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| Garlic |
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Review
Summary |
 Many of us have heard that it is dangerous to have high levels of cholesterol, and that this condition is potentially life threatening. This is because cholesterol, very much like fat, can’t be transported through bloodstream under its own power, because it is not water soluble. For this reason, it is carried through the blood stream in small particles, which are referred to as lipoproteins. This element is a bit like a blood sailing cargo ship, which takes cholesterol to a variety of ports in the body, where it is used to enable the body to run smoothly.
However, when there is too much, due to biological processes, genetics or because of a diet rich in cholesterol-laden foods, the arteries may become clogged with cholesterol, which prevents the blood from flowing, thereby increasing our risk for heart attack and stroke. When our cholesterol levels are too high, health care providers may suggest a new diet and/or a medication to get them under control.
Nevertheless, many people balk at using these medications, because they may have some severe potential side effects. As a result, the holistic market has started creating formulas geared toward preventing and addressing high cholesterol issues. Garlic has gained a reputation for being able to increase heart health, as well as lowering cholesterol levels. It is often used alone, or in conjunction with other extracts.
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| Ingredient at a Glance |
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Garlic is also known as Allium sativum L., and it is very closely related to the onion, the shallot and the leek. Garlic has a long history of being used throughout history for culinary and medicinal purposes – dating back to the Egyptians. Many medical claims are associated with Garlic, including that it may ease or prevent heart disease, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, cancer and high blood pressure.
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| Ingredient in Focus |
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It is believed that Garlic may have some effect on cholesterol, due its natural sulphur content. This mechanism acts in a similar fashion as statins, which are pharmaceutical-grade medications. The supposition is that Garlic, like these statins, inhibits the enzyme in the human body, which is responsible for generating cholesterol. However, may experts suggest that Garlic’s true abilities lie in its ability to lower blood pressure.
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| Lifestyle |
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That said, some developers have suggested that Garlic may assist individuals with high cholesterol lower their blood cholesterol levels by 10 to 20 percent. While some of the studies conducted on Garlic have shown some positive results, other studies have actually shown the opposite. For instance, in one study, a group of participants who took 800 milligrams of powdered Garlic for four months lowered their cholesterol levels by 12 %, as well as lowered their triglycerides by 17 %.
Conversely, a recent study conducted by the NIH showed that in spite of over 20 years of research suggesting that Garlic may improve cholesterol profiles, it, in fact, may actually have no real effect on LDL, HDL or triglycerides, when used in a raw or supplement form. This discovery may be due to the fact that many of the studies conducted on Garlic were small in scope, which may limit the findings.
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| Positives |
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• Said to have many healthful benefits
• Moderately priced
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| Negatives |
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• Research is inconclusive as of review
• May not be able to lower blood cholesterol
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| Final Thoughts |
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Garlic has enjoyed a long and rich history of being used to augment health. In fact, it has been shown to have some ability to affect blood pressure and immune health, however, its ability to ease cholesterol levels is currently in question, due to some large scale studies. Some people really swear by Garlic’s ability to augment health, including lowering cholesterol, despite these recent studies.
However, we have found during the course of our research that Plant Sterols have actually been shown to create more effective results. For instance, products that deliver at least 1,200 mg of Plant Sterols have shown to lower cholesterol levels by up to 40%. Even in studies that confirmed Garlic’s effectiveness, it didn’t achieve these kinds of results. Some quality formulas based on Plant Sterols come with an unconditional money-back guarantee.
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| Our
Reader's Poll Top Choice: |
Week
of: Tue Jan 06th, 2009 |
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CholesterClear®:
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