Garlic and Onions Reduce Heart Attacks

I'm a great fan of the healing properties of onion and garlic- so much so, in fact, that I make a point to eat them every day. These closely related foods are two of the best for the cardiovascular system. Ayurveda uses warming onions and garlic to aid circulation, digestion and immune function. And garlic can help your romantic life, too. (Well, maybe not actually during that hot date.) For my money, it's the most consistent, reliable and effective, slow acting aphrodisiac herb around.

Heart attacks are terrifying, and the majority of us will have at least one during our lifetimes. And, once you've had one heart attack, your risk greatly increases for a second heart attack or stroke.

The European Journal of the Nutrition published a study in March, 2009, in which the researchers found that eating onions or garlic greatly reduced the risk of having a first heart attack. This study looked at the dietary habits of 760 patients who had suffered a heart attack and compared them with 682 matched controls who had never had a heart attack.

No surprise to me- those who ate at least one serving of onions per week had a whopping 22 percent reduced risk of having a heart attack. A single serving (!!) of garlic per week lowered the risk of a heart attack by 16 percent.
Not unexpectedly, this study was done in Italy. Is that enough to have you heading for your vacation in Venice?