More health benefits of garlic

Long recognized for its ability to lower cholesterol, new research has found that garlic may also help prevent primary pulmonary hypertension, improve blood circulation in the lungs and assist breathing. In an animal study, researchers examined the ability of both fresh, powdered garlic and boiled garlic to prevent primary pulmonary hypertension—potentially deadly high blood pressure in the arteries that bring blood to the lungs. The powdered garlic prevented high blood pressure in the lungs, while the boiled garlic offered no protection. It is thought that allicin, a compound in fresh garlic that is destroyed by cooking, causes constricted blood vessels to relax and may protect blood vessel walls from damage. The amount used in the study was the equivalent of about two garlic cloves per day.