Yes, science has proven it can.
A friend went to his doctor for a routine check up. In his thirties, in relatively good condition but not a health fanatic, he had some run-of-the-mill testing done, just to make sure. “Your cholesterol is too high,” the doctor said. The doctor suggested a few fixes and left it at that.
Wanting to nip the issue in the bud, the friend started taking garlic pills daily as a home remedy. Back at the doctor in a couple of months time, his cholesterol levels had actually really dipped.
“What did you do?” the doctor asked, flabbergasted. “Whatever it is, keep on doing it!”
This friend now swears by garlic as a daily remedy. But was it just a happy coincidence? Can garlic really lower the enemy of bad cholesterol?
Some Studies Show Garlic and Lemon Juice Can Lower Cholesterol
The science has shown that garlic could actually be a pretty effective health tool. A study published online in 2016 looked at the effects of lemon juice and garlic on people with moderate hyperlipidemia. (This means you have too much bad cholesterol).
When studied in people aged 30 to 60, it was found that participants who received 20 g of garlic and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice daily for 8 weeks showed significant drops in their total cholesterol levels. This group also showed a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
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And that’s not the only study to suggest a positive outcome. This evidence was also supported by work done all the way back in 1998. At that time, Penn State nutrition experts found a group of chemicals in garlic that act as the “magic ingredients”. Three water soluble garlic constituents that contain sulfur were found to reduce the production of cholesterol in rats cells by between 40 and 60 percent.
What about in humans? Aged garlic extract was found to reduce bad cholesterol in humans by about 12%. While the findings differ, the power of garlic and its benefits are undeniable.
These Other Things Can Also Lower Bad Cholesterol
If eating garlic isn’t really your thing, what else is known to lower your LDL cholesterol? According to Harvard Health Publishing there are at least 11 foods that can do the trick. Fruits rich in pectin like apples and grapes, vegetable oils, nuts, eggplant and okra, and beans are all said to be good. In addition, soy, fatty fish, foods fortified with sterols and stanols, and fiber supplements are all known to lower your cholesterol. Furthermore, some of these foods are also effective at keeping your blood pressure in check, and help your arteries stay flexible. Win, win, win!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests all healthy adults have their cholesterol levels checked every 4 to 6 years. (You can’t know your levels unless you get them checked!)
It is even recommended that children and teens have their cholesterol checked at least once between the ages of 9 and 11. Teens should have it checked again between 17 and 21.
Contact your doctor or a medical clinic and get your results to know where you sit.
photo credits: Marian Weyo/Shutterstock.com
