Apple cider vinegar is probably one of the most available ingredients in home kitchens. It’s been used for many centuries for various reasons. It can be used as a surface disinfectant but also to treat some health conditions. ACV can help with weight loss, regulate blood glucose, and lower blood pressure.
In this article, we will talk about Apple Cider Vinegar and blood pressure and learn everything about it. Does Apple Cider Vinegar lower blood pressure? Keep reading to find out.
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What Does Science Say About Apple Cider Vinegar?
You might ask yourself how ACV is made. The answer is in the fermentation process. At first, the apples are sliced and covered with a glass of water leaving them at room temperature. At this point the natural sugars of apples are fermented or bacteria are added to the mix to speed up the process.
This turns it into alcohol which converts into vinegar. Some use ACV as a liquid while some prefer consuming it as gummies or pills.
Apple Cider Vinegar has been commonly used in the past to treat infections and wounds. It’s also believed that it regulates blood sugar. While more research should be conducted to support these claims, we cannot forget its several health benefits which are the following:
Health Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
Weight Loss
One of the most known health benefits of ACV is weight loss. Here is a study that backs up this claim. In Japan, a group of scientists conducted experimental research on a group of people. The groups were split into 3 groups and each took different doses of ACV. Respectively, 0 ml, 15 ml, and 30 ml over a period of 12 weeks.
Consequently, the 2 groups who consumed vinegar lost more weight than the first group who didn’t. The weight was mostly lost in the belly area and their BMI lowered significantly. This is a major health benefit as belly fat is correlated to metabolic syndrome which causes other health disorders.
Another study published on the Science Direct Website showed that a group of 39 people has shown positive results in consuming ACV and a restricted-calorie diet. Some of these benefits were losing weight, reducing body max index (BMI), plasma triglyceride, and hip circumference.
Looking at all these data and statistics online, Apple Cider Vinegar has become widely used within the population. This led to creating the ACV diet. Nowadays, it is easier to spread the word on the internet and create such diet trends just like the keto diet.
The Apple Cider Vinegar diet consists of consuming up to 2 tablespoons of vinegar everyday day before eating. However, some doctors remain skeptical about this healthy diet trend saying that people should be less enthusiastic as weight loss results won’t be achieved by merely consuming ACV.
Low Cholesterol Levels
You might say that since Apple Cider Vinegar helps with weight loss, it automatically means lowering cholesterol. Various studies showed that ACV can in fact lower your general cholesterol level as well as triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol (which is referred to as bad cholesterol). An animal study done on rats showed similar results to the one done on humans and results occurred in just a few months.
Although ACV showed positive results in lowering cholesterol levels, more research should be done to prove that it works on a large number of people. However, you can use vinegar as a supplement to speed up the process. Doctors weights on the importance of diet and prescribed cholesterol statins to achieve the ultimate results. Always check with your doctor if consuming ACV in high amounts is good for you.
Improved Blood Sugar Levels
Lowering blood sugar levels is a struggle experienced by every person with diabetes. After every meal, blood sugar level rises which might trigger some diabetes symptoms such as fatigue, blurry vision, neuropathy…etc. Nowadays, many people use ACV to adjust and regulate blood sugar levels to avoid these symptoms, especially after eating.
A 1995 study proved that consuming a small dose of ACV, even as just a salad dressing is sufficient in reducing glycemic response after eating.
There are many other studies done on this particular subject looking into the impact of ACV which showed positive results on improving blood glucose level.
According to these studies, it is suggested that patients with diabetes can have lower blood sugar throughout the day if they consume two tablespoons of vinegar in the morning.
The American Diabetes Association went further ahead by pointing out that Apple Cider Vinegar not only regulates blood glucose levels but also plays a crucial role in improving insulin sensitivity.
Reduced Heart Risks
Some of the major causes of heart disorders are high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. As we’ve seen before ACV decreases the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride which will also contribute to reducing heart problems. ACV contains alpha-linolenic acid which is an omega-3 fatty acid.
This component is essential in combating the risks of heart disease in women. High blood pressure is also linked to cardiovascular diseases. A study done on rats showed that ACV can reduce blood pressure.
Improved Hair Health
There are many shampoos on the market that contain Apple Cider Vinegar. The reason behind that is that ACV contains acetic acid. This acid is responsible for lowering pH levels which is beneficial for hair growth and health. Consuming Apple Cider Vinegar may also help your body fight hair bacteria which damage your hair appearance and health.
Apple Cider Vinegar And Blood Pressure
Experiencing high blood pressure levels can be the result of various causes such as an unhealthy diet or high stress levels. Although there isn’t much data supporting the impact of Apple Cider Vinegar on regulating your blood pressure it can contribute to achieving that with the other benefits that we mentioned previously. However, you can’t merely rely on it to do the job. Other significant changes and healthy life decisions must be taken along the way.
But First, Why Is Your Blood Pressure High?
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure?
There is a large number of people who experience high blood pressure levels throughout their day without really experiencing warning symptoms. But in some cases, it can cause the following symptoms: fatigue, headache, vision problems, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, and so forth.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a serious health condition that must be monitored in the long term. Some of the most prominent causes of high blood pressure are High-stress levels, unhealthy diet, eating salty foods, and smoking. High blood pressure can be the result of a family history disease or even race as African people are more at risk of developing it.
What Problems Does High Blood Pressure Cause?
High blood pressure, just like diabetes, can create a snowball effect and cause other health conditions mainly related to your cardiovascular system. It can also impact your kidney, eyes, and brain.
This is why you should constantly monitor your high blood pressure and adopt new and healthy lifestyle changes.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Lower Blood Pressure?
Some people think that it is a popular myth saying that ACV regulates blood pressure. On the other hand, others believe that Apple Cider Vinegar may play a small role in lowering blood pressure but it significantly achieves that with the other health benefits. Does Apple Cider Vinegar lower blood pressure?
Reading this 2006 study, you will learn that rats who were fed doses of vinegar and acetic acid had a low blood pressure compared to the others.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For High Blood Pressure
By now, we’re pretty sure that you want to start including ACV in your food diet. You don’t necessarily have to call it ACV as you can consume it in every diet possible. ACV has a strong taste which is not the cup of tea for everyone. A dose of 3 tablespoons per day is more than enough and here are some ways to include it in your food:
- Dilute it in a glass of water and take a shot in the morning
- Mix it with cooked popcorn
- Use it as a salad dressing or drizzle it over meat
- Add it to smoothies
- Use it as a sauce ingredient
- Mix it with your hot tea and honey
- Take a shot of ACV instead of coffee
Conclusion
High blood pressure is a serious health condition that also causes other dangerous health disorders. This is not to scare you but just to show you the reality of things. Apple cider vinegar remains a crucial ingredient to add to your diet thanks to its various benefits. Nonetheless, if you solely rely on it to regulate your blood pressure, you will never achieve that.
We recommend that you adopt healthy lifestyle changes to get the results that you want!
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