People with diabetes who incorporate garlic oil into their diet may improve their heart health, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Previous reports have found that an estimated 80 percent of all deaths among people with diabetes are caused by heart disease. Among the different types of these illnesses, cardiomyopathywhich leads to heart muscle damageis the leading heart-related cause of deaths among diabetics.
During the recent trial, groups of rats with diabetes were either given a diet that contained garlic or corn oil. The researchers then observed the two animal groups to see which oil led to better prevention of cardiomyopathy.
The team of investigators discovered that because garlic oil contained a high amount of antioxidants, it reduced the risk of cardiovascular complications in the rats that consumed it as opposed to the animals that were fed corn oil.
The authors of the report concluded that “garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”
Individuals who wish to find other natural alternatives to treating diabetes and protecting themselves against heart disease can benefit from eating grapes, according to a study conducted at the University of Michigan Health System.