Your body needs cholesterol to make vitamin D, hormones and substances to digest food; however, when cholesterol levels become too high, you can be at risk for serious medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke. Garlic has long been used as a tonic for the cardiovascular system, according to physician John F. Balch and his co-authors in "Prescription for Natural Remedies." It can also help to control cholesterol.
About High Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein is known as HDL, or good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein is referred to as LDL, or bad cholesterol. High levels of HDL cholesterol reduce LDL cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease; however, when LDL and total cholesterol are too high, a plaque builds up along your arteries and narrows and hardens arteries and reduces blood flow. Plaque can also burst and release cholesterol into your bloodstream, increasing your risk of developing a blood clot, which can lead to angina or heart attack.
Effects of Garlic
Garlic and its sulfur compounds block the action of an enzyme in the liver called HMB-CoA reductase, which plays a vital role in cholesterol synthesis. One of the sulfur compounds, S-allyl cysteine (SAC) can lower LDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent in humans, notes Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and author of "The Complete A-Z Nutrition Encyclopedia"; however, while studies show that various forms of garlic can modestly improve cholesterol levels, aged garlic extract has the most scientific support, notes Balch.
How to Take Garlic for Cholesterol
Garlic is available in various forms such as whole, raw cloves, garlic powder, garlic extract and garlic capsules. Balch recommends taking 600 mg of aged garlic extract twice daily. Add the extract to a glass of fruit or vegetable juice. It's important to separate the doses because high amounts of garlic can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn and stomach upset due to the sulfur compounds. Sensitivities to these compounds vary from person to person so monitor your symptoms. If you prefer to take garlic raw, a standard dose for general health is 2 to 4 g of fresh, minced garlic daily, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. One clove weighs about 1 g.
Safety
Garlic can increase your risk of bleeding if you are taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin. Also, it may be unsafe if you take it in high doses when you're pregnant. Consult your doctor for more information about the safety of taking garlic to control cholesterol.
Consideration
Despite the positive results of some studies and claims by garlic supplement manufacturers, some scientists dispute the benefits of taking garlic to reduce cholesterol. For instance, in 2007 researchers at Stanford University reported that they found no effect on cholesterol from taking raw garlic, aged garlic supplement or powdered garlic supplement; however, because adding garlic to your diet is a relatively safe dietary change to make to lower cholesterol, it's worth seeking more advice from your doctor.
References
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Cholesterol
- "Prescription for Natural Remedies"; John F. Balch, M.D. et al.; 2008
- "The Complete A-Z Nutrition Encylopedia"; Leslie Beck; 2010
- Stanford University: Study Shows Garlic Fails to Lower 'Bad' Cholesterol Levels; Susan Ipaktchian; February 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
