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The Miracles Of Garlic (#4 Is The Most Unexpected!)
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Garlic is a condiment popular in many cultures all over the world, particularly in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a distinct flavor on its own, but it can also help accentuate the flavor of other items, making it one of the most widely used ingredients on the the planet. Most people know on some level that garlic is considered a healthy food, but few are aware of just how powerful an effect this wonderful vegetable can have on their lives. As you’ll learn in this article, garlic rightly belongs in the pantheon of superfoods due to its wide range of health benefits.
Garlic belongs to the onion or “allium” family of vegetables, and it is similar in taste and consistency to onions, leeks, and shallots. What makes garlic such an incredibly beneficial food is the presence of a sulfurous compound called allicin. This powerful molecule has been shown to play a role in improving health in numerous ways, including the following.
Reducing blood pressure
Studies have shown garlic consumption to be highly effective at reducing blood pressure in adults with hypertension (high blood pressure). Left untreated, severe hypertension can contribute to a heart attack or stroke.
Studies conducted in the United States, Australia, Pakistan, and China have all produced evidence proving garlic’s ability to contribute to lowered blood pressure. One study examined the effects of aged garlic extract supplementation on those with hypertension. Test subjects took doses ranging from 600 mg to 1000 mg over a 24-week period. The results were amazing: Garlic extract proved just as effective as the blood pressure medication Atenolol!
This is welcome news for those with high blood pressure who do not wish to endure the unpleasant side effects of certain blood pressure meds, such as dizziness or erectile dysfunction.
Garlic may play a role in preventing dementia
Garlic is packed with antioxidants which help fight the aging process and keep your mind sharp and alert. Aging is caused by oxidative stress on the body’s cells, which is linked to the presence of free radicals.
Garlic is rich in exactly the type of antioxidants your body requires to counteract the effects of free radicals, and protect the brain from inflammation associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
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