Please note that this study uses a certain brand of garlic. I have personally used organic raw garlic and saw results in terms of digestion, and yeast.
Garlic supplements have shown effectiveness in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients, similarly to first-line standard anti-hypertensive medications. The meta-analysis of 12 trials and 553 hypertensive participants confirmed that garlic supplements lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 8.3±1.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, n=8 trials, n=374 subjects) by 5.5±1.9 mmHg, similarly to standard anti-hypertensive medications.
Aged garlic extract lowered central blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness, and improved the gut microbiota, evidenced by higher microbial richness and diversity, with a marked increase in the numbers of Lactobacillus and Clostridia species found following 3 months of supplementation.
Garlic has also shown promise in improving cardiovascular health by reducing arterial stiffness, elevated cholesterol levels and blood ‘stickiness’. In addition, the prebiotic properties in garlic increase gut microbial richness and diversity.
The reduction in blood pressure was associated with a 16–40% reduction in the risk of suffering from cardiovascular events. In addition to the beneficial effects of garlic supplements on blood pressure, it has been found that aged garlic extract is effective in rejuvenating the arteries, as evidenced by a reduction in pulse wave velocity.
In summary, this meta-analysis of 12 trials involving 553 adults with uncontrolled hypertension consolidated current evidence for garlic to be effective in reducing blood pressure by 8–10 mmHg systolic and by 5–6 mmHg diastolic, similarly to standard blood pressure medication. This decrease in blood pressure is associated with a 16–40% risk reduction of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. The B vitamin status is an important factor for the responsiveness of high blood pressure to garlic in everyone.
Thus, aged garlic extract is highly tolerable with a high safety profile either as a stand-alone or adjunctive anti-hypertensive treatment, with multiple benefits for cardiovascular health and blood pressure. Furthermore, previous research suggests that garlic is effective in normalizing blood cholesterol levels.
How to take garlic to reduce blood pressure
Most studies on garlic use a dosage range of 600-1,200mg a day, usually divided into multiple doses. The minimum effective dose for raw garlic is a single segment of a garlic bulb (called a clove), eaten with meals two or three times a day. Aged garlic is a popular form of garlic to use for supplementation, since it does not have a fresh garlic scent. Garlic supplementation can also be done through food alone, though side-effects will include strong garlic-scented breath.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be the best you can be. Do you research and then do your part in loving you!
This article should not replace your primary care providers advice. Please check with your primary care provider before starting a new supplementation.