Apple cider vinegar is used in many home remedies. While there has been little testing to determine its effectiveness in treating conditions like digestive upset and helping people to lose pounds, some research does indicate it can help to lower cholesterol. If your doctor feels it would help, you can include apple cider vinegar in several foods for a cholesterol-lowering boost.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Cholesterol
Before you start adding vinegar to your meals, it's important to understand how it can help to lower cholesterol. According to a study conducted by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2009 as reported in "Lipid in Health and Disease," rabbits that were fed vinegar experienced a decrease in LDL or bad cholesterol. While more research must be done to verify these results on humans, it does point to new treatment possibilities.
Salad Dressing
One way to incorporate apple cider vinegar in your diet to lower cholesterol is to place it in salad dressing. According to the National Institutes of Health, mixing apple cider vinegar with olive oil can create a pleasant tasting salad dressing that spices up your salad and is heart healthy.
Sandwich Spread
Standard sandwich spreads are high in fat and low on nutritional value. Instead, you can mash avocado with some apple cider vinegar to create a tasty spread that adds to the flavor of the sandwich and helps to lower your cholesterol at the same time, says the National Institutes of Health. As an added bonus, avocado is good for lowering cholesterol, too.
Water
If you don't feel like mixing apple cider vinegar into anything, you can just drink it, too; however, it's best to mix it with water first. According to an article in the May 2008 issue of "Scientific American," combining 1 tsp. of vinegar with 1 cup of water can help to lower your cholesterol. It's best to drink this right before or with a meal.
References
- "Lipid in Health and Disease"; Acute Effects of Vinegar Intake on Some Biochemical Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits; Mahbubeh Setorki et al.; 2010
- National Institutes of Health; Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC; December 2005
- "Scientific American"; Need to Lower Cholesterol? Try Apple Cider Vinegar; Laura Vanderkam; May 2008
- Mayo Clinic; High Cholesterol; June 2011



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