should I take a day?

You can incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet in various ways, such as drizzling it over meats, vegetables, and popcorn, adding it to smoothies, mixing it with olive oil to make salad dressings, and drinking apple cider vinegar diluted with water and a bit of honey. Some people even drink apple cider vinegar like a shot of coffee.

If you are making a beverage with apple cider vinegar, the usual dose is 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 mL) at concentrations of 3-9 percent, mixed in a large glass of water. Some people consume as much as 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 mL). It’s a good idea to start by consuming small amounts to see the effects apple cider vinegar has on your body. Too much apple cider vinegar can damage your tooth enamel due to the excess acid and cause other health problems. For example, vinegar ingestion may worsen acid reflux. 

You can consider using organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains a substance called “mother,” which consists of proteins, enzymes, and healthy bacteria.

Wrapping Up

Can apple cider vinegar work to lower blood pressure naturally? The jury’s still out, but you can consider including some apple cider vinegar in your diet alongside a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle changes like a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise are a few ways that are proven to lower blood pressure. 

It is important to understand that apple cider vinegar is not a substitute for hypertensive drugs (blood pressure medications) or drugs used to lower cholesterol or control glucose levels. You should not expect significant reductions in blood pressure only by consuming apple cider vinegar. 

It’s important to follow your doctor’s advice and treatment plan for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high glucose levels to reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Apple cider vinegar is in no way a substitute for antihypertensive medicat

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