Garlic fights high blood pressure

New research into the disease fighting properties of everyday foods has turned up fresh evidence about the health benefits of Garlic. Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found that an extract from the humble clove of garlic can help treat high blood pressure. The finding was reported in the latest edition of the scientific journal Maturitas.
However before you go and start adding garlic pods to your food or consuming it raw the researchers caution that according to their studies they did not observe similar health benefits from garlic that was consumed raw or cooked in meals. The benefits were only observed in an extract from aged garlic.
The extensive studies were carried out over a time period of twelve weeks and involved fifty test subjects with systolic blood pressure levels at or above 140. Researchers then gave some members of the group a placebo and the rest an extract of aged garlic in capsule form. The group that got the garlic extract displayed blood pressure level over 10 mm Hg lower than the blood pressures displayed by the control group that were given placebos.
Researchers were quick to point out the significance of this drop in blood pressure because they claim that a drop in systolic blood pressure of as little as 5 mm Hg can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as twenty percent.
Dr. Karin Reid, who led the researchers at the University of Adelaide said that garlic is believed by scientists to have an antihypertensive effect on the human body because it stimulates the production of naturally occurring chemicals in the body like Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Sulphide that relax blood vessels and ease blood flow.
The research is as important in Australia as in other countries where a large percent of the population suffers from heart disease according to Dr. Reid because up to one in three adults in Australia are hypertensive or suffer from high blood pressure, a leading risk indicator of heart disease. Only half of these people actually receive medication to control their blood pressure and more alarmingly a further half of these patients are not receiving adequate treatments for their condition.
These findings are of great importance world over because the epidemic of heart disease is affecting developing countries as much as developed countries as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy foods become more widespread. This in conjunction with the high stress lifestyles that most people lead has made high blood pressure a widely prevalent issue that goes largely undetected and therefore untreated. This study shows that more research into the use of garlic to fight hypertension needs to be undertaken.

Now You Can Stay Happy And Healty Even You have High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure is a silent condition that can cause an aneurysm, heart failure, stroke, and a heart attack. High Blood Pressure means that the pressure in the walls of your blood vessels is too high. If you have been diagnosed with this condition you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 50 million people suffer from high blood pressure. For the majority of patients, the cause of this condition is unknown. Many people go undiagnosed and will not be aware that they have it. High blood pressure only causes symptoms when there has been damage to the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes. Then the patient may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, headache, vomiting, and shortness of breath. It is important that you get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, here are some important tips to help you lead a healthier life,

Instructions

Lose weight. Dropping just 10 to 15 pounds can help lower your blood pressure. It will also lower your risk of other serious conditions such as diabetes and cholesterol. Your high blood pressure medicines will work even better when you shed those extra pounds.

Limit salt in your diet. Salt can cause your blood pressure to rise because it collects in your body.

Stop smoking. Each puff of that cigarette increases your blood pressure. Your high blood pressure medications may not work as well if you smoke. Discuss with your physician the use of nicotine patches and nicotine gum. Those are better alternatives than smoking.

Limit your alcohol consumption. Do not drink more than 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, and 2 ounces of liquor. Women should drink even less than that.

Lower your stress. Stress is a factor in high blood pressure. Learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to cope with stress.

Eat a healthy diet. Packaged foods that have been processed have high salt content. It is wise to eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods.

Take your medications as prescribed. Control your high blood pressure with medications to reduce serious complications.