Apple Cider Vinegar and Cholesterol: What You Need to Know

Vinegar is a great alternative to carbonated drinks. It has a high concentration of acetic acid, which makes it an excellent choice for people who are trying to lower their cholesterol levels or cut down on their intake of saturated fat. In fact, research shows that drinking vinegar every day can help you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, and in some cases, may even be able to raise your cholesterol levels.

But does drinking vinegar have the same effect as taking a cholesterol-lowering supplement? Both can help reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body, but that’s it. The effects of taking a cholesterol-lowering supplement are greater and much more long-lasting. In fact, taking a supplement made from vinegar has been found to be just as effective as taking a pill.

Read on to learn all you need to know about how drinking vinegar and its possible side effects could help you lower your cholesterol and stay healthier.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in our bodies, brain, and eggs. It is necessary for the body to make and regulate hormones, build blood cells, and function as a source of energy.

Most of the cholesterol we consume is obtained from the foods we eat. This includes fatty foods like meat, full-fat dairy products, and nuts.

The remainder of our cholesterol comes from drugs and is added to foods and drinks to make them more palatable, such as in margarine and salad dressings.

Cholesterol is good for you

There is a lot of conflicting information regarding the health benefits of drinking cider vinegar. Many studies have shown that the acidity in vinegar can assist in lowering blood pressure and raising cholesterol levels.

Some research has even found that consuming 1 tablespoon of vinegar per day may increase your blood pressure and increase your risk of developing high blood pressure during old age. But most experts recommend keeping your blood pressure below normal for your age group and drinking 2 to 3 glasses of water for every 100 calories you consume.

How to reduce your cholesterol

You can reduce your cholesterol levels naturally by following a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, taking a statin drug, and keeping your weight stable.

How to raise your cholesterol

You can also try to higher your cholesterol by taking certain drugs prescribed for heart disease, including meditations and alendronate. If you are over the age of 75, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase can naturally start to break down the medication into a more harmful form.

Which type of product has the most benefit?

There are many types of dietary supplements that you can choose from, each with its own list of possible benefits and risks. One such supplement is cider vinegar.

Many people find that drinking 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar daily provides a great benefit. If you are looking to increase your cholesterol levels, the benefits of drinking cider vinegar will outweigh the possible risks.

If you are not interested in increasing your cholesterol or would like to try a different type of dietary supplement, take a look at our article about the best mealtimes for cholesterol.

Which type of product has the most potential side effects?

As with anything in life, both positive and negative, you need to carefully consider the risks associated with a given supplement before taking it. One of the biggest risks associated with cider vinegar is its ability to raise your cholesterol.

Most people will want to limit the amount of vinegar they consume, as excessive intake has been associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of developing high blood pressure during old age.

You should also make sure that you discuss the potential side effects of drinking cider vinegar with your doctor first, as there are likely to be potential risks that everyone should be aware of.

Conclusion

Both cholesterol and vinegar are important parts of the diet. The type of vinegar you consume determines how important these two nutrients are in your diet.

Additionally, consuming too much of either can have negative side effects. It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks of consuming cider vinegar with your doctor before you start taking it as a dietary supplement.

If you are looking to raise your cholesterol, consuming a lot of butter, full-fat dairy products, and saturated fat is not a good idea because it will lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

On the other hand, consuming a lot of vinegar and acetic acid can result in a higher risk of developing heart disease and even death.

As with everything in life, there are better options out there than the ones you were using.