Doctors often prescribe medications like diuretics, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors to combat the life-threatening condition of high blood pressure, which plagues millions of Americans. Such drugs, however, may carry undesirable side effects. Folk medicine claims that apple cider vinegar is effective at lowering high blood pressure; however, clinical studies into this kitchen shelf remedy for this purpose are lacking, and you should not try using it medicinally without first consulting your doctor.
Vinegar Acid
The acetic acid found in vinegar has been tentatively shown to improve systolic blood pressure. In a 2006 review of vinegar research, Carol Johnston, R.D. points out that research from S. Kondo, et al. has clearly shown acetic acid given to hypertensive rats to reduce systolic blood pressure by around 20 mm Hg. The mechanism through which acetic acid and vinegar affect blood pressure is unclear, though it may be a result of regulating your rennin-angiotensin system, which, in turn, controls the vasodilatation of your arteries.
Antioxidant Benefits
Apples are a significant source of the antioxidant quercetin, which may help normalize high blood pressure. A 2007 study by Randi Edwards, et al. and published in the "Journal of Nutrition" demonstrated that a 730-mg dose of quercetin once per day for 28 days effectively lowered systolic blood pressure an average of 7 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure 5 mm Hg for subjects with stage 1 hypertension.
Weight Loss
Some manufacturers of apple cider vinegar supplements claim that regularly taking it will help you lose weight, and long-term weight reduction can lead to improvements in blood pressure. In a 2010 "Vegetarian Times" magazine article, registered dietitian Matthew G. Kadey claims that apple cider vinegar may promote weight loss by slowing the release of sugar into your bloodstream, thus potentially curbing hunger.
Supplement Safety
Though apple cider vinegar may appear to be beneficial to blood pressure in some ways, it is unproven as an effective remedy, and you should speak to your doctor before treating yourself with alternative medicine because it may pose dangers, as well. Researchers from the University of Arkansas compared eight different apple cider vinegar tablets in 2006 and found that some did not contain apple cider vinegar, but rather were essentially acetic acid supplements. Other samples had much less of their claimed active ingredients than the label reported.
References
- American Heart Association: About High Blood Pressure
- "Vegetarian Times"; Healing Foods--Apple Cider Vinegar; Matthew G. Kadey, R.D.; October 2010
- Medscape General Medicine; Vinegar--Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect; Carol S. Johnston, Ph.D., R.D. and Cindy A. Gaas, B.S.; May 2006
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Quercetin Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Subjects; Randi L. Edwards et al.; November 2007
- University of Arkansas; Apple Cider Vinegar? Or Just Acid?; April 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center; High Blood Pressure--Medications; Harvey Simon, M.D.; May 2009
