Is Garlic Good for My Heart and Health?

By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International

Garlic breath—not very attractive for those around you, but very attractive for the health of your heart. A recent study conducted through the University of Connecticut School of Medicine found that fresh crushed garlic is better for your heart than garlic pills or processed garlic [1]. Cardiovascular health and garlic has been studied for hundreds of years, and it is well known to strengthen the arteries and vessels that pump directly to your heart muscle. Other benefits of garlic include:

• Lowering of blood pressure
• Boosting of the immune system
• Promoting greater weight control
• Asthma relief
• Sore throats, acne, and ear infection treatment

By integrating one fresh clove of garlic into your diet each day, you’ll add a greater amount of antioxidants into your system, while keeping your arteries and blood vessels supple. Through this, you’ll ultimately give yourself more tools necessary to fight off illness and disease. This pungent pleasure isn’t anything to run away from.

References

1. Garlic for a Healthy Heart? Go Fresh, Study Says. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/science/04obgarlic.html?ref=nutrition
Accessed on the web August 5, 2009.