Deep research and expert guides on maintaining your visual health.
Introduction Many people with glaucoma take nutritional supplements to support eye health. Common examples are fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids), Ginkgo biloba, garlic, curcumin (turmeric), and combinations like Mirtogenol (pine bark extract plus bilberry). These supplements can have blood-thinning effects by interfering with clotting. Taking several at once (stacking) can amplify those effects....
Garlic is a widely used culinary ingredient and medicinal plant known for its strong flavor and several biologically active compounds. When a garlic clove is crushed or chopped, it releases sulfur-containing molecules such as allicin, which are thought to produce many of its health effects. People use garlic in food and as supplements—raw cloves, aged extracts, powders, oils and tablets—for flavor and for claimed benefits such as supporting immune health, lowering cholesterol, and helping circulation. Research suggests garlic can modestly lower blood pressure and influence cholesterol in some people, but the size of the effect depends on dose and preparation. Garlic also has mild blood-thinning properties because it can reduce platelet aggregation and influence parts of the clotting system. Because of those effects, taking garlic supplements alongside prescription anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, or using them before surgery, can increase the risk of bleeding. Common side effects include bad breath, body odor, stomach upset, and heartburn, and very high doses may cause more serious issues. The strength and effects differ between raw garlic, aged extracts, and processed supplements, so benefits and risks are not the same for all forms. If you are on blood-thinning drugs, have a bleeding condition, or plan to have a procedure, check with a healthcare professional before using garlic supplements. Choosing quality products and telling your provider about all supplements you use helps manage potential interactions and side effects.
