Garlic, one of the oldest cultivated crops, has been grown throughout the world for at least 5,000 years, according to HerbalLegacy.com. Modern science has confirmed many of garlic's traditional health uses. Daily use of garlic has been shown to provide considerable preventive health benefits. Consult your doctor about using garlic to treat a medical condition.
Lowering Cholesterol
A clove of garlic per day may lower your cholesterol level by up to 20 percent, according to Frederick Vagnini, M.D., author of "Dr. Vagnini's Healthy Heart Plan: A Surgeon's Approach to Natural and Allopathic Treatment for Cardiovascular Wellness." Garlic can also prevent blood clots, improve the elasticity of your arteries and lower your blood pressure.
Aliin
Garlic has high quantities of alliin, a sulfur-containing compound that contributes to your liver's detoxification pathways. Several amino acids, vitamins and minerals are also present in garlic. The minerals include selenium, an important antioxidant and immune builder, and germanium, which also provides considerable immune benefits. Raw and aged garlic are the most potent forms, according to naturopath Mark Stengler, author of "The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies." Garlic supplements are convenient and less odor causing but are less effective than fresh garlic.
Dosage
To derive the most preventive benefits from garlic, take a daily dose of one clove, or 2 to 3 g, says Dr. Stephen Fulder, author of "User's Guide to Garlic." Garlic stays active for only a few hours; so for even better results, double the dose, taking one clove in the morning and one in the evening. For therapeutic purposes of fighting a bacterial or fungal infection, use one or two cloves three times per day. Garlic has a high safety profile, says Fulder. As many as 20 cloves per day have been used for several months with no adverse effects.
Deodorized Garlic
Aged garlic extract, also known as A.G.E. or deodorized garlic, is an active form of garlic without the odor and can make taking your daily dose of garlic more palatable. This form of garlic has been shown to inhibit the liver's production of cholesterol. It also inhibits triglyceride synthesis and prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein or LDL, the bad form of cholesterol -- one of the initiating processes of arterial plaque formation. Aside from cardiovascular benefits, aged garlic extract has been found to protect the liver from acetaminophen poisoning, prevent DNA damage that leads to some forms of cancer and improve symptoms of sickle cell anemia, according to an article in the July 2002 issue of "Better Nutrition" magazine..
References
- "Dr. Vagnini's Healthy Heart Plan: A Surgeon's Approach to Natural and . . . "; Frederic J. Vagnini; 2002
- "The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies"; Mark Stengler; 2010
- "User's Guide to Garlic"; Stephen Fulder; 2008
- "Better Nutrition"; Right Bulbs: Shedding Light on Garlic's Power; Barbara Hey; July 2002
- HerbalLegacy.com: History of Garlic
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