How does garlic affect the heart, blood vessels and blood pressure: how is it beneficial and harmful, can it cause pain in the chest area?

Composition of the product

Garlic, like other vegetables and fruits, is a storehouse of vitamins, despite different opinions regarding its taste. It contains various vitamins: B1, B3, as well as D and C. The beneficial substances inside garlic consist of mineral salts, calcium, magnesium and iodine, as well as sodium. There are three types of acid inside the product: phosphoric, silicic and sulfuric. In addition to the above substances, the cloves of this vegetable contain such useful components as:

allicin;
phytoncides;
inulin;
lysine;
phytosterols;
ajoene;
other vitamins and minerals.

The benefits of the internal composition of garlic are manifested in the action of these substances, and also in the fact that they are not obtained synthetically, but are created by natural conditions, which means they will be easier to absorb by the human body. Let us remind you that we have already reviewed 5 facts about the effect of onions on the heart and blood vessels.

How does it affect the cardiovascular system?

Garlic has been the subject of numerous studies over and over again. The purpose of such tests was to identify the effect of this product on the human body. In the course of the studies , both evidence of a positive effect on cardiac activity and harm was revealed. Therefore, before consuming garlic, you should carefully read its effects and contraindications for use in food.

Can it be harmful?

Garlic cloves contain some toxic elements. It is difficult to say with certainty whether they will have an effect on the human body or not. Some people are resistant to such substances and easily tolerate the effects of the product. Others have problems with emerging allergic reactions.

People who do not experience problems with the digestive tract and cardiac activity are not recommended to introduce garlic into their diet at night. This vegetable causes heartburn in the evening and leads to abdominal pain. Therefore, it is better to choose the morning hours for reception.

The components that make up garlic are instantly distributed throughout the body, which in many cases leads to erosion of the mucous membrane, thereby creating disruptions in cardiac activity, as well as the liver and kidneys. Boiled garlic has much less negative effects than fresh garlic.

Pregnancy and lactation should be accompanied by a complete refusal to eat garlic, since neglecting this recommendation can harm the fetus.

Harmful substances inside a clove of garlic create an excess of toxic substances in the body, which subsequently leads to an increase in cholesterol levels, and then to disruptions in the functioning of many organs, including the heart.

Can garlic cause heart pain and why?

Garlic is often used in folk medicine, since many people think that it only benefits the human immune system and has a general strengthening effect on the blood vessels in the body. However, it has been noticed that in some cases, this product causes increased discomfort in the heart area.

The negative effects of garlic can affect those people who suffer from nervous diseases or serious problems with the heart, and its treatment. The fact is that special substances in the composition can lead to pain in the heart area. In some cases, this manifests itself as choking and pain in the abdominal area, and sometimes vomiting after eating garlic.

If you experience the symptoms described above when consuming garlic, you should stop taking the product and consult a doctor.

In what cases is it useful?

Scientists who conducted research on garlic found that allicin in its composition begins to have a contact effect with red blood cells in the human body.

As a result of mixing, a certain chemical reaction occurs, during which hydrogen sulfide is released. Under the influence of hydrogen sulfide, blood flow increases, and the tension in the vascular walls gradually decreases.

Hydrogen sulfide gives off an unpleasant aroma, so many people do not want to eat the healthy cloves of this product, but it is completely in vain, since it creates a gap in the walls of blood vessels, which improves blood flow. In addition, this product reduces the load on the heart muscle, which has a positive effect in the fight against atherosclerosis and heart attack.

Manganese and vitamin B6 , which are part of garlic, as well as a high dose of ascorbic acid, give this product the properties of strengthening blood vessels and eliminating problems with the heart.

How does it affect blood pressure?

Medical experts say that regular consumption of garlic can reduce high blood pressure. Studies have shown that one clove of the product per day reduces blood pressure by about 10 units. The course of treatment must be at least a month.

At the same time, we must not forget about medications aimed against hypertension. When taken together, these drugs have an increased effect in the fight to normalize blood pressure.

The process of reducing pressure is carried out under the influence of nitrogen oxide and the production of hydrogen sulfide. These two elements have a beneficial effect on vascular relaxation.

Also check out the infographic:

Step-by-step instructions for preparing folk remedies and treating them

With honey and lemon

Ingredients:

200g honey;
5 heads of garlic;
6 pieces of lemon;
3 liters of warm boiled water.

Preparation:

Peel the garlic, rinse.
Wash the lemon thoroughly in water, remove the seeds, without peeling.
Grind with garlic using a blender or meat grinder.
Add honey to the resulting mixture.
Stir, pour into a jar and add water.
Place the resulting tincture in the refrigerator for 48 hours.
After the specified period, strain the tincture and leave only the liquid.

This remedy should be taken 20 minutes before meals. The initial dose is 50 ml, then you can increase the dose to 100 ml. This composition cleanses blood vessels and supports the heart muscles. Has a positive effect on coronary artery disease (ischemia).

With lemon

Ingredients:

4 pieces of lemon;
4 heads of garlic.

Preparation:

Pour the crushed mixture of lemon and garlic into a three-liter jar.
Fill with warm boiled water up to the neck.
Store at room temperature for 3 days.
Then strain and put the finished tincture in the refrigerator.

Course – 40 days. Take 3 times a day, 100 ml. But you need to remember that without discussing treatment with a doctor, there are risks of other diseases, so it makes sense to reduce the dose to 2 tablespoons. The impact will be less, but the bad effect on the stomach and other organs will also be reduced.

Reference! This tincture will help cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol, which will return blood pressure to normal.

Use for various diseases

For some diseases associated with the heart, garlic is recommended for use, which was confirmed by one large-scale study . In order to understand the benefits and harms of this product, you need to study its effect on the heart in various diseases.

Is it possible to eat it if you have arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia manifests itself in the disruption of heart rhythms, that is, rapid heartbeat, which occurs for many reasons.

Excessive consumption of garlic is contraindicated, but with regular addition of this product in small quantities, arrhythmia may recede , which is associated with the increased content of nutrients and vitamins in the vegetable.

Properly consumed garlic, with this type of disease, cannot harm the body, but, on the contrary, will have a strengthening effect.

For hypertension

Garlic is also useful for hypertension, as is motherwort or hawthorn. Some scientists claim that blood pressure is reduced by 7-10 units, while others claim that the effect of taking this product is very insignificant.

Fresh garlic delivers the greatest effect than the product that is produced on its basis, that is, capsules and other food additives. This is explained by the fact that they contain less allicin than the fresh product.

For heart failure

Flavonoids and allicin in garlic can protect a person from heart failure. It is important to remember that with chronic low blood pressure, the consumption of this vegetable should be minimized , since garlic tends to reduce blood pressure levels.

Does it matter how it's cooked?

Doctors advise eating it before meals in the morning or during the day, preferably raw, chopped (you can read about how you can eat garlic without chewing it and what time of day it is best to eat it here, and from this article you will learn about the benefits of eating this vegetable on an empty stomach - benefit or harm to the body). Beneficial substances retain their activity for no more than 25 minutes after mechanical action on garlic, so it is worth consuming immediately. A product that is dried or processed into powder does not contain any vitamins and does not provide any benefits , only the smell and taste remain.

Garlic tablets

Many people are accustomed to eating garlic, but not all of them like its aroma. The way out of this situation is to take garlic tablets.

The shell covering the active substance does not dissolve in the mouth, but releases beneficial substances only in the human stomach, where absorption of nutrients occurs.

You can buy tablets in supermarkets, pharmacies and online. Before use, you should definitely read the instructions for use and only then take it. The positive properties of the tablets are not inferior to fresh garlic, but at the same time they leave the oral cavity without an unpleasant odor. It is important to remember that such drugs are contraindicated for nursing mothers and pregnant women.

Use to lower blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, it is extremely beneficial to consume garlic.

To obtain a beneficial effect, you should eat a clove in the morning and evening. The course should last from 1 to several months.

This vegetable will help reduce blood pressure. But it is not recommended to use it to treat hypertension. Garlic for blood pressure is more suitable as an addition to basic drug therapy .

Letting hypertension take its course is life-threatening. In the chronic form of the disease, treatment should consist of a whole range of measures:

reduce the amount of salt in your diet;
nutrition according to a certain scheme;
physiotherapeutic measures;
taking medications that help lower blood pressure.

Among the most famous effective recipes for lowering blood pressure is a decoction of garlic with milk:

Pour 250 ml of milk into a convenient container and put on fire.
Peel 2 small heads of garlic from the top layer of peel.
Boil garlic in milk until soft.
Cool the finished broth and strain.
Take 3 times a day, 12 g after meals.
The course lasts 2 weeks.

4 more properties of this vegetable

In addition to its positive effect on cardiovascular activity, garlic has the following effects on the body:

this plant counteracts carcinogens , that is, the beginnings of cancer;
has benefits for the digestive system , that is, it restores balance in the microflora and destroys harmful bacteria;
affects the state of male potency , substances in the product help cope with dysfunction and promote erection;
allicin in the plant eliminates toothache if you apply a squeeze of it to the affected area in the mouth.

Contraindications

It is not recommended to consume this vegetable if you are taking heart medications - these components are not compatible. In most cases, it suppresses medications, reducing all their effects to “no”.

Also, due to the presence of toxic elements, it can cause serious allergies and even a heart attack in some people.

Important! Taking garlic on your own is highly not recommended for people with problems with the nervous system, as well as for serious heart diseases.