Eating Garlic to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

December 20th, 2009 Posted in Hypertension

Blood pressure can be lowered naturally by eating garlic. A recent study at the University of Alabama (UAB) shows that the protective effect of garlic is related to the amount of polysulfides in garlic. Garlic compounds known as polysulfides interact with red blood cells to produce hydrogen sulfide, which relaxes blood vessels.

Blood pressure automatically lowers when the blood vessels starts to relax. Blood vessels can be relaxed up to 72 percent in the arteries of rats through a substance called hydrogen sulphide. The UAB researchers have found this substance in fresh garlic.

“When these garlic compounds are metabolized to hydrogen sulfide in the vascular system, the hydrogen sulfide targets membrane channels and causes smooth muscle cells to relax. So a garlic-rich diet has many good effects, and hydrogen sulfide may be the common mediator,” explained lead researcher David Kraus, Ph.D.

A separate study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine showed that hydrogen sulfide protects the heart from the tissue and cell damage often seen in heart attack patients. Researchers suspect that hydrogen sulfide somehow prevents oxidative damage to cells.

This has been explained clearly by Kraus in the following sentence “The role of garlic compounds in preventing platelet aggregation, which can trigger a heart attack or stroke, and in limiting cancer growth and the progression of several diseases is well documented,”.

Platelet aggregation allows blood coagulation (the thickening of blood when one is cut, for example), but too much aggregation cat lead to blood clots. Platelet aggregation contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques on artery walls. Garlic prevents platelet aggregation and therefore prevents the buildup of fatty plaques. These fatty plaque deposits effectively increase the size of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Blood clots can also result in stroke and heart attack.

Hydrogen sulfide is naturally produced by the body, but as people age, their body’s natural hydrogen sulfide production decreases. Eating garlic regularly is an effective method of maintaining hydrogen sulfide levels and keeping the heart healthy.

Garlic and onion bothe comes from the allium family. Platelet aggregation can also be prevented by onions and this will naturally lower blood pressure.

A study at the Queen Elizabeth College of London University showed that platelets stuck together faster after a high-fat, no-onion meal compared to a high-fat meal with onions. In fact, onions seemed to neutralize the effect of a high-fat meal on platelet aggregation.

You can just add a crushed garlic to pasta sauces, soups, vegetables, and meats actually it’s very easy to cook. Any meal can be made yummy by the flavor of garlic. Eat garlic regularly to lower blood pressure naturally if you are suffering from high blood pressure.

Of course, eating garlic is not the only way to lower blood pressure naturally. You can also relax your blood vessels through physical exercise and relaxation exercises such as meditation and yoga. Regular exercise should be on everybody’s prescription list, especially if you have high blood pressure. Walking is an easy way to get daily exercise. In the absence of other exercise, try to walk for at least 30 minutes five times a week. Other exercises will help to improve heart health and relaxation. See high blood pressure exercises to learn about an easy set of exercises that can be done by anybody.

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Blue Heron Health News is a most known publisher of natural health news. Their most recent publication speaks about simple steps to lower blood pressure naturally.

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One Response to “Eating Garlic to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally”

  1. cushion cut diamond Says:

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