Garlic. Hmmm This herb does not just add flavor to your food, it also fights high blood pressure. Traditional healers have used it for several decades, and now, there is an increasing awareness of the herb and its healing abilities. Indeed, garlic is not just an effective regulator of blood pressure, it also can be used to treat other illnesses. Let us discuss the results of some of the recent clinical trials and studies that show garlic as an effective remedy against blood pressure.

Several scientific studies showed that those who have heart problems could benefit from taking up to 10 cloves of raw garlic per day, which is roughly equivalent to 300 mg of garlic extract. Despite the effectiveness of garlic, people should not take it as a substitute for medications that have been prescribed by their doctors. But they can take garlic to supplement their prescribed medications and to help them lower their cholesterol level.

Scientists have found out that garlic sulphides, which remain present even if garlic undergoes cooking, are partly responsible for garlic's blood pressure lowering properties. Garlic's selenium content is also said to be responsible for normalizing blood pressure while its germanium content is said to be responsible for the prevention of cancer growth. Garlic also contains the following biochemical compounds:

* Allicin (This compound acts as an antibiotic, but cooking diminishes its content in garlic)

* Allyls and Alliinase (these help vitamin B1 be more effective in the body)

* Allin (promotes the digestion of protein)

* Ajoene (allicin turns into ajoene and is useful for preventing blood clots)

For more than 5,000 years now, garlic has been widely used in Babylonian, Egyptian and Chinese traditional medicine. Recent studies conducted in the United States, Germany and India further prove that garlic can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. However, doctors remain cautious when it comes to provide a formal affirmation on garlic's healing powers, particularly its ability to lower blood pressure.

The efficacy of garlic was shown in a laboratory study conducted by the Michigan School of health where rats (placed on a high cholesterol diet) given garlic registered a 4% rise in cholesterol levels as opposed to the other group under the same diet (but were not fed garlic) which registered a 23% rise in cholesterol levels.

While there are no serious side effects or contraindications, patients who are about to undergo surgery should avoid garlic for a period beforehand as it tends to extend bleeding time. Anticoagulants are also not compatible with garlic intake so make sure to consult your doctor first before taking garlic with these and other mediations.

Those who cannot stand the strong odor of raw garlic can take it as a supplement or use garlic in their kitchen recipes. Garlic pasta is not only healthy but also tastes yummy. Putting some garlic on toasted bread works as sumptuous treat. You can also substitute salt with garlic in recipes to make dishes tastier. However, raw garlic is said to be more effective in lowering high blood pressure levels.