Aged Garlic and Other Natural Strategies Reduce Hypertension

Aged Garlic. Photo by Seth Anderson

Researchers from Australia’s University of Adelaide have confirmed that garlic is effective for reducing blood pressure. We can now add garlic to the list of several natural strategies to reduce hypertension.

The researchers conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with 79 patients who had been diagnosed with uncontrolled systolic hypertension.

The researchers divided the patients into four groups. For 12 weeks, they gave one group 240 milligrams of aged garlic extract per day in capsule form. Another group was given 480 milligrams and the third group was given 960 milligrams of the aged garlic per day.

The fourth group was given a placebo.

Before and after the three months the patients were tested for blood pressure.

The patients given the 480 milligrams per day saw a systolic blood pressure reduction of almost 12 mmHg compared with the placebo group. This reduction was greater than the reduction seen among both the 280 milligrams per day and 960 milligrams per day – which had a reduction of 7.4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure.

The researchers concluded that:

“Our trial suggests aged garlic extract to be an effective and tolerable treatment in uncontrolled hypertension, and may be considered as a safe adjunct treatment to conventional antihypertensive therapy.”

What is aged garlic?

Aged garlic has either been dried in a dry storage or dried using ethanol. The natural drying process will convert its alliin and allicin content into derivatives, but it will increase its sulfur compounds – for example, S-allylcysteine, which may well provide the effective constituent in garlic’s ability to reduce hypertension.

The Australian research used an aged garlic standardized to S-allylcysteine.

Other natural strategies to reduce high blood pressure

As we’ve reported in previous articles, certainly other natural strategies may also be employed for blood pressure. Here they are, summarized:

Flaxseeds were found to reduce blood pressure in a study of 110 heart disease patients.
Real cinnamon has been proven to reduce blood pressure in multiple studies.
Tai chi was found to reduce blood pressure in 18 clinical trials among 1371 patients.
An 18-year study of 93,600 adult women found that those who ate fruits containing anthocyanidins and other flavonoids had a 12% lower incidence of hypertension.
A study of 91 women found that grape seed extract reduced blood pressure. Other foods with proanthocyanidin oligomers have similar benefits.
An international study found that forest walking reduces blood pressure.
An alkaline diet with more vegetable protein was found the reduce blood pressure in a study that followed 1,104 kidney patients for 16 years.
Several studies showed that Gynura sp. herb widen and relax blood vessels, dropping hypertension.
Greenfoods and Apple Cider Vinegar together with a mostly vegan diet was found to reduce blood pressure by 6 mmHg among 49 adult men in 21 days.
A 14-year study of 2,972 elderly adults found that those who consumed the highest amounts of olive oil and rapeseed oil had significantly lower levels of blood pressure. Those consuming rapeseed oil had the lowest amounts. Other research has found that the polyphenol oleuropein a key component in this effect.
Walnuts have been found to reduce blood pressure in multiple studies.

Our reports have also found certain things increase blood pressure. These include:

Refined sugars, sugary sodas, low potassium intake and poor sleep have been connected with high blood pressure, along with many other poor diet and lifestyle choices, such as stress.

Read the full article here: http://www.realnatural.org/aged-garlic-and-other-natural-strategies-reduce-hypertension/

Reference

Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP. Aged garlic extract reduces blood pressure in hypertensives: a dose-response trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Jan;67(1):64-70. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.178.

Published on April 12, 2014