Understanding Garlic’s Role in Heart Health
Including garlic in your diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce high blood pressure, and even prevent cancer. In addition, garlic contains a variety of compounds that work to protect the heart from disease. These compounds include allicin, which fights inflammation and cholesterol, and carotene, which prevents damage to the vascular system. Check out the need of garlic supplements for heart health. Reduces blood pressure Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that garlic helps reduce blood pressure. It is a blood thinner, acts as an antioxidant, and helps clear blocked channels in the body. It may also help reduce cholesterol levels. One of the most interesting findings of a recent trial on garlic and cardiovascular disease was that garlic may also help limit the progression of cardiovascular disease. The results showed a reduction in the systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and stroke volume, as well as a decrease in the total peripheral vascular resistance. The trial was conducted in Adelaide, South Australia. The effects of garlic on the cardiovascular system are believed to be mediated by nitric oxide. Nitric oxide acts as a signalling molecule for smooth muscle cells, and also helps to reduce blood pressure by preventing angiotensin formation. The effects of garlic on blood pressure were evaluated in a double-blind trial that was conducted on 79 general practice patients. The study found that the group using garlic showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure. The placebo group showed no such effect. Another trial evaluated the effects of garlic and coriander seed powder. The trial found that consumption of the two substances decreased total peripheral vascular resistance by 10%. It was deemed to be a modest, but useful, health improvement. Lowers oxidative damage from heavy metals Various studies have been conducted to study the effects of garlic on oxidative stress parameters. It is a known fact that heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are toxic to the human body. They are naturally occurring elements and are released into the environment by mining and processing of ores. The oxidative stress of heavy metals can be reduced by consuming foods high in dietary fiber. Likewise, sulfur-rich foods may be effective chelators. They may also decrease lead absorption into bone and brain tissue. Garlic is native to Mediterranean areas and has long been used as a medicinal plant. It is said to lower cholesterol levels and promote fibrinolytic activity. It also acts as an antioxidant. It is believed that the presence of a single garlic bulb lowers the amount of heavy metals in the blood and also prevents kidney damage from cadmium. It has been found to promote fibrinolytic activity and inhibit platelet aggregation. Garlic has also been shown to be beneficial in animals. In this study, we investigated the effect of a fresh raw garlic aqueous homogenate on heavy metal induced alteration of serum lipid profile in male albino rats. Our results indicated that the administration of garlic significantly reduced serum lipids and improved serum TG levels. It also increased serum HDL-C and VLDL-C levels. Prevents cancer in the esophagus Having more garlic in your diet is thought to lower your risk for cancer. However, the amount of evidence is not as clear cut as we would like it to be. This is because much of the research is done in animals. Garlic has been used in folk remedies for thousands of years. It has been used to treat a variety of diseases, from high blood pressure to traveler’s diarrhea. It is also used to treat bacterial infections and osteoarthritis. It is also thought to slow down the growth of cancer cells. There are two main components of garlic that have been studied for their potential to kill cancer cells. The first is allicin, which is released when garlic is exposed to air. The second is ajoene, which is released when garlic is heated. In addition to killing cancer cells, allicin is also said to speed up DNA repair. Some studies have also found that garlic can improve liver function in people with liver disease. It also appears to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Garlic also reduces the risk of colon cancer. It appears to slow down the growth of invasive tumors, which must develop new blood vessels to grow. However, if you are considering taking garlic supplements, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare team.