Eating Garlic To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally
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. By adding garlic to your diet you can reduce blood pressure naturally.
Using fresh garlic, the UAB researchers found that hydrogen sulfide production from garlic could cause up to a 72 percent blood vessel relaxation in the arteries of rats. Relaxing the blood vessels is a major step in lowering blood pressure.
The lead of the research group David Kraus Ph.D. said “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,”.
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,”.
Fatty plaques is formed in the artery walls when platelet aggregation happens. Formation of fatty plaques is stopped when platelet aggregation is prevented and garlic prevents platelet aggregation. Thickening of blood is allowed by aggregation of platelet. But aggregating to much may lead to clotting of blood. 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.
Too keep ones heart healthy and to maintain the levels of hydrogen sulfide one should regularly eat garlic. Hydrogen sulfide is produced by the body naturally, as the body starts to get aged the production of hydrogen sulfide decreases.
Platelet aggregation can also be prevented by onions and this will naturally lower blood pressure. Garlic and onion bothe comes from the allium family.
Platelets combined together is a quick manner after a no onion hi fat meal when compared to meal containing hi fat with onions. This has been proved by a study made by Queen Elizabeth College of London University. This shows that onion has the substance to neutralize the effect of a high fat meal on platelet aggregation.
If you have high blood pressure, eat garlic every day to lower blood pressure naturally. It’s easy to cook with garlic. Add a crushed garlic clove to pasta sauces, soups, vegetables, and meats. Garlic will add favorable flavor to almost any meal.
Relaxation exercises like meditation and yoga do come in handy. If you are suffering from high blood pressure then walking is the best exercise you can get. You can try walking for 30 minutes 5 days a week. Alternative you can lower blood pressure through physical exercise apart from eating garlic.