The liver is one of the largest internal organs, responsible for regulating every substance that enters and leaves your body. A healthy functioning liver contributes to maintaining blood flow and circulation, breaking down nutrients from foods and distributing these nutrients to other body organs. The liver also prevents toxic chemicals from harming other organs. All other major organs, including your heart, kidneys and intestines, rely on the liver to keep homeostasis for normal daily functioning. Problems stemming from your liver impact the functioning of the entire body. Likewise, problems in other organ systems can impact the level of functioning your liver sustains. Garlic is a natural food, beneficial for maintaining liver health.
Active Components of Garlic
Garlic is a vegetable belonging to the Allium class of plants, which also includes onions, leeks and scallions. Garlic contains a sulfur compound called alliin, which converts to the active ingredient allicin, when garlic is chopped, crushed or minced. Allicin is a powerful antioxidant, antibiotic and anti-fungal substance, with numerous benefits to liver health. Garlic also contains arginine, an amino acid important for relaxing the blood vessels, and selenium, a mineral important for increasing the action of antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of garlic serve the most significant benefit because they keep toxic substances filtered by your liver from reaching other organs.
Lowers VLDL and Triglycerides
Very-low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL, is made by the liver and facilitates the movement of fats and cholesterol in the bloodstream. VLDL is created from triglycerides, and both play an important role in the metabolism of energy and fat. However, in combination with unhealthy dietary practices, high VLDL and triglycerides damage your liver and lead to increased risk of heart disease. According to a 2002 study reported in the "Journal of Nutrition," daily use of fresh garlic extract reduces levels of pre-existing elevated VLDL and triglycerides formed in the liver. The study was conducted in vitro in cells and in vivo in rats, but the results were significant enough to warrant generalization to human benefit in maintaining liver health.
Protection From Toxicity and Hepatitis
A healthy liver breaks down natural and ingested toxic chemicals. Natural toxins such as bilirubin, which is a waste product resulting from the breakdown of heme in red blood cells, can cause liver hepatitis. Ingested toxins such as acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever, can also cause liver damage or death. According to a 2009 study in the "Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness," fresh garlic extract administered to mice that overdosed on acetaminophen reversed the oxidative stress causing liver toxicity. Fresh garlic contains significant levels of metabolites, amino acids and proteins, which may prove beneficial in protecting the human liver from intentional or unintentional ingestion of hepatotoxic elements.
Doses for Daily Liver Health
Consuming fresh garlic yields the most benefit over supplements. Use at least four cloves of fresh garlic daily in food preparations. Chop, crush or mince the garlic to convert the active ingredient allicin into a usable compound. Add fresh garlic to your cooked meals at the end of the cooking process to retain the enzymes and nutrients. Garlic supplements contain varying amounts of active ingredients and to get the most health benefits from garlic, read package labeling to determine dose recommendations. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, notes that standardized freeze-dried garlic tablets containing 0.6 percent allicin are set at approximately 200 mg and should be taken up to three times a day. Before using supplements, consult your physician to ensure safety.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Garlic and Cancer Prevention
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- California Pacific Medical Center: How the Liver Works
- "Journal of Nutrition"; "Garlic Inhibits Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Gene Expression in Human Liver and Intestinal Cell Lines and Rat Intestine"; Marie Lin et al; June 2002
- Agency for Healthcare Research Quality: Garlic Effects
- "Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness"; "Fresh Garlic Extract Protects the Liver Against Acetaminophen-Induced Toxicity; C.C. Ezeala et al; 2009
Member Comments