Garlic: The Best Ingredient To Lower Cholesterol
By Jyoti Pachisia
Cholesterol and the consumption of garlic are highly linked, as garlic provides various health benefits that help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.Garlic is rich in antioxidants that prevent cellular oxidative damage.
According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, garlic contains thiosulfate chemicals, which get converted to allicin when exposed to air while chopping and cutting the pods. This allicin helps reduce cholesterol levels and clean the blood vessels.
As per research by PubMed Central, garlic contains around 33 sulfur compounds such as alliin, allicin, azi, allyl propyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, S-allyl mercapto cysteine , and many more, and each of them works in different ways in the body. This garlic also contains 17 amino acids and minerals such as selenium, germanium, and tellurium that keep tissues and muscles healthy. These compounds are helpful in the repair of wear and tear of DNA. Apart from these, it helps the body maintain good metabolism and prevents fat accumulation. The anti-inflammatory properties help keep the bones healthy.
How Consumption Of Garlic Helps Lower Cholesterol?
The sulfur present in garlic helps keep blood vessels healthy in people with high cholesterol. Research has shown that eating a clove of garlic every day reduces a person's cholesterol level by around 10%. Consuming approximately 20 grams of garlic with a tablespoon of lemon juice reduces cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It acts as a cleansing agent for the veins and reduces bad fat lipids. Hence, consuming a clove of garlic helps reduce cholesterol levels to a great extent.
Recently, it has been found that garlic combined with water is a potent natural detoxifying agent that improves digestion and boosts the immune system. This detoxifier is a home-based remedy that helps reduce total cholesterol levels , specifically, LDL and triglycerides. You can add this garlic water to various dishes like soups, salads,and lentils to enhance the taste.
To prepare garlic water, steep garlic in cold water overnight, strain, and consume the water the next day. Consume this garlic water on an empty stomach, but due to its peculiar taste and strong flavor, you might feel puckish in the morning; hence, you can use the water in your dishes.
Garlic peels usually find their way to the trash but they are extremely high in quercetin and phenylpropanoid antioxidants that have antiatherogenic effects. Garlic peels help increase immunity and reduce the risk of inflammation while improving the activity of blood vessels.
In conclusion, adding garlic to your diet offers numerous health benefits - especially when it comes to lowering your risk factors associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). You can either consume raw garlic cloves or prepare a paste or incorporate them into dishes or simply use them aromatically (through cooking). There's no doubt that regular consumption of garlic could potentially make such a difference in managing/preventing cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks & strokes alike.
