Health Benefits of Garlic and Nutrition

Health Benefits of Garlic and Nutrition

Garlic is beneficial to health in one way or another. If you can get past the smell, you can reap a world of good from a daily intake of fresh garlic or garlic supplements. Although not all of garlic's health benefits have been proven in the laboratory, centuries of garlic consumption—and its prominent use in natural medicine—point to an herb with a variety of healing properties and significant nutritional value.

Garlic contains healthy amino acids and high levels of alliin, an amino acid derivative that is thought to be responsible for the herb's health benefits. Garlic contains the trace minerals copper, zinc, germanium, selenium, iron and magnesium, vitamins A and C, and several beneficial sulfur compounds that are known to bind heavy metals and toxins in the liver and transport them for excretion.

Garlic has been used in natural medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of viral, bacterial and fungal infections, as well as to treat wounds, tumors and intestinal parasites. It can speed up metabolism and help burn fat and is hailed as a free radical-fighting agent, immune system booster and heart-healthy food. According to legend, garlic was considered effective in fighting the plague of the Middle Ages.

Garlic smell

When ingested, the predominant enzyme in garlic, allinase, reacts with alliin to form allicin, the compound responsible for garlic's distinct smell and antibacterial properties. Garlic travels through the bloodstream and lungs, causing sweat, breath and skin to smell pungent. Shortly after consumption, the smell of garlic can remain in the body for up to 18 hours, even when odorless garlic tablets are consumed.

Garlic preparations – odorless garlic

Garlic supplements are said to be just as beneficial to health as eating fresh garlic cloves. They are more easily tolerated by people sensitive to garlic and are more convenient to use than raw garlic. Garlic pills minimize taste and smell and are available in a variety of forms, all of which claim to be effective. The most common forms of garlic supplements include:

o Aged garlic extract

o Odorless garlic tablets

o Garlic oil capsules

o Allicin-stabilized pills

o Encapsulated powdered garlic

It is a source of ongoing controversy as to which form of garlic supplementation is most effective and best absorbed by the system. It is said that a daily garlic regimen must be continued for at least a month to achieve noticeable results. Odorless garlic supplements are considered inferior by some nutritionists because their allicin count may be reduced.

Garlic and the heart

Until recently, garlic and garlic supplements were claimed to help lower serum cholesterol levels. Despite the publication of results in 2007 that clinically disprove this claim, nutritionists and dietitians continue to believe that garlic is heart-healthy and can lower blood homocysteine ​​levels. Homocysteine ​​is a type of amino acid whose high levels have been linked to reduced heart health. Garlic is also credited with reducing harmful plaque buildup on artery walls.

Blood and garlic

New research suggests that garlic may boost blood flow by increasing levels of hydrogen sulfide in the blood, which is essential for healthy cell signaling (the transfer of information between cells). Other benefits of garlic for the blood include:

o The sulfur compounds in garlic can reduce fatty substances in the blood, regulate blood pressure and help with hypertension symptoms.*

o Sulfur compounds in garlic, particularly ajoene, may help slow platelet aggregation (clumping of blood vessels) and support normal blood clotting. Garlic can be used in the same way as low-dose aspirin to slow or stop platelet aggregation over time.

o Garlic is often used as a blood thinner to improve blood circulation and reduce blood clots.

Garlic and the immune system

Garlic stimulates white blood cell activity and can help the immune system fight infection and disease. Garlic taken internally is said to be effective in fighting colds and flu, as well as treating yeast infections.* Studies indicate that garlic may increase the production of free radical-fighting enzymes in the liver and may be effective against some forms of penicillin-resistant bacteria.

insulin and garlic

Studies indicate that garlic may have the ability to increase blood insulin levels and stabilize blood sugar.

Antioxidant / antimicrobial / antibacterial garlic

Garlic is said to have powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The antioxidants in garlic can protect cells from free radicals and inhibit the growth of a variety of tumors. Studies also show that garlic can block the formation of toxins that arise when food is digested. Allicin, the compound responsible for the smell of garlic, is the herb's primary antibacterial agent.

Garlic was studied for its antibiotic potential by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century and used in Africa by Albert Schweitzer in the 1950s to combat cholera, typhus and dysentery. During World War I, garlic was used to treat battle wounds without antibiotics.

cholesterol and garlic

Garlic was previously believed to play an essential role in lowering serum cholesterol levels in the blood. Results that previously confirmed garlic as a cholesterol-lowering agent were reversed by clinical trials in 2007. A study published in the February 26, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that neither garlic supplements nor fresh garlic lowered LDL cholesterol in 192 men and women ages 30 to 65 over a six-month period.

Garlic and sex

Garlic is said to help maintain healthy testosterone levels and increase libido in men and women.

Garlic side effects

Garlic is a natural blood thinner and inhibits clotting, so people with clotting disorders should consult a doctor before starting a course of garlic supplements or cloves. Garlic can irritate the digestive system, causing cramps, bloating, diarrhea and bloating and should be avoided by those allergic to sulfur.

For more information about garlic, visit www.VitaCost.com/Garlic

*Statement not evaluated by FDA

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