6 BLOOD PRESSURE Chapter Three Diet comes first. Although nutritional supplements can effectively support health, the food we eat on a day-to-day basis affects our health far more profoundly than anything we can buy in a bottle. That said, if you want to prevent hypertension or lower your blood pressure, the following supplements have been carefully researched for their blood pressure-balancing benefits. Be sure to inform your doctor about your supplement usage, and never stop taking a medication without speaking with a qualified healthcare professional first. Aged Garlic Extract Garlic is promoted for its LDL cholesterol-lowering properties, but it also demonstrates a mild blood pressure-lowering effect. The German Commission E lists “hypertension” along with “arteriosclerosis” and “raised levels of cholesterol” among the indications and usage for garlic. Aged Garlic Extract (AGE), in particular, appears to lower blood pressure by increasing the flexibility of the arteries and improving blood circulation. An antioxidant-rich sulfur compound called S-allylcysteine is abundant in AGE. A research study featured in the American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology investigated the effect of S-allylcysteine and AGE on subjects with kidney damage and high blood pressure. The authors attributed the blood pressure-lowering and kidney-protective effects of S-allylcysteine and AGE to their antioxidant properties. They also concluded that AGE “may be used to ameliorate hypertension and delay the progression of renal damage.” Why is AGE a better choice than raw garlic or other garlic products? Let’s consider the differences: • Raw garlic provides many of the same benefits as AGE. However, it can upset the stomach, and its distinctive odor can become a social liability. High amounts of raw garlic can also decrease calcium levels in the blood and eradicate red blood cells, thereby causing anemia. It has also been linked to bleeding ulcers and a reduced red blood cell count. • Cooked garlic enhances any meal, but it provides only a fraction of the essential compounds found in AGE.