Pungent and powerful, the aromatic bulb of the garlic plant has earned the nickname "the stinking rose." The ancient Egyptians revered garlic as both a food and a medicine, and interest in the culinary and healthful properties of this member of the allium family remains strong. Heart disease is a major killer in western society. The link between diet and heart disease is leading researchers to investigate whether garlic can help prevent or alleviate cardiovascular disorders.
Disease-fighting Compounds
Garlic contains high concentrations of a sulfur compound that may contribute to disease prevention, according to the American Heart Association. A sulfur-containing compound called alliin that is present in garlic changes to allicin when the garlic cloves are crushed. Allicin gives garlic its characteristic odor and is credited with delivering the health benefits with which garlic is associated.
Blood Lipids and Heart Disease
Low density lipoprotein, or LDL, is the harmful form of cholesterol. When high levels of this lipid circulate in the blood, it can attach to the arterial walls, forming hardened plaques that contribute to arteriosclerosis. As the arteries harden, they are less able to cope with the quantities of blood that pass through them, and blood pressure can rise.
Garlic and Blood Lipids
Numerous studies have examined garlic's effects on serum lipid levels, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The academic stringency of these studies varies, as do the results. The American Heart Association notes that modest, short-term improvements in serum lipid levels appear to be associated with taking garlic supplements and that garlic may also help prevent thrombosis.
Garlic Supplements
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that garlic's active component, allicin, is not readily absorbed by the body, and the American Academy of Family Physicians adds that cooking garlic may deactivate the enzymes that make garlic beneficial. Eating raw garlic causes gastrointestinal discomfort for some and odiferous after-effects for virtually everyone. Aged garlic supplements have been designed with these drawbacks in mind. Other types of garlic supplement include fresh, dried and freeze-dried versions, though these can vary greatly in the quality of active ingredients that they deliver. UMMC advises adults to take an aged garlic extract dosage of 600 to 1,200mg daily or to consume fresh, whole garlic cloves in quantities of 2 to 4g per day.
