Atrial Fibrillation Treatment & Management
Using Apple Cider Vinegar To Help Lower Blood Pressure
Research is unclear on whether apple cider vinegar can help lower blood pressure. Your healthcare team can best advise you on using any natural remedies or alternative treatments.
Apple cider vinegar has long been a popular home remedy for many illnesses and conditions, including upset stomachs, sore throats, and high cholesterol.
Some research indicates that apple cider vinegar may play a small role in helping to lower blood pressure, but many studies are older, involve animals or rodents, and have limitations baked into how the research was conducted.
Overall, it's not conclusive whether apple cider alone is responsible for this specific health benefit or if it's most beneficial when used alongside other lifestyle changes, treatments, and healthy behaviors.
High blood cholesterol and high blood pressure often work together to accelerate heart disease. There are many risk factors for high cholesterol, including conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity. They can damage the blood vessels and your heart more quickly.
Consuming apple cider vinegar may lower cholesterol and blood pressure simultaneously.
This 2021 research review found that apple cider vinegar may help lower total cholesterol. That analysis of past studies found that people with type 2 diabetes who drank 15 milliliters (mL) or less of apple cider vinegar each day for more than 8 weeks, experienced a cholesterol reduction.
Another 2023 study also involving those with T2D saw similar results, when study participants had 30 mL each day for the same 2-month period and also ate healthy-cholesterol foods in their daily eating patterns.
Both studies had limitations, and more research is needed to confirm how apple cider vinegar may be beneficial for cholesterol levels, especially for people without type 2 diabetes.
Lowering blood glucose may help lower blood pressure as well.
People with type 2 diabetes may have a prescription for medications that help lower glucose levels. Lowering glucose levels is good for overall health, whether you live with diabetes or not, and it could also help reduce blood pressure.
In the 2021 review, the authors noted that some studies had found that lower glucose levels and 3-month average A1C results helped lead to lower blood pressure levels in some people.
More research is needed to confirm and validate those findings in longer studies involving larger groups of people.
High blood pressure and obesity often go hand in hand, and the American Heart Association points out that obesity can raise your risk for heart disease.
However, research isn't clear on whether apple cider vinegar itself can help with weight management. Some small studies through the years indicate there may be weight loss potential.
2017 research found some people who drank apple cider vinegar along with a low calorie diet lost more weight than those who only followed a low calorie diet. That study lasted 12 weeks and involved people drinking 30 mL of apple cider vinegar each day, leading to some having less belly fat and a lower body mass index.
But it's not clear whether the apple cider vinegar was specifically responsible for that. With the study only involving 39 people, more larger and longer-term research would be needed to determine if apple cider vinegar can actually help with weight management.
Generally, when it comes to healthy eating, it's logical that using apple cider vinegar in place of high fat and high salt dressings and oils may be a helpful change you can make to your eating style. Lowering how much salt you consume also helps lower blood pressure in general, and helps with weight management.
The suggested minimum amount, according to the 2021 review, is 15 mL. That's equivalent to 3 teaspoons or 1 tablespoon.
The vinegar can, of course, be very hard to handle all by itself, but you can mix it with other flavors to make it go down easy. Here are some ideas:
You will also want to take other dietary measures to help your blood pressure. Many of these other measures have been studied more thoroughly.
Check labels to ensure the sodium levels aren't too high. Choose low sodium options when you can, such as for chicken broth and soy sauce. Make foods from scratch to control how much salt is added, such as soups and hamburger patties.
Apple cider vinegar may have other health benefits beyond blood pressure and cholesterol. You can read more here about those potential healthy benefits.
Apple cider vinegar may lower blood pressure, but more studies are needed to show whether that's true and if apple cider vinegar can affect blood pressure by helping with weight management, glucose levels, and total cholesterol levels.
Eating heart-healthy foods and healthy fat foods, as well as engaging in other healthy behaviors, can benefit you regardless of whether apple cider vinegar is included in your eating style. There do not appear to be any risks linked to using it in moderation.
How Two Simple Minerals In Water Could Help Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem worldwide. It's the leading preventable cause of early death and affects nearly half of adults in the United States.
While medications and lifestyle changes are commonly used to manage blood pressure, a recent study from Emory University suggests that something as simple as adding minerals like calcium and magnesium to drinking water might also help.
An Unexpected Finding in Bangladesh
The research, led by Abu Mohammed Naser, focused on coastal areas in Bangladesh where people use different types of drinking water—pond water and groundwater. Surprisingly, the study found that people who drank salinated (slightly salty) water had lower blood pressure compared to those who drank freshwater.
This was unexpected because high sodium, which is found in salty water, is usually known to raise blood pressure. The researchers wanted to understand why this wasn't the case here.
The Role of Calcium and Magnesium
When the team tested the participants' urine samples, they found higher levels of calcium and magnesium in those drinking the salinated water. These minerals are known to support heart health and regulate blood pressure. The study suggested that these two minerals were likely responsible for the lower blood pressure, not the sodium in the water.
Previous research has already shown that calcium and magnesium are important for maintaining healthy blood pressure. They help the blood vessels relax and improve the body's ability to regulate fluids. This new study adds to that understanding by showing how these minerals in drinking water could be a natural way to improve blood pressure control.
A Simple Idea: Mineral-Enriched Water
The findings point to a potential solution—enhancing drinking water with calcium and magnesium. This could be an easy and cost-effective way to help people manage their blood pressure, especially in areas where healthcare is limited or expensive.
Adding these minerals to water could benefit millions, particularly in regions where high blood pressure is common and often untreated.
However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to figure out the best way to add these minerals to water while ensuring safety and effectiveness.
Why This Matters
This study highlights how simple interventions can address major health issues. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems, but not everyone has access to the medications and care needed to manage it.
By focusing on preventive measures like mineral-enriched water, communities can improve public health in a practical and affordable way.
For individuals, this research serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy diet rich in calcium and magnesium. Foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and dairy products are great sources of these minerals and can support overall heart health.
Looking Ahead
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, offers hope for managing high blood pressure more effectively and simply. While there's still work to be done to turn this idea into a widespread solution, the potential impact is enormous.
By focusing on accessible, low-cost strategies like improving drinking water, researchers are paving the way for better health outcomes worldwide. This discovery could help make the journey to a healthier life easier for millions, one sip of water at a time.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about impact of vitamins on high blood pressure you need to know, and the powerful link between high blood pressure and a potassium-rich diet.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
This Spoon Could Be The Secret To Making Low-sodium Food Taste Better — But It'll Shock Your Tongue
Calling all salt lovers.
Kirin Holdings Company is electrifying the food scene at the annual CES tech conference in Las Vegas with an innovative gadget that promises to literally shock your taste buds.
The Electric Salt Spoon works by sending a gentle electric current to your tongue while you slurp, amplifying the savory salty and umami notes in every bite without adding any additional sodium.
An electric spoon that shocks your tongue debuted at the annual CES tech conference in Las Vegas this week. AFP via Getty Images The shocks mimic what saltiness tastes like to help users enjoy low-sodium food more. APIn a country where an estimated 90% of people consume more salt than recommended, the snazzy utensil could be a culinary lifesaver for those trying to cut back.
A diet high in sodium can lead to increased blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease and strokes. Studies have also linked high salt intake to an increased risk of diabetes, dry and itchy skin, and a weakened immune system.
In 2023, researchers even found that cutting just one teaspoon of salt a day can have the same impact as taking blood pressure mediation.
This new spoon, launched in Japan in 2024, was born in 2019 amid concerns about excessive salt intake in the average Japanese diet.
Researchers at Meiji University surveyed individuals trying to reduce their sodium consumption and found a whopping 80% were unhappy with the taste of their meals. Respondents ranked ramen noodles and miso soup as the top two foods they wanted but often avoided because of their high salt content.
The Electric Salt Spoon aims to amp up the flavor of low-sodium diets without canceling out their health benefits.
It earned mixed reviews at the conference, with users saying their food did taste saltier but complaining that it was difficult to use. AFP via Getty ImagesWhile the device isn't currently available in the United States, Kirin brought samples to CES to give attendees a taste of the electrifying product.
Once powered on, the spoon offers users four levels of "saltiness" to choose from. The electric current passes through the food from the tip of the spoon and from the inside of the bowl by holding it.
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Early reviews are shocking.
Jennifer Jolly from USA Today tested the spoon and found that the electric jolt made her miso soup taste saltier than it would with a regular utensil – but it wasn't all smooth sailing.
Jolly and other tech enthusiasts found the spoon to be bulky, uncomfortable and somewhat difficult to activate, raising concerns about its practicality for daily use.
They also complained that the spoon won't be activated unless it is held just right.
Matt Binder from Mashable described the experience as leaving him looking like "a giant toddler," awkwardly clutching a spoon in his fist with soup dribbling down his chin. He also admitted that it was saltier than his initial taste test without the device.
Kirin's Electric Salt Spoon not only impressed participants but also caught the attention of judges, winning awards in the Digital Health and Accessibility & Age Tech categories at CES on Monday.
The spoon is just one of Kirin's electrified tableware innovations, which also include chopsticks and bowls, but the company said it decided to market the spoon first to meet consumer cravings.
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