Garlic is an herb that many use as a medicinal herb. Garlic can be incorporated into many recipes and has a distinct odor and flavor. If you want to add more garlic to your diet but don't want to put it in your food, garlic pills can have many health benefits, though its effects have not been definitively proven and garlic should not be used as a replacement for a doctor's care.
Blood Pressure
One reason why people take garlic is due to its effects on blood pressure. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, when you consume garlic for between one and three months it reduces your blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure reduces the strain on your heart and can also decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, as high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. You should talk to your doctor before taking garlic for blood pressure as its effects are still being studied.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries in the form of plaques. These plaques make your arteries hard and also restrict blood flow, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Consuming garlic pills reduces your risk of developing atherosclerosis, Medline Plus notes. Part of this may be due to the fact that garlic contains many oxidants that can help prevent blood vessel damage. There is not enough evidence to definitively show that garlic can prevent heart disease, and it should not be used in lieu of a doctor's care.
Cancer
Consuming garlic can also reduce your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, such as colon, stomach, breast, throat and prostate cancer, the University of Maryland Medical Center states. Cancer is caused by cells developing genetic mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably. One thing that can cause these mutations is molecules known as reactive oxygen species. The antioxidants in garlic can neutralize these reactive oxygen species, potentially preventing cancer. The effects of garlic on cancer are still unproven, so talk to your doctor before taking garlic.
Infections
Garlic pills may also help protect you against certain infections. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, garlic contains allicin, which is a substance which has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Some believe that consuming garlic pills reduces your risk of developing certain viral infections such as the common cold. Garlic also may be able to kill Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common intestinal parasite in humans, though its effects have not been tested on humans. There is not enough evidence to show that garlic can definitively treat any infectious disease, however.
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