Apple Cider Vinegar Cures BP, Weight Loss, & ED

[skeeweeaka]

Hello, I know we've all ready plenty of stories on here about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). Well I have a recent story that is true. My cousiin has very high blood pressure and has been on meds for a while and gained a lot of weight, as well as began having problems with erectile dysfunction. (can be a side effect of bp meds). In January he came across a book of home based cures and it included a recipe for curing blood pressure by using one cup of ACV, one cup of lemon juice (he used the bottled kind), and one cup of honey. He drank this, one tablespoon, three times a day. He has been doing this since January and in March noticed that everyone was commenting on his weight loss even though he wasn't on a diet and still eating a lot of bad carby foods. He also noticed that his erectile dysfunction was better. Because he wasn't dieting, he went to the doctor in March to find out why he had lost 22 pounds since January without trying.

The doctor told him that his blood pressure was NORMAL and that he had lost 22 pounds all probably due to the ACV. He was afraid he was losing because he had some sort of illness. Anyway he is thrilled with the success of the ACV. The doctor said the combination of lemon and ACV is eating away at the fat cells in his body. The doctor wouldn't take him off of his blood pressure meds yet, wants to wait until his next checkup but things look terrifically good especially since he has been hospitalized in the past because of high high blood pressure.

I thought I would start the lemon juice mixture myself tomorrow and see if I reap any of the benefits. Another side affect of the ACV is that it helps with constipation....and cholesterol as well.... Here is more info here.... http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html#dentist

Just thought I would pass along this valuable information. Hope someone out there can benefit from these miraculous changes as he has. It truly is a terrific thing when one gets weight loss, their sex life back, and their blood pressure controlled naturally!

TJ

[muffles]

Interesting. I have been taking acv twice a day since january, without seeing such results. I can't do the honey part of the drink, but I could add lemon juice to the vinegar I suppose.

[skeeweeaka]

He has honestly been taking it three times a day and his blood pressure and other problems were quite persistant. He's excited about the results but wondered why his pdoc would not take him off of his bp meds.

[Rose1942]

I just think it is cool that his doctor actually said that the A C vinegar was helping. Most doctors totally avoid anything remotely homeopathic, or naturopathic. I can just imagine the patronizing smirk and roll of the eyes if I suggested it to my doctor.

[ShuffleUp]

Are you guys taking ACV with food, before food, after food, etc...? Thx!

[MichO]

I have high blood pressure and take an ACE inhibitor blood pressure medicine. One of the side effects of ACE inhibitors is that they cause potassium to accululate in your body so you shouldn't take extra potassium. Apple cider vinegar does contain potassium; in fact, it is a recommended way to get addtional potassium. So it might not be a good thing for some individuals to take.

[skeeweeaka]

ACV is taken before food.....one tablespoon....Bragg's is the brand....

[mathmaniac]

I read that long-term effects of taking apple-cider vinegar include lowering potassium levels. I don't get it. It's supposed to be rich in potassium.
Here's the link:
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/display.cfm?id=9e8f94b3-b637-4a3e-bf43a1dce39b9be3&method=displayfull&pn=6eb86a59-ebd9-11d4-810100508b603a14
For the record, I've been interested in apple cider vinegar for losing weight. I've recently been taking it in grapefruit juice just because I find that way more palatable.

[Judynyc]

I like this article on ACV......its got good info!!

http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar
Over the centuries, vinegar has been used for countless purposes: making pickles, killing weeds, cleaning coffee makers, polishing armor, and dressing salads. It's also an ancient folk remedy, touted to relieve just about any ailment you can think of.

In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been singled out as an especially helpful health tonic. So it's now sold in both the condiment and the health supplement aisles of your grocery store. While many of the folk medicine uses of vinegar are unproven (or were disproved), a few do have a medical research backing them up. Some small studies have hinted that apple cider vinegar could help with several conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

So does consuming apple cider vinegar make sense for your health? Or is vinegar best used for cleaning stains and dyeing Easter eggs? Here's a rundown of the facts.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Vinegar is a product of fermentation. This is a process in which sugars in a food are broken down by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage of fermentation, the sugars are turned into alcohol. Then, if the alcohol ferments further, you get vinegar. The word comes from the French, meaning "sour wine." While vinegar can be made from all sorts of things -- like many fruits, vegetables, and grains -- apple cider vinegar comes from pulverized apples.

The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, is acetic acid. However, vinegars also have other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Cure for Everything?
While long used as a folk remedy, apple cider vinegar became well known in the U.S. in the late 1950s, when it was promoted in the best-selling book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health by D. C. Jarvis. During the alternative medicine boom of recent years, apple cider vinegar pills have become a popular dietary supplement.

Look on the back of a box of supplements -- or on the Internet or in the pages of any one of the many books on vinegar and health -- and you'll find some amazing claims. Apple cider vinegar is purported to treat numerous diseases, health conditions, and annoyances. To name a few, it's supposed to kill head lice, reverse aging, ease digestion, and wash "toxins" from the body.

Most of these claims have no evidence backing them up. Some -- like vinegar's supposed ability to treat lice or warts -- have actually been studied, and researchers turned up nothing to support their use. Other claims have been backed up by studies, but with a catch: vinegar may work, but not as well as other treatments. For instance, while vinegar is a disinfectant, it doesn't kill as many germs as common cleaners. And while vinegar does seem to help with jelly fish stings -- an old folk remedy -- hot water works better.
Apple Cider Vinegar
(continued)
Scientific Evidence of Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits
But there are some medical uses of vinegar that do have promise, at least according to a few studies. Here's a rundown of some more recent ones.

Diabetes. The effect of vinegar on blood glucose levels is perhaps the best-researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar's possible health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

High cholesterol. A 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol. However, the study was done in rats, so it's too early to know how it might work in people.

Blood pressure and heart health. Another study in rats found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure. A large epidemiological study also found that people who ate oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week had lower rates of heart disease than people who didn't. However, it's far from clear that the vinegar was the reason.

Cancer. A few laboratory studies have found that vinegar may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Epidemiological studies of people have been confusing. One found that eating vinegar was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. Another associated it with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Weight Loss. For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss. White vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full. A 2005 study of 12 people found that those who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of white vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread.
While the results of these studies are promising, they are all preliminary. Many were done on animals or on cells in a lab. The human studies have been small. Before we will truly know whether vinegar has any health benefits, much larger studies are needed.

How Should Apple Cider Vinegar Be Used?
Since apple cider vinegar is an unproven treatment, there are no official recommendations on how to use it. Some people take two teaspoons a day (mixed in a cup of water or juice.) A tablet of 285 milligrams is another common dosage.

Apple cider vinegar is also sometimes applied to the skin or used in enemas. The safety of these treatments is unknown.

What Are the Risks of Apple Cider Vinegar?
On the whole, the risks of taking occasional, small amounts of apple cider vinegar seem low. But using apple cider vinegar over the long term, or in larger amounts, could have risks. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. As the name suggests, it's quite harsh. Apple cider vinegar should always be diluted with water or juice before swallowed. Pure apple cider vinegar could damage the tooth enamel and the tissues in your throat and mouth. One study found a woman who got an apple cider vinegar supplement stuck in her throat. She seemed to have suffered lasting damage to her esophagus. Vinegar has been known to cause contact burns to the skin.


Long-term use of apple cider vinegar could cause low potassium levels and lower bone density. If you already have low potassium or osteoporosis, talk to your doctor before using apple cider vinegar.


Apple cider vinegar could theoretically interact with diuretics, laxatives, and medicines for diabetes and heart disease.


If you have diabetes, check with your doctor before using apple cider vinegar. Vinegar contains chromium, which can alter your insulin levels.

What Are the Risks of Apple Cider Vinegar? continued...
Using apple cider vinegar supplements -- instead of the liquid itself -- adds another layer of risk. You just can't be sure what you're really getting. Unlike medicines, supplements are not regulated by the FDA. They aren't routinely tested for effectiveness or even basic safety. A 2005 study looked at the ingredients of eight different brands of apple cider vinegar supplements. The researchers found that:

The ingredients listed on the box did not reflect the actual ingredients.
The ingredients varied a great deal between different brands.
The recommended dosages varied a great deal between brands.
Most disturbing, the chemical analysis of these samples led the researchers to doubt whether any of these brands actually contained any apple cider vinegar at all.

Should I Use Apple Cider Vinegar?
The answer depends on how you want to use apple cider vinegar. As a salad dressing, you should be fine. But taken as a daily medical treatment, it could be a little more risky. Yes, some studies of applecider vinegar are intriguing. But a lot more research needs to be done. Right now, there is not enough evidence that apple cider vinegar -- or any vinegar -- has any health benefit for any condition. Since the benefits are unknown, so are the risks.

If you're thinking about trying apple cider vinegar, talk to your doctor first. It's always worth getting an expert's advice. Your doctor can also make sure that the apple cider vinegar won't affect other health conditions or the effectiveness of the medicines you take. Trying to control a serious medical condition on your own with an unproven treatment is both unwise and dangerous.

[MichO]

So here is another crazy paradox about vinegar....low potassium can cause high blood pressure. Okay, so acv is high in potassium. However, it can deplete your body of potassium which in turn can elevate your blood pressure. How crazy is this????? :confused:

[feelskinny]

I used to take the pill form but now am wondering if a person needs the lemon juice too.

Dumb question, just a thought; how would it would work in combination with LC/high fatting? Would it simply contradict?

[MrBuffalo]

I wonder if the AVC allowed his meds to be more effective. Just a thought. If he goes off the meds then he should see if his weightloss and other benefits change or remain the same.

[amandawald]

"If you're thinking about trying apple cider vinegar, talk to your doctor first. It's always worth getting an expert's advice."

I love this one! As many people who post here have commented, your average doc would just say "Don't bother with natural stuff, just take another one of these tablets that the nice lady from Big Pharma Corp kindly brought along last week along with that free trip to a week-long conference in Honolulu."

If anybody is interested in following up this whole vinegar thing in more detail, I can wholehertedly recommend Sally Fallon's book, "Nourishing Traditions".

She devotes a lot of space to the fact that fermented foods in general aid digestion and help us utilise the nutrients in the foods we consume alongside the fermented foods better. It's not perhaps that apple cider vinegar is so great, but that vinegar, especially when consumed with olive oil (another food with a lot of digestion-aiding enzymes if I recall correctly) helps us deal with our food better. Is it a coincidence that a lot of those countries that get a Paradox attached to them (Crete, France, Spain etc) all eat a lot of salads with olive oil and vinegar, as well as quite a lot of other fermented foods?

She also quotes a guy called Howell who's very big on enzymes, or rather the fact that a lot of modern food has had all the enzymes zapped out of it through pasturization and other techniques. Is ACV especially high in enzymes, does anybody know?

Anyway, thanks for the interesting post. I have some expensive French apple cider vinegar in my kitchen waiting to be used (I think I bought it to make something Chinese, but never got round to it), but I think I would definitely stick to using it for cooking or as a salad dressing and not just drink it - yuk!

I would imagine that taking it with oil would stop it from doing so much damage to your throat and other places. I never heard of the French drinking vinegar.

amanda

[amandawald]

I used to take the pill form but now am wondering if a person needs the lemon juice too.

Dumb question, just a thought; how would it would work in combination with LC/high fatting? Would it simply contradict?

From what I read in the post earlier about the pills that may not even have had any ACV in them, I would definitely take the real thing, and use it as a salad dressing - bit of olive oil, bit of lemon juice and some ACV.

However, from reading the book I quote in the post before, I think any good vinegar on a salad with olive oil might do the trick! According to Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, what we need more of are good-quality plant oils (extra virgin coconut oil and olive oil, for example) as well as lots more animal fats.

And if you then used it as a salad dressing, it would absolutely work with a high-fat/low-carb diet. There'd be no worries at all there!

Bon appetit!
amanda

[skeeweeaka]

I wonder if the AVC allowed his meds to be more effective. Just a thought. If he goes off the meds then he should see if his weightloss and other benefits change or remain the same.

I'm really not sure what or why it worked. He found the cure in a Home Remedy book. He's estatic that is has worked so well for him. His doctor is too....very surprised though!

[amandawald]

Just by chance, I happened to end up opening my bottle of French ACV to make a cough remedy. 2tbsp water, 1tbsp ACV, 1 tbsp raw honey (I have a neighbour who keeps bees and he keeps us in honey), 1/4 tsp. ground ginger and 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper.

It actually worked! And I think it does help with weight loss in some way, which is probably due to the enzymes in the ACV and the honey.

Having looked for more info in the meantime, ACV is high in enzymes and this is where it probably helps with weight loss, because your body can deal with the food you eat better. It may also help with reducing various kind of stresses on your body, because your body doesn't have to work so hard when it digests food.

I think it's OK, too!

amanda

[pamlynn]

I used ACV to completely cure my acid reflux after having been on Protonix for months. It took about 30 days. My mixture was 2 c. ACV 1/2 c. honey and distilled water. After mixing the ACV and honey in a quart container, finish filling the container with the distilled water. Shake to mix. I took a tbsp. or 2 twice a day

[skeeweeaka]

I'm glad to hear ACV is working for everyone... One thing is for sure, it costs much less than the pharmaceuticals....and much fewer side effects!

[MrBuffalo]

Interesting stuff. I might add this to my diet since it doesn't add up to much in terms of carbs. I won't add any honey though.

[amandawald]

Interesting stuff. I might add this to my diet since it doesn't add up to much in terms of carbs. I won't add any honey though.

You may want to seriously consider the honey, actually, despite the carbiness of said product. I had run out of my ACV + honey cough mixture and just drank some with water and very little honey yesterday and it really burnt my throat. I had to wash it down with a half tsp. of honey to take the burn away. If you can get raw honey, it does have a lot of good enzymes, which are also good for digestion, and it would make the ACV easier to take.

amanda

[skeeweeaka]

Yes the honey might make it easier to go down, but I just put two tablespoons in a cup of water and that dilutes it terrifically for me.... It definitely helps me with my appetite and some of my permenstrual problems as well...