Heart & BP support15 min
A Small Spoon of Lahsun Chutney with Meals
A Rajasthani-style garlic chutney made with less salt and oil, eaten a small spoon at a time with meals, a flavourful way to include garlic regularly.
Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.
Why garlic is used this way
Lahsun (garlic) is pungent and warming. In food it adds flavour and some studies link regular garlic with modest heart benefits; raw garlic can be harsh on the stomach.
Reviews of trials suggest garlic, mostly as supplements, may modestly lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating garlic regularly in food is a sensible kitchen habit. Making the chutney with less salt keeps it BP-friendly.
Ingredients
- 10 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- Juice of ½ lemon
- A small pinch of salt
- 1 tsp mustard oil
How to prepare
- Pound garlic with chilli, lemon and salt into a coarse paste.
- Warm the oil, pour over and mix.
How to use
- Eat ½ tsp with lunch or dinner.
- Store in the fridge for up to four days.
Helpful habits
- Crush and rest garlic for 10 minutes before cooking to keep more of its compounds.
Precautions
- Garlic can increase bleeding risk with blood thinners and before surgery. Raw garlic may cause heartburn.
- Check with a doctor if you take blood thinners or have surgery planned.
- Raw garlic on an empty stomach can cause heartburn.
- Keep taking your BP or heart medicine and keep a home BP log.
- Traditional use; scientific evidence is limited. Do not stop prescribed medicine.
Frequently asked questions
Raw or cooked garlic?
- Crushed raw garlic left for 10 minutes keeps more allicin, but both are fine in food.
Can garlic replace BP tablets?
- No; keep taking your prescribed medicines.
Does cooked garlic still help?
- It still adds flavour and some benefit, though raw is stronger.
