The quest for natural high blood pressure remedies is becoming more pronounced primarily because of the dreaded side effects of some of the hypertension medications. The other reason has also been the cost of purchasing hypertension medications more so in the developing countries of India and Africa.
Apart from these factors, doctors generally encourage lifestyle changes in dealing with hypertension issues. Patients are expected to drastically reduce their daily sodium intake from a high of 5400mg to a low of 1500mg if possible or at least 2300mg. Patients are also encouraged to stay fit via activities and aerobic exercises. Eating lots of fruits and veggies is also important in bringing high blood pressure under control.
Herbs that lower BP have consequently become popular in the context of a growing desire of patients to find these alternative natural remedies for hypertension. Amongst the many different herbs under pursuit is Garlic. Garlic has been discusses and considered for a while as being beneficial to hypertensive conditions. A recent study led by Dr Karin Ried from the University of Adelaide has gone a step further by specifically isolating garlic extract as a considerable solution to hypertension.
The researchers spent three months in a trial involving 50 people. The study during this period established that people with a systolic BP reading above 140 who administered garlic extract capsules enjoyed an average drop in systolic BP of 10.2mmHg lower than the control group which took fake capsules. The research noted that garlic extract was more effective than raw or cooked garlic or even powder garlic.
These results associated with garlic extract are particularly important because a fall in systolic BP by 5mmHg eliminates the risk of cardiovascular disease which might lead to stroke, heart failure and heart attack by some 8 to 20 per cent. The real scientific mechanisms behind the effectiveness of garlic lays behind the chemical substance nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) which are known to aid the relaxing of blood vessels. When blood vessels are stiff and hardened, BP is in turn elevated.
The role of herbs, vegetables and general lifestyle changes can not be underestimated in the quest to control blood pressure. Garlic extract capsules are found in most leading offline and online pharmacies including Amazon. As more and more patients seek out means and ways to reduce BP without continuing on drugs herbs such as garlic extract will only get more popular.
