Garlic has many health benefits to those that take regular doses either fresh or in pill form. Over the past centuries, garlic has served as a tonic for conditions ranging from sexual health to heart health. Not only does garlic have beneficial effects on various medical conditions, but it also supports a healthy immune system. As recently as World War I and II, soldiers were administered garlic to prevent gangrene.
Cardiovascular Disease Helped
University of Saarlandes in Hamburg, Germany performed a study investigating the use of garlic to treat peripheral artery disease. Garlic pills taken by patients lowered cholesterol and thinned the blood. These characteristics lower the blood pressure. Arterial plaque build-ups in the blood vessels of the body lowered by having patients take garlic tablets on a regular basis. According to the American Journal of Medicine, most patients studied tolerated garlic tablets without any problems. A very small percentage of patients reported an increase in stomach gas and developed body odor that smelled of garlic.
Recent studies reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center, indicate that the consumption of garlic tablets decreases the progression of cardiovascular disease. Aside from the symptoms already given, other cardiovascular disease symptoms include elevated total cholesterol, increased free radical damage and hypertension. Two other markers used to indicate cardiovascular disease drop while consuming garlic, they are homocysteine and C-reactive protein. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure decrease.
Cancer Risk Reduced
Garlic consumption, both cooked and raw, shows a decrease in the risk of contracting many types of cancer. Colorectal and stomach cancer show some of the most significant reductions in risk. Scientists hypothesize that garlic strengthens the immune system bringing about the reduction in occurrence of cancer. Chemotherapy is a common form of treatment for cancer but taking garlic tablets decrease the intestinal and heart damage that often results. A high intake of raw or cooked garlic also may show protection against breast, prostate and throat cancer.
Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anti-parasitic Properties
As reported in the American Society for Microbiology's Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, the main active ingredient in garlic, allicin, is extremely effective in killing or destroying microbes or microorganisms that infect you and others. It doesn't matter whether it is bacterial or viral in nature and is just as effective in dealing with fungal infections and infestations by parasites.
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