Scientists have found that garlic has “significant” potential for preventing a condition called “cardiomyopathy.” This type of heart disease a leading cause of death in people with diabetes, making it a very significant health issue.
The new study, which also explains why diabetics are at high risk for cardiomyopathy, appears in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The group of researchers had hints from past studies that garlic might protect against heart disease. And that garlic might help control the abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur in diabetes. But they realized that few studies had been done specifically on garlic’s effects on “diabetic cardiomyopathy”.
They embarked on a study of rats, as is predominantly the case with preliminary studies. Rats with diabetes received either garlic oil or corn oil. Those taking garlic oil experienced beneficial changes associated with heart damage protection, including a better cardiac output. The changes appeared to be associated with the potent antioxidant properties of garlic oil, the scientists say, More than 20 substances in garlic oil could contribute to the effect.
They believe garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts at risk for this life-threatening disease.
Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for the development of heart disease. Heart problems account for 80% of all diabetic mortality. This is one of the major dangers of diabetes; that your cardiac function can be destroyed.
Diabetes leaves the body in danger of producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), the major cause of diabetic myocardial injury. Due to low content of free radical scavengers, the heart is susceptible to being damaged by ROS.
Meanwhile, garlic has played an important role in our diets and medicine for centuries. Its biological effects on cholesterol and platelets in the blood, as well as its status as a potent antioxidant, have meant that the medicinal use of garlic is widespread and growing. Its main therapeutic effect is blocking oxidative damage that leads to heart disease. Also, garlic is also the most commonly used alternative medication of diabetic patients, and it has been reported that it could improve blood sugar control.
Garlic’s long history of medicinal use is proof positive that, at the very least, we can expect it to be safe and possibly effective. It is well worth a try here.