Take garlic oil to maintain a healthy heart

Thursday, October 21, 2010 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: garlic, heart health, health news

(NaturalNews) Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S., including among those with diabetes who often eventually die from some form of cardiovascular illness. But a new study out of China Medical University in Taiwan has found that garlic oil prevents cardiomyopathy, the most common type of heart disease responsible for diabetes-related deaths, and may help to prevent heart disease from ever forming at all.

Previous studies have shown that garlic promotes heart health, but the new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reveals specifically how the bulbous plant helps diabetics with cardiomyopathy.

Wei-Wen Kuo and colleagues from the university fed either corn oil or garlic oil to diabetic rats, observing their health status in relation to the two treatments. They found that garlic oil improves antioxidant enzyme expression, lowers heart inflammation and stops cell death, effectively maintaining the integrity of vital heart tissue.

"[G]arlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy," says the study report, highlighting that over 20 different substances in garlic oil provide therapeutic benefits, including allicin, a powerful organosulfur compound.

Garlic is also effective at regulating blood pressure. When incorporated as part of a regular, healthy diet, garlic serves as a "multipurpose medicinal food", says Larry Trivieri, Jr., in his book Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition.

"Studies show that garlic has antibiotic properties as well as the ability to fight fungal infections, and at least twenty-eight studies have found garlic effective for lowering cholesterol levels," explains Peggy Thomas in her book Medicines From Nature.

For more information about the many benefits of garlic, check out the HerbReference.com "Garlic" page:
http://www.herbreference.com/garlic.html

Editor's Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support the implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and well-being of all living creatures.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-...

http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac...