Also referred to as hypertension, high blood pressure affects more than 70 million people in the U.S. alone. To look at it another way, about 65% of the entire American population aged 65 and older suffers from hypertension (14). Regardless of what country you live in, chances are that you know someone suffering from high blood pressure (HBP). As more people are realizing that prescription medications come with their own set of consequences, many are looking for natural alternatives to turn to. And one of the most popular solutions is raw garlic. Keep reading to learn more about why so many people are starting to rely on garlic for blood pressure.
The Dangers of High Blood Pressure
If you suffer from HBP, you’re likely to display some symptoms which can pose a risk to your health and wellness. These symptoms include (2) but are not limited to combinations of the following:
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Facial redness
- Fatigue
- Headaches, immediately after waking up
- Heart attack
- Nosebleeds
- Ringing in the ears
If your HBP becomes serious, you might eventually suffer a heart attack and require bypass surgery. This surgery also comes with risks, as a person’s heart may enlarge during the procedure.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
There are several conditions and factors which might play a crucial role leading to the development of high blood pressure. Unsurprisingly, a leading cause of high blood pressure is often a poor diet. Other potential factors include (4):
- A family history of HBP
- Adrenal disorders
- Being obese or overweight
- Chronic kidney disease
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Genetics
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Old age
- Sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Stress
- Taking too much salt in your diet
- Thyroid disorders
The Potential Side Effects of Blood Pressure Medication
In many situations, once a doctor diagnoses you with high blood pressure, they will also provide you with medication to deal with the problem. There are several types of drugs designed for dealing with high blood pressure. These include blood thinners, diuretics, ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, and beta-blockers. However, most of these drugs come with various discomforting side effects, including (3):
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Erectile dysfunction
- Headache
- Lack of energy
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Skin rash
- Tiredness
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Weight gain or loss without trying
It’s no wonder then, why so many people experiencing the symptoms above are starting to look for natural alternatives.
Consuming Garlic for Blood Pressure
Among natural alternatives, garlic for blood pressure has proved to be quite effective for both systolic and diastolic types of blood pressure. In a randomized, double-blind study published in the Integrated Blood Pressure Control journal, National Institute of Melbourne researchers discovered that garlic extracts were as effective as most standard drugs for treating hypertensive patients (11).
In another recent study (5), when patients suffering from this condition took a single clove a day over 3, their diastolic blood pressure (and cholesterol levels) were reduced significantly. Meanwhile, those who took quantities as small as a single clove a day also saw a reduction in their hypertension symptoms.
Apart from taking raw garlic for blood pressure, the ingredient has also been shown to be quite effective in dealing with other disorders, including diabetes, cancer, and immune problems. Some doctors now even believe that this could be the end-all cure for many of our health problems!
How it Works
So, how exactly does garlic for blood pressure work? Well, when the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) increases, so does high blood pressure. Many pharmaceutical companies create ACE inhibitors to block this enzyme from forming in the body. Unfortunately, most of these drugs come with the adverse side effects outlined above (10).
Garlic, on the other, contains a natural ACE inhibitor referred to as gamma-glutamylcysteine. This compound is effective at lowering blood pressure, especially when combined with the rather high content of allicin in garlic. More particularly, allicin gives garlic its unique ability to dilate the arteries (9) naturally.
Every fresh clove (about 4g) contains 1% allicin (6). That’s why it’s best to consume garlic in its raw form. For example, a 2008 study (8) published in the BMC Cardiovascular Disorders journal showed that dried or raw, fresh garlic was more effective than supplements (13), mainly because they provided the patient with the greatest percentage of allicin.
Though you can still benefit from adding garlic to your cooking, the herb’s allicin content will likely decrease when heated up.
In its raw form, you don’t need to take more than around half a clove daily. Of course, you may want to time this correctly to avoid going to a social function with that trademark garlic breath!
Available Supplements
If you really want to avoid bad breath, you can also buy garlic supplements, which are widely available in the form of extracts, oils, powders, and pills and doses of anywhere from 100mg to 5000mg. As you shop for supplements, check the label to ensure that what you are buying contains allicin in adequate levels.
Alternatively, consider buying pure allicin supplements (7). These supplements might cost a bit more than natural garlic, but they will still help you reduce your high blood pressure without having to deal with bad breath.
Potential Side Effects
As you continue using raw garlic to help with high blood pressure, you should remember that it is an anticoagulant, meaning that it will naturally thin your blood. Therefore, combining it with other blood thinning drugs might prove to be risky to your health and wellness. Therefore, if your doctor has put you on an ACE inhibitor or blood thinning high blood pressure drug, ask them whether it’s ok to add raw garlic to your diet (12).
Conclusion
You may have been wondering: “Is garlic good for high blood pressure and cholesterol?” Luckily, the answer is yes! Raw garlic has been proven to be effective at treating high blood pressure or mitigating its various symptoms.
Although the treatment might take some time, it is a far better option compared to taking other high blood pressure drugs that might come with severe side effects. This affordable and easily available herb is one of the safest and most efficient remedies for high blood pressure.
Sources
- https://undergroundhealthreporter.com/raw-garlic-can-lower-high-blood-pressure/
- https://visihow.com/Regulate_Your_High_Blood_Pressure_Using_Garlic_Daily
- https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Medicines/Side-effects
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420421/Garlic-lower-blood-pressure-10—tablet-form.html
- https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/heart-health-articles/blood-pressure-articles/power-of-garlic-extract-for-blood-pressure/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension#understanding-blood-pressure-readings5
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/434009-how-much-garlic-should-you-eat-to-lower-blood-pressure/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159283.php
- https://www.medicinenet.com/high_blood_pressure_medication/article.htm
- https://www.rxlist.com/high_blood_pressure_hypertension_medications/drugs-condition.htm
- https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/blood-pressure-causes#1
- https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/side-effects-high-blood-pressure-medications#1
- https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/heart-health/fight-high-blood-pressure-symptoms-with-garlic/
- https://www.drsinatra.com/eat-garlic-to-reduce-blood-pressure
