The #1 Best Supplement to Help Lower Blood Pressure, Says New Study

If you have high blood pressure, it's likely you already know that exercising and eating a healthy diet will help even out your levels.

But a new study in the journal Nutrients shows that one ingredient in particular can help significantly lower your blood pressure.

According to the study, eating aged black garlic extract can help reduce blood pressure in people with high cholesterol. Aged black garlic is available in a supplement form.

Results showed that at six weeks of taking aged black garlic, subjects saw significant reductions of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared to placebo, particularly in men.

"Aged black garlic has long been regarded as a culinary delicacy and integral component of the Asian diet, as well as a tool to maintain health," Alberto Espinel, spokesperson for Pharmactive, a biotech company located in Spain that produces aged black garlic extract, said in a press release. "Empirical evidence is unfolding on the beneficial effects of black garlic on cardiovascular health."

This savory ingredient is traditionally produced by aging whole bulbs of a selected Spanish species of fresh garlic at high humidity and temperatures for a few weeks. The garlic cloves turn dark and assume a soft, jellylike texture while losing the characteristic pungent garlic flavor as it turns sweet.

"This is some of the first evidence emerging on the blood pressure-balancing effect of an aged black garlic extract, as a natural alternative, in a population where the strategies of intervention are based on diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle," continued Espinel. "Importantly, its positive effects were achieved following a simple protocol of consuming one aged black garlic extract tablet daily."

Future clinical studies focusing on the blood pressure-managing capacity of aged black garlic extracts are in the pipeline—but combined with exercise and a healthy diet, it may help prevent increases in blood pressure.

"Lifestyle choices, including dietary protocols such as the DASH or Mediterranean diets, are the first line of treatment for delaying and preventing increases in blood pressure," said Julia Diaz, Head of Marketing for Pharmactive. "Aged black garlic offers an additional potent—and flavorful—nutritive tool for helping to manage blood pressure, especially in people who have difficulty abiding by dietary restrictions."

For more on helping high blood pressure, check out Here's How To Lower Your Blood Pressure.