b'Chapter ThreeSupplements That HelpBoost SuccessW hile what you eat can have a significant impact on normalizing your blood pressure, supplements can help you reach optimal levels. The following nutrients have been carefully researched for their blood pressurebalancing benefits. Just be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any new supplement, especially if you are currently taking medication. Aged Garlic ExtractGarlic has long been relied on as a natural way to enhance heart health. But while this pungent herb can perk up the flavor of many dishes, aging garlic is the real key to unlocking its cardiovascular benefits. And thats especially true when it comes to blood pressure. Creating aged garlic extract starts with organic garlic. Once harvested, the garlic is cleaned, sliced, and naturally aged for up to 20 months without heat. This unique aging process converts the garlics harsh and unstable organosulfur properties into beneficial compounds, including S-allylcysteine (SAC). SAC is a water-soluble sulfur-containing substance with powerful antioxidant properties that can alleviate oxidative stressan artery-damaging condition that has been linked to hypertension. A 2020 analysis of 12 clinical trials that was published in the journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine found that a daily dose of aged garlic extract lowered systolic blood pressure by an average of 8.3 mmHg and diastolic pressure by about 5.5 mmHg in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. This drop in blood pressure was associated with a 1640 percent reduction in the risk of a future cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. Earlier studies have reported similar results, leading researchers to conclude that aging this ancient herb offers benefits similar to first-line blood pressure medication. But unlike pharmaceuticals, aged garlic extract is extremely safe with few, if any, side effects.NattokinaseDerived from natto, a fermented soybean food popular in Japan, nattokinase is a potent dietary enzyme with blood-thinning activity that helps prevent blood clots. One way it accomplishes this is by dissolving the tiny fibers (fibrin) that hold clots together. In fact, the beneficial properties in nattokinase have been compared to plasmin, a clot-busting enzyme naturally present in the bloodstream. Natto also provides compounds called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These compounds prevent angiotensin, a polypeptide hormone, from increasing water and salt retention in the body. In this way, natto protects against hypertension. Moreover, natto has been shown to lower systolic blood pressure by up to 10.9 percent and diastolic blood pressure by 9.7 percent. During one 2016 trial of 74 individuals with elevated blood pressure, researchers confirmed that nattokinase reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressureand it did so in just eight weeks. Note that nattokinase is not recommended for anyone taking warfarin, aspirin, or any other blood-thinning agent unless under a doctors supervision. Its safety in children and pregnant or nursing women is not known.BLO OD PRESSURE HEALTH9'