eTopical Precious Finds
I hope you like garlic, because it likes you.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the cells of the body. It plays an important role in producing hormones and vitamin D which helps digest food. It is also essential in building healthy cells.
While cholesterol is beneficial to the body, too much is a bad thing. If cholesterol levels are too high, fatty deposits may form in blood cells making it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries.
September is National Cholesterol Education Month and September 24 is World Heart Day. This makes the month a great time to think about what you can do to keep your cholesterol under control.
Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent high cholesterol naturally and including garlic in your diet is one. Read on to find out how this vegetable can be beneficial to your heart health.
Garlic and Cholesterol
Garlic is a vegetable that belongs to the onion family. It is often used in food flavoring, but it has also been used throughout time for its medicinal value.
There are many health benefits garlic provides but its ability to lower cholesterol may be the most important. Animal and human studies have shown that garlic can produce cholesterol lowering results while leaving levels of good cholesterol unaffected. The more garlic you take, the lower your cholesterol will drop.
It is thought that garlic’s cholesterol lowering properties may be due to its allicin content. This is a compound that’s produced when garlic is crushed or chopped. It is known to lower the risk of diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and, of course, high cholesterol.
Because allicin is believed to be the active ingredient in garlic when it comes to the health benefits it provides, the vegetable should be consumed in a way where high amounts of allicin are available. There is some debate as to which form of garlic is most effective in lowering cholesterol with powder, extract, oil, tablets, and raw forms being considered.
How to Add Garlic to Your Diet
In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, garlic has also been shown to combat sicknesses like the flu and the common cold. It has antioxidants that may prevent dementia, it may improve bone health, it can play a role in detoxification, and it may support athletic performance. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that you would want to add more to your diet.
Those looking to consume more garlic can add it to recipes, but a more convenient option is to take it in supplemental form. If you choose to go that route, Standard Process Garlic is a great choice.
Standard Process has been producing natural supplements with a whole foods’ philosophy since 1929. Their garlic supplement is recommended for improving circulation, supporting liver and lung function, enhancing immune system response, and maintaining normal cholesterol levels. It is rich in antioxidants and gluten free.
Garlic is terrific for heart health, and it supports so many other functions in the body. It’s an essential part of any diet. How will you be adding it to your routine?
