Why garlic is good for the heart

[Guest guest]

Researchers have cracked the mystery of why eating garlic can help

keep the heart healthy.

The key is allicin, which is broken down into the foul-smelling

sulphur compounds which taint breath.

These compounds react with red blood cells and produce hydrogen

sulphide which relaxes the blood vessels, and keeps blood flowing easily.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham research appears in

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Our results suggest garlic in the diet is a very good thing

says Dr Kraus of the University of Alabama, one of the authors

of the study.

However, UK experts warned taking garlic supplements could lead to

side effects.

Hydrogen sulphide generates a smell of rotten eggs and is used to make

stink bombs.

But at low concentrations it plays a vital role in helping cells to

communicate with each other.

And within the blood vessels it stimulates the cells that form the

lining to relax, causing the vessels to dilate.

This, in turn, reduces blood pressure, allowing the blood to carry

more oxygen to essential organs, and reducing pressure on the heart.

The Alabama team bathed rat blood vessels in a bath containing juice

from crushed garlic.

Striking results

This produced striking results - with tension within the vessels

reduced by 72%.

The researchers also found that red blood cells exposed to minute

amounts of juice extracted from supermarket garlic immediately began

emitting hydrogen sulphide.

Further experiments showed that the chemical reaction took place

mainly on the surface of the blood cells.

The researchers suggest that hydrogen sulphide production in red blood

cells could be used to standardise dietary garlic supplements.

" Certainly in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the

Mediterranean and the Far East, there is a low incidence of

cardiovascular disease. "

Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation,

said: " This interesting study suggests that garlic may provide some

heart health benefits.

" However, there remains insufficient evidence to support the notion of

eating garlic as medicine in order to reduce the risk of developing

coronary heart disease.

" Having garlic as part of a varied diet is a matter of personal choice.

" It is important to note that large amounts in supplement form may

interact with blood thinning drugs and could increase the risk of

bleeding. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7045557.stm

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

This raises the question as to the best way to take garlic.

FWIW I occasionally (~once a week) chop a clove of garlic into pill-

sized pieces and swallow them with warm tea, as if they are pills,

without chewing.

This way I get raw garlic into my system without complaints from the

neighbors : ^ )))

Somewhere a long time ago I read a paper which reported that powdered

garlic did not have the effects of raw garlic. But I forget now what

they had been testing it for. Any documentation on this would be

helpful.

Any other suggestions for good ways to take it?

Rodney.

>

>

> Researchers have cracked the mystery of why eating garlic can help

> keep the heart healthy.

>

> The key is allicin, which is broken down into the foul-smelling

> sulphur compounds which taint breath.

>

> These compounds react with red blood cells and produce hydrogen

> sulphide which relaxes the blood vessels, and keeps blood flowing

easily.

>

> The University of Alabama at Birmingham research appears in

> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

>

>

> Our results suggest garlic in the diet is a very good thing

> says Dr Kraus of the University of Alabama, one of the authors

> of the study.

>

> However, UK experts warned taking garlic supplements could lead to

> side effects.

>

> Hydrogen sulphide generates a smell of rotten eggs and is used to

make

> stink bombs.

>

> But at low concentrations it plays a vital role in helping cells to

> communicate with each other.

>

> And within the blood vessels it stimulates the cells that form the

> lining to relax, causing the vessels to dilate.

>

> This, in turn, reduces blood pressure, allowing the blood to carry

> more oxygen to essential organs, and reducing pressure on the heart.

>

> The Alabama team bathed rat blood vessels in a bath containing juice

> from crushed garlic.

>

> Striking results

>

> This produced striking results - with tension within the vessels

> reduced by 72%.

>

> The researchers also found that red blood cells exposed to minute

> amounts of juice extracted from supermarket garlic immediately began

> emitting hydrogen sulphide.

>

> Further experiments showed that the chemical reaction took place

> mainly on the surface of the blood cells.

>

> The researchers suggest that hydrogen sulphide production in red

blood

> cells could be used to standardise dietary garlic supplements.

>

> " Certainly in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the

> Mediterranean and the Far East, there is a low incidence of

> cardiovascular disease. "

>

> Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation,

> said: " This interesting study suggests that garlic may provide some

> heart health benefits.

>

> " However, there remains insufficient evidence to support the notion

of

> eating garlic as medicine in order to reduce the risk of developing

> coronary heart disease.

>

> " Having garlic as part of a varied diet is a matter of personal

choice.

>

> " It is important to note that large amounts in supplement form may

> interact with blood thinning drugs and could increase the risk of

> bleeding. "

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7045557.stm

>