There are many risk factors for developing high blood pressure, although in most cases, doctors can’t identify the exact cause of the problem. Your risk increases if you have diabetes, if you’re overweight, if you drink alcohol, if you use oral contraceptives or if you have certain other medical conditions. Your diet also plays a role in whether you’re likely to develop high blood pressure, but eating garlic is unlikely to elevate your blood pressure unless it's too low to begin with. In fact, this pungent herb may have the opposite effect on high blood pressure.
Garlic
Garlic is a common ingredient in food preparation and is readily available at your grocer’s in the fresh produce section or in the condiments aisle. The herb contains a number of nutrients, including zinc, magnesium, selenium, copper, vitamin C and amino acids. Perhaps the most valuable active component in garlic is allicin, reports the “Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine.” In addition to having an effect on blood pressure, allicin might fight fungal and bacterial infections and boost the immune system. Clinical studies confirming these benefits, however, are lacking, the Gale Encyclopedia says.
Effect on Blood Pressure
When you eat garlic, the allicin content converts to a sulfur compound, which is thought to reduce fatty substances in the bloodstream. This conversion effectively lowers high blood pressure, or hypertension, due to the reduction of “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood, reports the Gale Encyclopedia. Because it acts as a regulator, garlic may also balance low blood pressure, or hypotension.
Administration
The simplest way to increase your garlic intake is to add fresh garlic to your foods. Peel and mince one or two garlic cloves and stir them into prepared pizza or spaghetti sauce or combine half a teaspoon of fresh minced garlic with a tablespoon of honey and swallow the concoction, suggests the Gale Encyclopedia. For people who do not like the taste of fresh garlic, tablets and capsules are available from health food stores. Take garlic once or twice a day, but do not exceed 4,000 micrograms of garlic per day.
Considerations
In moderate amounts, garlic is safe for most people, but it can give you garlicky breath. In doses over four cloves of garlic per day, you may suffer from gas and bloating, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Cooking garlic may reduce some of the side effects, but it also reduces some of the herb's effectiveness, reports the Gale Encyclopedia. Because allicin converts to sulfur, people who are allergic to sulfur should not use garlic therapeutically. Garlic, consumed in high amounts, may increase the risk of blood-clotting disorders.
High blood pressure is a dangerous disorder. See your doctor for advice and for determining if consuming garlic is right for you.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- “Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine”; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
