The term "blood pressure" refers to the pressure of blood in the arteries, the tubes which carry blood from the heart to all the organs of the body. If the arteries become furred, constricted or blocked, blood flow is restricted and blood pressure rises. Leaving high blood pressure, or hypertension, untreated may lead to serious conditions such as heart attack and stroke, aneurysms, heart failure, kidney disease and metabolic syndrome.
Claims for Apple Cider Vinegar and Cholesterol
According to Beth Fontenot in her article "The Sour Truth About Apple Cider Vinegar," or ACV, producers and advocates of ACV claim it can help lower cholesterol levels due to the presence of a substance called pectin. They say pectin helps bind cholesterol and remove it from the body helping to keep arteries clear and to lower blood pressure. Fontenot disputes these claims, however. A study by Howard University in 1989 on hypertensive rats found there was no link between pectin, fat metabolism and the successful treatment of hypertension.
ACV and Blood Pressure
According to Fontenot, claims are also made that ACV thins the blood, allowing it to circulate more freely, thus lowering blood pressure. In 2001, researchers at the Central Research Institute, Aichi, Japan, found evidence that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, did significantly lower blood pressure in rats.
Red Wine Vinegar and Blood Pressure
A polyphenol called resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine and red wine vinegar that promotes healthy blood vessels, according to Seed Benefits. The Mayo Clinic agrees that resveratrol might help prevent damage to blood vessels and lower cholesterol according to research carried out on mice; however, the evidence of benefits for humans is not conclusive, and more research is needed.
Vinegar as a Sodium Substitute
Although there is no direct link between the use of vinegar in the diet and lower blood pressure, replacing salt and high-fat sauces with vinegar may help. Saturated and trans fats have been shown to have a detrimental effect on blood cholesterol levels linked to hypertension. The Mayo Clinic recommends using vinegar as a sodium substitute in the management of blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke.
References
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension); 2011
- The Sour Truth About Apple Cider Vinegar - Evaluation of Therapeutic Use; Beth Fontenot; Nov-Dec 1997
- PubMed.gov: Effects of Dietary Fish Oil or Pectin on Blood Pressure and Lipid Metabolism in the DOCA-Salt Hypertensive Rat; V. Bond et.al; May 1989
- PubMed.gov: Antihypertensive Effects of Aetic Acid and Vinegar on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats; S Kondo et.al.; Dec 2001
- Seed Benefits: Does Red Wine Vinegar Lower Blood Pressure?; March 2011
- Mayo Clinic: Red Wine and Resveratrol: Good For Your Heart?; March 2011
