Hat Tip: Help My Hurt

Post from: Blisstree

Herbal Dietary Supplements and Anesthesia

The UAB researchers found this interaction triggered red blood cells to release H2S, which then led to the relaxation of blood vessels. Fresh garlic was used at a concentration equal to eating two cloves. The resulting H2S production caused up to 72 percent vessel relaxation in rat arteries.

“When these garlic compounds are metabolized to H2S in the vascular system, the H2S targets membrane channels and causes smooth muscle cells to relax,” Kraus said. “So a garlic-rich diet has many good effects, and H2S may be the common mediator.”

Future studies are being planned to better understand how much H2S production is needed through garlic or supplements to maximize those benefits.

Post from: Blisstree

How Garlic Reduce High Blood Pressure

Forty-nine participants were randomly assigned to receive raw garlic, 47 to take a powdered garlic supplement, 48 to take an aged garlic supplement and 48 to take placebo. The amount of garlic consumed in the three garlic groups was the equivalent of an average-sized garlic clove each day, six days per week.
There were no statistically significant effects of the three forms of garlic on LDL cholesterol concentrations. Levels of other types of cholesterol—including high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol), triglycerides and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio—also remained the same. No serious adverse events occurred, although bad body and breath odor were reported to occur often or almost always by 28 participants (57 percent) in the raw garlic group.

Ugh.

On the other hand, the authors said that although garlic doesn’t seem to be effective in this subset of patients with moderately high LDL, garlic might benefit those with higher LDL concentrations. Indeed, the accompanying editorial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, where the above study was published, these results mentioned above do not demonstrate that garlic has no usefulness in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Pity that I don’t have access to the whole text, though, so I can’t elaborate.

Post from: Blisstree

Garlic Does NOT Lower Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Moderately High LDL Levels

Numerous studies have indicated that the consumption of garlic and onions seems to reduce the risk of contracting cancer, particularly colon and stomach cancer.

People who used the most onion or garlic about a half-cup of chopped onion daily and a self-assessed “high” garlic consumption were from 10 percent to 88 percent less likely to have various types of cancer than those who said they used little or none.

Cancers compared included cancers of the esophagus, mouth and throat, colon, breast, ovary, prostate and kidney. High onion intake, for example, was associated with a 56 percent lower risk of colon cancer and a 25 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to no onion intake.

The amount necessary to elicit an anti-cancer effects seems to vary among the studies, though, and there are indications that the effects are enhanced when consumed with other compounds that work through different pathways. So it seems that it might not necessarily make sense to go after garlic capsules and supplements, and it would be better to incorporate them instead in your meals.

So if you’re one of those who are put off by garlicky smell, you might want to re-consider it. Bad breath or cancer?

Post from: Blisstree

Ward Off Cancer with Garlic and Onions

Well, assuming that the scientific bases are all ironed out… er, have you ever chewed raw garlic?

NutraProducts, Inc have addressed the issue of, er, bad breath associated with garlic consumption and have come up with Garli-Eze®, a new formulation of dehydrated garlic powder :

“[snip] Using innovative state-of-the-art manufacturing we have developed a process that delivers as much natural allicin as fresh garlic without offensive odors or discomfort. This new, all natural proprietary process is designed to eliminate the degradation of alliinase which occurs when high potency garlic mixes with stomach acid. In fact, Garli-Eze activates in stomach acid yet doesn’t use an ‘enteric coating’, which typically employs a mix of synthetic chemicals designed to protect the capsule contents from stomach acid. Garli-Eze is the first commercial garlic product to perform like fresh, raw garlic.”

All these sounds great, of course. The only thing that troubles me is that when I searched for more information on Garli-eze, it seems that it’s also a product meant for horses. Or am I just being squeamish?

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Garlic Benefits Without the Garlic Smell