New studies concerning blood pressure conditions have shown that hydrogen sulfide, the gas responsible for the foul smell in flatulence and rotten eggs, and eating sulfur rich vegetables may help regulate blood pressure.

The scientists experimented on rats which didn’t have the gene responsible for producing hydrogen sulfide and they have concluded that these particular rats experienced high blood pressure problems. The results of the newly conducted experiments clearly show that hydrogen sulfide can be used as a physiologic vasodilator and can be reliably used in regulating blood pressure.
Based on these finds, scientists say that eating sulfur rich vegetables like onions, garlic, grains or broccoli can be a good way of keeping blood pressure under control as these aliments are responsible for producing hydrogen sulfide in our bodies.

Hydrogen sulfide is created through bacterial break down and it is most common found in swamps and volcanoes. The gas is known to be extremely flammable and toxic but also to have a small role to play in our bodies as different cells produce hydrogen sulfide in small quantities. Scientists hope that, based on this newly discovered information on hydrogen sulfide, drug companies will be able to produce other drugs able to fight off hypertension.

Until now nitric oxide was most common in the treatment of hypertension, this gas being used in high blood pressure problems for approximately two decades. Though nitric oxide has proven itself useful, scientists think that hydrogen sulfide could be as good or even better in the treatment of hypertension.