Transportation of oxygen, food, hormones, and other essential substances around the body depends a lot on the blood. As the heart pumps the blood, it goes first into the lungs to get oxygen and then returns to the heart. Again, it leaves the heart taking the oxygen around the body. Along the way, it branches to the digestive system to take digested food and distribute it around the body. As it distributes these useful materials, it also picks up waste and poisonous substances from the cells and dumps them at the excretory organs. This transportation is very important for the cells to remain alive. Blood transportation takes place inside thin-walled vessels called arteries and veins. As the blood pushes out from the heart and moves through the arteries, it exerts pressure on the artery’s wall. This pressure is called heart pressure.
There are many reasons the heat pressure could be abnormal. It could be high or low. High blood pressure occurs when the pressure of the blood against the blood vessel is higher than normal. It could be an indication of problems associated with the heart. In between two pumps of the blood, the heart takes a break and rests. There are two ways in which blood pressure is measured. The systolic number indicates the pressure when the heart is pumping blood while the diastolic number indicates the pressure when the heart is at rest. For a healthy person, the systolic number should range between 90 and 120, while the diastolic number is between 60 and 80. Hence the maximum blood pressure should be 120/80, the minimum is 90/60 and the range is 120/60. Blood pressure above 120/80 is considered to be high blood pressure and the person is said to be pre-hypertensive. If the pressure gets up to 140/90 or goes beyond that value then the condition is called hypertension and the person is said to be hypertensive.
Hypertension is a medical condition and it requires treatment. If hypertension is high to the extent of systole number getting to 180, then the condition becomes a medical emergency.
What Causes Hypertension?
Up till now, we are not very sure of the cause of hypertension but there are factors that can increase the risk factor. These factors include heavy drinking of alcohol, smoking, being obese, excessive sugar in the blood, too much intake of salt, eating too much processed carbohydrates. A sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to being hypertensive.
Now let’s look at possible treatment for this medical condition.
How Can Hypertension be Treated?
There are prescription drugs for lowering high blood pressure but unfortunately, most of them have side effects that may range from fatigue to dizziness to erectile dysfunction. However, high blood pressure can be lowered by changing lifestyle, avoiding some food, and eating more of certain foods.
Reducing one’s weight can go a long way in reducing hypertension. Reducing smoking and alcohol consumption can also help. The same applies to cutting down the consumption of sugar and sodium. Regular exercise and having good sleep can also encourage proper blood pressure.
Another great way of reducing high blood pressure is the consumption of garlic. What does garlic contain, and how does it help in treating hypertension.
Garlic – A remedy for High Blood Pressure.
Garlic’s ability to lower blood pressure and prevent heart diseases has been known for a long time. The ancient food which is commonly used as a flavor contains several vitamins and minerals with amino acids, antioxidants, and sulfur. These components assist in lowering cholesterol to ensure the proper flow of the blood. Garlic also helps in preventing blood clotting. But the most important component of garlic is allicin which when combined with gamma-glutamylcysteine which is also found in garlic, makes blood vessels dilate and hence reduces blood pressure.
The presence of sulfur and antioxidants in garlic also contributes greatly to its potency in reducing high blood pressure as antioxidants prevent blood pressure to rise. Hydrogen sulfide has been proven to lower blood pressure, especially when it combines with nitric oxide. Fortunately, allicin in garlic can increase the production of these two substances.
Now, let’s discuss the forms in which garlic can be consumed.
How to Get Garlic
Garlic is a plant that can be grown. It can be consumed raw or added to a dish as a flavor. Because of its health benefits, garlic supplements are also available in the market. However, garlic supplements contain very little amount of allicin when compared with raw garlic. Cocked garlic also has some of its nutrients destroyed by heat. Therefore, the best way to consume garlic to maximize its health benefits is to take it fresh and raw. Powder garlic can also be sprinkled on your food before consuming it.
Taking 400 mg of raw garlic in a day has been proven to have a great effect on lowering blood pressure when it is done consistently for six months. If you want to take garlic powder, 600 to 2400 mg per day is recommended, while about 12 mg of garlic oil a day can significantly reduce high blood pressure within four months. You can also mix garlic powder with egg yolk and consume it daily for three months to treat high blood pressure.
However, it is advisable to inform your doctor about your garlic consumption if you are taking garlic to lower blood pressure and are also taking prescription medications.
With Gratitude and Love
Dewvy 
