Scientists have named a product that reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the body

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High cholesterol increases the risk of various health complications. This includes, but is not limited to, an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Managing cholesterol often requires a combination of a good diet, regular exercise, and medication. One food that is positively associated with good cholesterol is garlic, Express reports. A meta-analysis of available research conducted by the Department of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter found a positive correlation between garlic and lowering cholesterol.

“The best available evidence suggests that garlic in amounts of about half to one clove a day reduced serum total cholesterol by approximately 9% in the patient groups studied.”

This study only studied people with total cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dL.

More recent studies put questioning the extent to which garlic really lowers cholesterol. The 2000 study looked exclusively at randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. This means that neither the researchers nor the patients knew who received the garlic supplements and who received the placebo. The authors studied garlic's role as a supplement rather than its use in cooking.

Among people whose cholesterol levels were above 200 mg/dL, they noted a decrease of about 15.7 mg/dL.

“Available evidence suggests that garlic is superior to placebo in lowering total cholesterol.”