Humans have used garlic as a medicine for at least 5,000 years, according to "American Family Physician." This humble member of the Allium family may in fact help battle the worst health problem in Western civilization: heart disease. Heart disease is the biggest killer of Americans. Some of the active compounds found in garlic have been noted to decrease cardiovascular risk factors, and the makers of liquid garlic extracts seek to capitalize on these effects.
Garlic Products
Garlic products vary widely in the way they are prepared. This lack of consistency presents problems when trying to gauge the effectiveness of specific liquid garlic preparations. In addition to its raw form, garlic is available as powder, powder tablets, oil and aged garlic extracts that can be either capsule or liquid form. Consult your doctor before using garlic supplements.
Cholesterol
Garlic and garlic products help decrease serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels by inhibiting the enzymes that your body needs to create these fats, according to "The Journal of Nutrition." The cholesterol-lowering effects have only been demonstrated in studies of test subjects with high cholesterol levels who used aged garlic extract or garlic powder. The study doesn't say whether the garlic extract was in liquid or capsule form. No effect was seen in subjects with normal levels of serum cholesterol.
Blood Pressure
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in "Maturitas" in October 2010 found that aged garlic extract decreased blood pressure in patients who had failed to respond to traditional therapies. These test subjects took garlic capsules, so it is impossible to say with certainty that liquid garlic has the same effects. "The Journal of Nutrition" study notes that garlic juice has been shown to benefit heart rate in some dosages, but has negative effects on the heart when higher dosages are administered.
Other Cardiovascular Effects
Garlic has also demonstrated the ability to decrease the clumping together of platelets to form blood clots. This effect is advantageous to those who are at risk of stroke from blood clots, which can break free and travel to the brain. "American Family Physician" notes that garlic has also been associated with reducing the volume of cholesterol deposits in arterial walls. Collectively, these effects indicate that garlic appears to have numerous positive effects on cardiovascular health.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Health Effects of Garlic; Ellen Tattleman; July 2005
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Garlic and Cardiovascular Disease; Khalid Rahman, et al.; March 2006
- "Maturitas"; Aged Garlic Extract Lowers Blood Pressure in Patients with Treated But Uncontrolled Hypertension: A Randomised Controlled Trial; Karin Ried, et al.; June 2010
