Does Garlic Keep Your Arteries Soft?

Your arteries are thick-walled blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to smaller blood vessels known as arterioles. Normal, healthy individuals possess arteries that are resilient, yet soft and flexible. In some people, prolonged high blood pressure and other factors may cause the walls of your arteries to become thick and stiff--a health problem known as arteriosclerosis. Garlic may be helpful in treating or preventing arteriosclerosis, but always consult your physician before using this substance for this health purpose.

Arteriosclerosis Info

The accumulation of plaque--a combination of cholesterol, calcium and other materials in your blood--in your arteries can affect blood flow to certain parts of your body and reduce the pliability of your arteries. According to the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, common signs and symptoms associated with arteriosclerosis include chest pain or discomfort, breathing difficulties, fatigue and irregular heartbeats. In many people, however, arteriosclerosis symptoms may not manifest until a traumatic event, such as a heart attack, occurs.

Garlic Description

Garlic is a plant that possesses long, flat leaves, white flowers and bulbs comprised of numerous cloves. The garlic plant, also known as Allium sativum, thrives in a wide variety of soil types, although it prefers soil that drains easily and is rich in organic matter. Garlic is cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes throughout the world, although China produces significantly more garlic than any other nation. Important active constituents in garlic include allicin, quercetin, saponin and rutin.

Garlic Actions

Garlic has an anti-atherosclerotic action and has long been used in treating or preventing hardening of arteries, notes Dr. Alan R. Gaby, a medical doctor and author of "The Natural Pharmacy." Garlic may be helpful in treating both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis--the accumulation of plaque on the inner walls of your arteries. Garlic helps reduce platelet adhesion, which means that fewer blood clots form within your arteries. More scientific research studies may be needed to determine garlic's true effectiveness in treating or preventing arteriosclerosis.

Warning

Hardening of your arteries may cause significant health problems over time. Many people are not aware that they have this potentially fatal health problem. If you are concerned about arteriosclerosis and your cardiovascular health, schedule an appointment with your family physician. Your doctor can refer you for testing to evaluate your cardiovascular health and function. Before using garlic to help treat or prevent arteriosclerosis, review all possible side effects, methods of use and potential drug interactions with your doctor.