A food supplement of aged garlic extract would reduce the production of fatty plaques on the arteries and reduce the risk of cardiovascular illnessesaccording to the results of a study published in the medical journal Journal of Nutrition.
Researchers at BioMed LA (United States) followed 55 patients aged 40 to 75 suffering from metabolic pathologies such ashypertensionL’obesity and cardiovascular risks. For a year, scientists measured changes in the volume of fat and calcium present in the arteries. Study participants took either a placebo or 2.4 mg of aged garlic extract each day.
The results of the study showed that “garlic eaters” slowed the accumulation of total fat plaque by 80%, reduced its density and experienced a decrease in it.
“This new study provides further evidence of the benefits of this supplement in ‘reducing plaque buildup and preventing the formation of new plaque in the arteries, which can cause heart disease.’ These deposits, usually rich in lipids (cholesterol), clog blood vessels and prevent blood flow,” says BioMed LA researcher Matthew J. Budoff.
Garlic a real health food
Garlic also acts on the main risk factors for cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes type 2: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sugar levels. “It helps to dilate the wall of blood vessels”, explains Franck Dubus, doctor of pharmacy. The caliber of the arteries increases, which lowers the blood pressure. As garlic is also a diuretic, it reduces the volume of water in the body, therefore blood volume and blood pressure”.
Garlic is also recommended in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, because its main assets help the liver to regulate excess sugar in the blood.
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