Daily Health News Blog

Garlic is a key part of the Mediterranean diet and many cuisines around the world. But do supplements really lower cholesterol, fight cancer, reduce arthritis, and have other health benefits, as touted? There have been thousands of studies on garlic, but its health effects remain something of a mystery. Garlic contains interesting compounds that have been linked to many proposed health benefits. One is allicin, a sulfur compound formed in raw garlic after a clove is cut or crushed. Allicin is a major source of garlic’s taste and smell. But not all scientists agree that allicin is the key ingredient, since it breaks down quickly into other compounds. And the enzyme that forms allicin can be destroyed if the whole clove is cooked before being cut (that’s why cooked cloves taste less garlicky). In fact, no one knows which, if any, component is most important. Lab and animal studies suggest that garlic (or compounds from it) has a range of benefits. For example, it keeps blood plat...

Following a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables, may improve vascular health and reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a new study. Findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition report that a diet rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension. The Mediterranean Diet is rich in cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Although it is the traditional diet of the Mediterranean region, it has garnered interest all over the world in recent times as a scientific spotlight has been trained on the health benefits it can confer. For instance, recent research has indicated that the diet may have benefits for arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health and blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, lung disease and allergies. Led by Dr. Jorge Nunez-Cordoba from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, the scien...