Garlic is a popular spice used in various dishes to add flavor and aroma. In addition to its culinary uses, garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.
Today, garlic supplements are widely available for those who want to experience the health benefits of garlic without the strong odor. Odorless garlic is a specially processed garlic supplement that eliminates the unpleasant smell commonly associated with garlic intake.
How Odorless Garlic Works in Lowering Blood Pressure
For many years, garlic has been known to have a positive impact on hypertension or high blood pressure. The active component in garlic is a sulfur-containing compound called allicin.
Allicin is known to produce nitric oxide in the body, a molecule that helps relax the blood vessels and increase blood flow. As a result, the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood, thus reducing the pressure on blood vessels.
Additionally, garlic supplements help lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the body, reducing the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks, which are associated with high blood pressure.
What the Science Says About Odorless Garlic and Blood Pressure
The effectiveness of odorless garlic in reducing blood pressure has been studied extensively.
In a meta-analysis of 7 studies, it was found that garlic supplements can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 7.7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 5.0 mmHg. Another study involving 50 patients with high blood pressure found that taking 400mg of garlic supplements daily for 12 weeks significantly reduced SBP by 5.5 mmHg and DBP by 4.6 mmHg.
These findings suggest that odorless garlic can be an effective natural remedy for hypertension.
How to Incorporate Odorless Garlic Into Your Diet
If you are considering incorporating odorless garlic into your diet to help lower your blood pressure, there are several ways to do so. Odorless garlic is widely available in supplement form, which makes it easy to take on a daily basis.
However, garlic can also be added to your meals. You will not get as much of the active compound allicin from raw garlic as compared to supplements, but it can still be beneficial. Some popular ways to use garlic in cooking include:.
- Adding it to sauces and dressings
- Mixed into meat dishes
- Incorporating it into soups and stews
- Oven roasting garlic for a sweet, nutty flavor
Who Should Avoid Odorless Garlic?
Although garlic is largely safe for most people, there are some rare cases where it should be avoided or used with caution.
Those who take blood-thinning medications should talk to their doctor before using garlic supplements since it can increase the risk of bleeding. Additionally, garlic can cause heartburn, upset stomach, and bad breath in some people. Pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding should also avoid using garlic supplements.
If you are allergic to garlic or other plants in the allium family such as onions and leeks, then you should also avoid using garlic supplements.
The Bottom Line on Odorless Garlic and Blood Pressure
Odorless garlic can be an effective natural remedy to help reduce hypertension, a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. The active compound in garlic, allicin, produces nitric oxide in the body, which helps lower blood pressure.
Garlic supplements have been found to significantly reduce blood pressure in several studies. Incorporating garlic into your diet can also be beneficial but may not be as effective as supplements.
Although garlic is largely safe for most people, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking blood-thinning medications, or are allergic to garlic or other plants in the allium family should avoid using garlic supplements.