Garlic has long been associated with health benefits – from curing a cold to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Garlic contains vitamins C and B6, manganese and selenium, but it's a chemical called allicin, a type of antioxidant, which is thought to be responsible for its positive effects.
In a study, it was found that a high dose of garlic, say around 4 cloves a day had the same effect on lowering the blood pressure as medicines. Consumption of garlic in your regular diet can really have a good impact on your heart's health.
Summary. Garlic may reduce blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.
It is rich in blood-thinning compounds, which in turn prevent the formation of blockages in the arteries. The polysulphides present in garlic also dilate blood vessels that assist in controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and formation of plaque in the arteries.
One of the most compelling effects of aged garlic extract is its ability to help reverse early heart disease. It accomplishes this by stripping deadly plaque buildup from artery walls.
Leafy Greens
Kale, arugula, spinach, and lettuces are a good source of nitrates, which reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. They also contain high levels of potassium, which may prevent vascular calcification.
May Lower Blood Pressure Way Too Much
Garlic may lower blood pressure (10). But if you are already on medications for high blood pressure, it may lead to hypotension (low blood pressure). Supplemental garlic has also shown to lower blood pressure levels (11).
Raw garlic contains a component called Allicin, which helps in thinning the blood and reduces the cholesterol levels. Thus, the best way to consume garlic is by eating raw garlic on an empty stomach as the fresh garlic contains Allicin and this component gets diluted during the process of cooking.
Studies have shown that garlic if eaten on an empty stomach acts as a powerful antibiotic. It is more effective when you eat it before breakfast because bacteria is exposed and cannot defend itself from succumbing to its power.
Garlic is known to be a blood thinner due its anti-platelet properties. Ajoene, a sulphur containing derivative of garlic, irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation,2, potentiating anticoagulants such as aspirin, warfarin, dipyrimadole and clopidogrel. The composition of the garlic supplement affects its potency.
Optimal Vitamin K2 intake is crucial to avoid the calcium plaque buildup of atherosclerosis, thus keeping the risk and rate of calcification as low as possible.
Heart protection
Fresh raw garlic is known for its ability to help improve heart health. Black garlic may provide the same protective effects. Black garlic can also help lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which in turn reduces your risk of heart disease.
The key is lowering LDL and making lifestyle changes.
"Making plaque disappear is not possible, but we can shrink and stabilize it," says cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. Plaque forms when cholesterol (above, in yellow) lodges in the wall of the artery.
Although it isn't possible to remove plaque from your arterial walls without surgery, you can halt and prevent future plaque build-up. Research does not support that specific food items can help clear arteries naturally, but a healthier diet is essential to reduce the chance of it forming in the first place.
Magnesium supplementation can inhibit atherosclerotic plaque formation in animals on high-fat diets. More recent human studies have revealed strong associations between low magnesium levels and higher heart disease risks. This demonstrates that magnesium can be a powerful protective measure to maintain heart health.
Bananas and other foods high in potassium can prevent fatal blockages that can develop and prevent arteries from hardening and narrowing.
Dosages generally recommended in the literature for adults are 4 g (one to two cloves) of raw garlic per day, one 300-mg dried garlic powder tablet (standardized to 1.3 percent alliin or 0.6 percent allicin yield) two to three times per day, or 7.2 g of aged garlic extract per day.
Eating 4-5 garlic cloves in the morning can help to boost your immunity, which is essential now when we have entered the winter season. It contains compounds that help the immune system fight free radicals and disease-causing foreign pathogens.