Black garlic looks pretty much like regular garlic on the outside. Although the skin tends to be a bit more yellow. But if you ever open up a bulb without knowing what it is, you’re in for a bit of a shock.
The black and shriveled cloves inside will likely have you heading straight to the trash to toss it out. Don’t. Because despite its appearance, black garlic is actually the “good stuff.”
It’s technically aged garlic. However, since the name doesn’t sound very appetizing to some folks, it’s often called “black garlic.”
But, as you’ll see in a moment, this black stuff is pure gold when it comes to overall cardiovascular health. And now, new research reveals yet another reason to put a little of this black magic on your own menu.
According to the study, aged garlic can help dial down your blood pressure. That’s exciting enough on its own. But it also does it in a way that few other solutions can.
Cut blood pressure with black garlic
Most research on hypertension focuses on systolic blood pressure. That’s the top number. And in the past, it was always assumed to be the “important” one.
These days we know diastolic blood pressure – the bottom number – is every bit as important. But because of that long-running assumption, most of the treatments we have are geared at reducing your systolic pressure.
In other words, getting that bottom number to budge can be a big challenge.
But that’s where aged garlic comes to the rescue in a BIG way. The new study finds it could help reduce that bottom number by an average of nearly six points compared to a placebo.
Plus, it appears to help best exactly where it’s needed most. And that, of course, is in folks with higher blood pressure, to begin with. The bigger the initial number, the bigger the potential black garlic benefit.
The study happened to focus on guys with elevated cholesterol. But there’s every reason to believe everyone else, including women, would see a similar benefit.
And that’s not the only reason to consider aged garlic for your daily routine. In fact, garlic, in general, has truly earned its superfood title.
Keep your blood vessels clear with garlic
Cutting blood pressure is a pretty nifty trick on its own. And that’s especially true when it’s that more challenging diastolic number.
But aged garlic can do something else that’s equally as important. It’s practically a street sweeper for your blood vessels.
Black garlic can help drag out anything that doesn’t belong in those vessels. And that includes those junky particles that try to stick to blood vessel walls causing blockages, buildups, and hardening.
You can buy aged garlic and add it to your recipes as I do. It’s delicious with a milder and slightly sweeter flavor than regular garlic.
You can even eat it raw if you like. And if you’re feeling like indulging yourself, it makes for a great spread on bread or crackers.
But if garlic’s not your thing… or you just want to make sure you get a consistent amount to help dial down your blood pressure… you’ll want an extract. That’s the form used in the new study.
The most popular brand is called Kyolic, but there are many other options out there. Your doctor can help figure out the best one for you.
Check out my earlier report, “8 astonishing reasons to eat more garlic,” for even MORE fantastic things garlic can do for your health.
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