Is garlic bad for high blood pressure

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Garlic, belonging to onion family, is used frequently in Indian kitchens to flavour curries, chutneys, snacks and more. Known as 'rasona' In Ayurveda, it has been trusted as an effective medicine for controlling blood pressure for thousands of years. Garlic's BP-lowering properties are mostly because of a compound allicin in it which promotes blood vessel health and partly because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which also contribute in keeping the blood pressure in control. (Also read: People are finding it hard to digest this ice cream made of garlic cloves. Watch)

Some studies have also supported garlic as a natural way to bring down blood pressure. According to an article published in National Library of Medicine, the meta-analysis of 12 trials and 553 hypertensive participants confirmed that garlic supplements lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 8.3±1.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, n=8 trials, n=374 subjects) by 5.5±1.9 mmHg, similarly to standard anti-hypertensive medications.

However, it is advised not to take garlic supplements if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medications. Some other side-effects of taking garlic supplements could be stomach upset, gas, reflux, or abdominal pain.

Ayurveda expert Dr Dixa Bhavsar in her recent Instagram post talked about garlic and its effectiveness in lowering blood pressure.

"So my dad got diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) in Dec 2021 and ever since I've been giving him 1 raw garlic clove to chew first thing in the morning and it's really working for him. I'm sharing the remedy with you all only after getting positive follow ups from more than 500 patients of mine (of all ages from late 20's to late 80's)," says Dr Bhavsar.

Talking about the properties of garlic that help in blood pressure, the Ayurveda expert says it possesses anti-hypertensive property due to its piercing, pungent and vata-kapha reducing qualities which help in clearing the body channels (best for blockages).

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

Dr Bhavsar lists all the benefits of garlic:

- It helps in controlling blood pressure

- Eating garlic can reduce joint pain

- Garlic helps in eliminating worms (krimi)

- Garlic also have cholesterol lowering properties

- Garlic wards off cough and cold

- It improves digestion

- Garlic boosts immunity

- It improves brain functioning

- It helps in balancing blood sugar

- Garlic helps in weight loss

BEST WAYS TO CONSUME GARLIC

* Chew 1 garlic clove daily first thing in the morning for Vata-kapha prakriti.

* For pitta (people with heat issues)- Either fry it in ghee or have it with breakfast/lunch (and not on empty stomach) as its hot in nature.

* Various bioactive compounds present in this herb which also helps providing various health benefits are:

Volatile oil - 0.06-0.1%

Carbohydrates - Arabinose, Galactose etc

Vitamins - folic acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, thiamine, vit c

Amino acids - (arinic, Asparagic acid, methionine etc.);

Enzymes - allinase

Volatile compounds - allylalcohol, allylthiol, allylpropyl disulphide etc.

Dr Bhavsar warns that one shouldn't stop their anti-hypertensive medicines even if they are taking garlic daily. She says it works best for preventive purpose which means if you have high blood pressure in family history, you can prevent it with garlic consumption and healthy lifestyle.

"For managing blood pressure- have it daily for 21 days and then measure your blood pressure. Continuing it for 8-12 weeks along with healthy lifestyle choices (if needed- with herbs like Gokshur, Arjun, etc) can reduce the dependency on anti-hypertensive pills for sure," says Dr Bhavsar.

This article looks at garlic and its use against high blood pressure. It also discusses whether the evidence really points to its effectiveness for this purpose.

How Garlic Is Thought to Help Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. It can increase your risk of heart attack, and stroke and lead to major health issues like kidney damage and vision loss. It is also linked to memory impairment.

There is limited evidence garlic may be associated with a small reduction in blood pressure. It's thought that garlic may help lower blood pressure in part by stimulating the production of nitric oxide. This is a compound that helps relax and widen your blood vessels, which improves blood flow and reduces blood pressure.

What Research Says

The research into garlic and blood pressure is unfortunately very limited. Most studies are small and some are poorly designed. This makes it difficult for health officials to recommend garlic as a treatment for high blood pressure.

A 2015 review looked at nine studies with a total of 482 participants. The studies seemed to suggest that garlic supplementation reduced high blood pressure more effectively than a placebo. However, the authors found that if they looked only at the most well-designed studies, the benefits were reduced.

A 2013 Cochrane review looked at two trials involving 87 participants with hypertension. It concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to say whether garlic supplements could help reduce mortality in patients with high blood pressure.

Most studies that have found a benefit have looked at very high doses of a garlic supplement. Simply eating more garlic will not have any effect on your blood pressure.

Possible Side Effects

Garlic in food eaten in normal amounts is probably safe for most people. There is very little data about the safety of taking large amounts of garlic supplements, though. High doses may produce side effects such as:

• Upset stomach
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Increased risk of bleeding
  

Garlic supplements may also interfere with certain drugs and other supplements. People who are pregnant, nursing, or have a bleeding disorder shouldn't take garlic supplements.

Garlic may slow blood clotting. Garlic should not be taken with blood-thinning medications, including aspirin and warfarin, or certain supplements such as ginkgo. These combinations could raise your risk of adverse effects like bleeding and bruising.

Other Natural Alternatives

Lifestyle practices are crucial for controlling your blood pressure. These practices include:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Limiting your intake of sodium and alcohol
• Achieving and/or maintaining a healthy weight
• Exercising regularly
• Avoiding smoking
• Practicing stress-reduction

There's also some evidence that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D may help reduce blood pressure.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Treatment

Using Garlic to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Garlic is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin B6 and a healthy way to add flavor to your meals. Even though there is some evidence it may protect against high blood pressure, it should not be used as a substitute for standard medical care. At this time, the American College of Cardiology does not recommend garlic or any herbal medications as treatment for any cardiovascular disease.

Does Garlic Lower Cholesterol?

Summary

There is limited evidence that large amounts of garlic supplements may reduce high blood pressure. Many of the studies that have looked into this, however, are small and not well-designed.

Garlic supplements may cause stomach problems and can interact with some medication. Don't take garlic supplements if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medications.

Garlic can be a healthy part of your diet, but it should not be used as a substitute for medical care. If you have hypertension, talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does garlic lower blood pressure?

  The jury is out as to whether garlic can actually lower blood pressure. Some studies have shown high doses of garlic supplements can reduce blood pressure better than a placebo. However, a review of additional studies did not find sufficient evidence that garlic supplements can lower blood pressure enough to make a difference in a person’s risk of death from high blood pressure. 

• Do garlic supplements cause heartburn?

  Yes, garlic supplements can cause gastrointestinal side effects including heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea. 

• Can I take garlic supplements with blood thinners?

  No, garlic may slow blood clotting and should not be taken with blood-thinning medications as it can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. This includes anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, and antiplatelets including aspirin and clopidogrel. Certain supplements, like ginkgo, can also thin blood and should not be taken with garlic supplements. 

  How fast does garlic lower your blood pressure?

  In double-blind studies with garlic, preparations provided a daily dose of at least 10 mg allicin. Blood pressure readings dropped with typical reductions of 11 mm Hg for the systolic and 5.0 in the diastolic. This occurred within a 1 to 3-month period. To get enough allicin, eat 1 to 4 cloves of fresh garlic a day.

  How much garlic should I take for high blood pressure?

  So far, this report has provided the following garlic doses for treating hypertension: 188mg of garlic powder mixed with egg-yolk taken daily for twelve weeks. 400mg of raw garlic taken daily for six months. 240-2,400mg of aged garlic extract a day for two to twenty-three weeks.

  Why does garlic lower blood pressure?

  If garlic does indeed lower blood pressure, we're still not completely sure how. Our best guess is that our red blood cells respond to the sulfur in garlic, creating nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gasses. These compounds relax and expand our blood vessels.