Apple cider vinegar can be found in every kitchen. It's used for salad dressings and in numerous recipes, but it's also a commonly sought-after home remedy ingredient. Some evidence shows that apple cider vinegar may lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence indicating it encourages plaque to break loose in the arteries. If you have arteriosclerosis, see a doctor for the best course of treatment.
Arterial Plaque
Arterial plaque is comprised of fat, calcium and cholesterol. It starts out as a soft substance but hardens over time, causing arteriosclerosis, and leads to narrower passageways for the blood, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This is heart disease, which can cause a heart attack, stroke and even death if left untreated.
Effects on Cholesterol
A few studies have shown apple cider vinegar to have an affect on cholesterol level. According to a study in "Lipids in Health and Disease" in 2009, vinegar helped lower LDL cholesterol in rabbit test subjects. Likewise, a study published in the "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences" in 2008 boosted the HDL cholesterol in rats. In neither case have the results been duplicated in humans.
Inconclusive Results
Despite the promising initial results of the aforementioned studies, there is no evidence as of 2011 that apple cider vinegar can break up plaque in the arteries and get rid of it. Even if the results in the studies published in "Lipids in Health and Disease" and "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences" were proven in humans, that still wouldn't point to vinegar's ability to eliminate plaque. According to health services at Columbia University, there is no evidence that apple cider vinegar can help treat heart disease in humans.
Removing Plaque
The only way to break plaque loose from your arteries, flush them out and reduce heart disease is to consume foods high in plant stenols, according to the Medical University of South Carolina. Stenols are found in dark leafy greens. Taking a prescribed medication to allow blood to pass through narrowed arteries also is required if you are to reduce your risk of heart attack.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; Coronary Heart Disease
- "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences"; Apple Cider Vinegar Attenuates Lipid Profile in Normal and Diabetic Rats; F. Shishehbor, et al.; December 2008
- "Lipids in Health and Disease"; Acute Effects of Vinegar Intake on Some Biochemical Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits; Mahbubeh Setorki, et al.; 2010
- Medical University of South Carolina; The Catalyst; Ways to Lower Cholesterol; Janet Carter; July 2009
- Health Services at Columbia; Go Ask Alice! Apple Cider Vinegar; August 2010
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