Research has found drinking apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help improve levels of cholesterol and blood pressure. Cholesterol is a fatty substance and having high cholesterol means you have too much in your blood.
The condition can lead to heart problems or stroke, but worryingly, high cholesterol doesn’t usually cause symptoms. Likewise, there are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure, but it can lead to serious health emergencies like heart attack and stroke.
The NHS has noted that the condition, also known as hypertension, is “very common” especially in older adults. Apple cider vinegar is the result of fermenting sugar from apples, a process which creates acetic acid, the main ingredient of vinegar.
Aside from being used in salad dressings, apple cider vinegar has been tested for its possible medicinal uses. ACV has been found to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects in various studies.
Can apple cider vinegar help lower cholesterol?
Cholesterol is broken down into “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL), which the NHS explains makes you less likely to have a stroke, and “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL). Research has found that people who took apple cider vinegar for 12 weeks had increased levels of “good” cholesterol and decreased levels of “bad” cholesterol.
ACV may have particular benefits for people with diabetes. Another study reported the greatest improvements in blood fat and cholesterol levels in people with diabetes. Participants who took one tablespoon or less of ACV daily for a minimum of eight weeks benefitted more than those who took more.
Even non-diabetic people were found to have better “good” cholesterol levels as a result. Another study researched the effects of taking two tablespoons (30ml) of ACV for eight weeks. People with type 2 diabetes were found to have lower “bad” cholesterol levels and total cholesterol levels.
Can apple cider vinegar help blood pressure?
There is limited research on apple cider vinegar and high blood pressure. A 2023 study reported type-2 diabetics had lower blood pressure after taking two tablespoons (30ml) of apple cider vinegar for eight weeks.
The participants also lost weight and had smaller body measurements.