More than 16 million Britons have high blood pressure – also called hypertension – and an even larger number are thought to suffer from the condition without knowing it. Without effective treatment, either medication or healthy lifestyle changes, such as cutting salt, losing weight and getting fit, the condition can trigger heart attacks and strokes.  New research pubished in the scientific journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, shows, however, that a daily dose of garlic can help to lower blood pressure naturally and can be as effective as drugs. In fact, the higher a participent’s blood pressure at the beginning of the study the more it was reduced by garlic.

In this latest research scientists looked at 11 international studies in which patients were given a daily garlic supplement for between three and five months. They found significant blood pressure falls among participants and in some cases, the drop was as much as that seen in patients taking drugs such as betablockers and ACE inhibitors. The 600mg to 900mg dosage used in the studies was equivalent to 3.6mg to 5.4mg of garlic’s active ingredient, allicin. A fresh clove of garlic contains 5mg to 9mg of allicin.  (The Aged Garlic I use in the clinic is made from organically grown garlic and there is 1000mg in just one tablet – see Resources Page X).

Although this research is exciting it is important not to assume that taking garlic supplements is all you need to do to reduce high blood pressure. It is also important to manage your weight, take regular exercise, cut down on hidden salt in processed foods and to eat a healthy diet.

New research published in the medical Journal Neurology suggests that eating oily fish three times a week can cut the risk of memory loss and stroke by up to a quarter. Scientists found that eating fish three times a week led to a reduction in harmful brain lesions that can trigger Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. They also found that baking or steaming fish is more beneficial for brain health than fried fish and chips.

The omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils may help reduce inflammation of the brain and play a vital part in brain development and nerve cell regeneration. In the study  3,660 volunteers aged 65 and older were given brain scans to determine whether their brains had small lesions, known as silent infarcts, that can cause loss of thinking skills, stroke or dementia. Five years later scans were performed again on 2,313 of the participants who were also given questionnaires about the amount of fish in their diets. Researchers discovered that it was the people who ate steamed, grilled or baked oily fish three times or more a week that had a reduced risk of brain lesions, but even eating only one serving of fish per week led to a 13 per cent lower risk. Although eating steamed, grilled and baked fish seemed to protect against memory loss and stroke the same results were not found in people who ate traditional fried fish.

It is thought the oily fish seems to have a more protective effect because of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that they contain. The types of fish that contain high levels of DHA and EPA nutrients include tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies.  (Also see Resources Page X for a high level EPA/DHA supplement called Omega 3 Plus)

If a woman is struggling to conceive new research presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual conference in Barcelona suggests that four cups of coffee a day can seriously damage her chances of having a baby. Dutch scientists believe that the effect of caffeine may cause as many problems in pregnancy as those caused by alcohol, smoking or being overweight.

The researchers from Radbout University in Nijmegen followed the health and habits of 9,000 women with fertility problems for up to 13 years after they finished IVF treatment. Almost 1,350 had babies after treatment ended, with most pregnancies occurring in the first year. When the researchers then looked at why some women conceived naturally and others didn’t, they found that certain lifestyle factors played a critical role. Those who drank four or more cups of coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks a day were 26 per cent less likely to have had a baby.

All this adds to previous evidence that caffeine can harm fertility and the health of an unborn baby. About six months ago it was claimed that just two cups of coffee a day could double the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine has also been found to increase the risk of still birth and is linked to birth defects.

Caffeine is from a group of chemcials known to interfere with normal processes in the human body and in some women it may prevent the ovaries producing good quality eggs. It may also cause problems when a woman does conceive, increasing the risk of miscarriage so I strongly urge any woman struggling to get pregmant to limit her caffeine consumption. Caffeine, along with alcohol, smoking and being overweight are all poisons to the ovaries and sperm, meaning that men should also think about how much caffeine they consume not just in coffee, but in tea, chocolate and sodas.  For more information on how to boost fertility naturally and reduce the risk of a miscarraige see my book ‘Getting Pregnant Faster’.