The Hindu Business Line : Eat garlic daily 'to lower high blood pressure'

LONDON: Suffering from hypertension? Well, a daily dose of garlic could help save your life, for a study has revealed that it lowers high blood pressure as effectively as modern medicines.

A large number of people across the world have high blood pressure, but an even larger number are believed to have been suffering from the condition without knowing it.

Without effective treatment, it can trigger heart attacks and strokes. Doctors usually recommend sufferers to slash their daily intake of salt, losing weight and getting fit, apart from taking medicines if required to reduce blood pressure readings to t he safe level of 140/90.

Now, a team at Adelaide University has found the role of garlic in reducing high blood pressure. In fact researchers have based their findings on an analysis of patients suffering from hypertension, who consumed garlic supplements every day for up to fiv e months.

They found blood pressure levels of the participants dropping significantly. The higher a person's blood pressure was at the beginning of the study, the more taking garlic reduced it.

"In some cases, the effects were similar to those achieved with common anti-blood pressure drugs," the 'Daily Mail' quoted lead researcher Mr Karin Ried as saying.

According to the researchers, the 600 mg to 900 mg dosage used in the study was equivalent to 3.6 mg to 5.4 mg of garlic's active ingredient, allicin. A fresh clove of garlic contains 5 mg to 9 mg of allicin.

The findings have been published in the latest edition of the 'BMC Cardiovascular Disorders' journal. - PTI

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