What Are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

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garlicSo you think garlic gives you nothing but bad breath? Well, OK, it does, but it’s also one of the healthiest foods you can eat. For centuries, garlic has been considered a “cure-all” and is said to be able to treat just about every ailment from the cold to the Plague! I don’t think there are too many Plagues about these days so here are a few other ways you can use garlic to improve your health:-

Acne – Most people at some point in their lives suffer from acne to some degree. Companies make a fortune selling facial washes and creams to help. The problem is that there are many reasons for acne including hormones, diet and stress. Although garlic on its own is unlikely to cure acne, it can certainly be used in conjunction with other treatments.

Garlic is thought to work because of its antibiotic and blood cleansing properties. When using garlic in your food, make sure your crush and chop it up. This will help release the active compounds. Another way to take garlic is by placing a few cloves in a bottle of olive oil and then drizzle it over a salad.

Cardiovascular Health and High Cholesterol – If you enjoy eating Mediterranean or Far Eastern food you’ll notice that garlic is used a lot. The good news is that people from areas also have low incidences of cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol can be a confusing area of health. On one hand it is essential whilst on the other hand it can kill us. This is because there are two types of Cholesterol – HDL and LDL. The latter type is considered bad. Modern medicine has found that garlic contains allicin which scavenges hydroxyl radicals (OH). This is turn is thought to prevent LDLs from being oxidised.

Unfortunately a number of studies that have been carried out have shown mixed results. It only goes to show how much more seriously natural remedies needs to be taken. Of course, we all know that there’s no incentive for drug companies to research natural products due to the lack of financial reward. If you have problems with high cholesterol go ahead and take some garlic. Just make sure it’s part of a balanced diet and you don’t ignore your doctor’s advice.

Antioxidant – Allicin naturally increases antioxidant enzymes atalase and glutathione peroxidase in your blood. It can help against the damaging effects of nicotine and slows the aging process of your liver by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Anti-Bacterial – Garlic has 1% of the potency of penicillin and can ward off a number of bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptococcal meningitis, Candida albican and Staphylococcus. The problem with most antibiotics is that bacteria develops resistance to them, however this is not the case with garlic.

These benefits were first realized back in the early 19th century when English priests caught infectious fever. The French priests, who ate garlic everyday, didn’t.

Blood Clots – Clinical trials, which were published in the Journal of Hypertension, showed that the blood pressure of volunteers was reduced 1 – 5% after taking garlic supplements. This may not sound a lot but this small reduction can reduce the chance of a stroke by 30-40% and heart disease by 20-25%

What about Garlic Breath?

Despite all the health benefits of garlic you may feel that “garlic breath” is too much of a deterrent. If this is the case you can take Odorless Garlic Supplement instead.

Some Pointers about Garlic:-

  • Garlic is most effective when crushed or chopped and when raw.
  • One clove a day will improve your health and 2-3 cloves will help prevent a cold.
  • When cooking garlic wait until the last 10 minutes of cooking to add the garlic.
  • Be careful about taking too much as it can irritate your digestive system.
  • Don’t microwave garlic as this kills the active ingredients.
  • Don’t take garlic instead of a healthy balanced diet.
  • Garlic supplements may interact with certain drugs such as anticoagulants.
  • Always consult a doctor if you are unsure about anything.
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39 comments

  1. Here are some more tips to prevent garlic breath:
    1. Switch to garlic capsules. Using garlic capsules can reduce garlic breath but will not reduce it entirely. There is no way to eliminate the garlic odor totally as the highly-odiferous sulphurous compounds are what give garlic their medicinal benefits.

    2. Eat parsley. Having 1 or 2 tablespoons of raw parsley after eating garlic can remove the smelly breath of garlic.

    3. Eat fennel or cardamom seeds. Chewing on 2 teaspoons of fennel or cardamom seeds after eating garlic are other possible option

  2. April says:

    Thanks for the extra tips on garlic breath.

  3. Jennie says:

    Wow! Thanks for sharing. This entry is really informative. God bless you! 🙂

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  5. Thanks for the information on garlic. I found you through the Carnival of Healing #115.

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  8. Amanda says:

    I was reading about garlic on nurturenatural.com and they say that garlic breath is what your loved ones get in return for trying to give you their germs!

  9. nowl says:

    If youre concerned about having a garlic breath, try it my way. dice 1 garlic clove into two then take it like youre taking a pill. works fine with me.

  10. wichampi says:

    presently curing a horrendous head cold with chopped garlic on buckwheat pancakes with some peanutbutter….also sniffing garlic relieves nasal congestionstion….drinking hot apple cidar vinegar and honey mixed in hotwater water three times a day

  11. BARBARASCOTT says:

    i drink garlic powder, and it gives me a boost and it is good when you do B,M IT DOES ‘NT SMELL, AND IT ALSO GOOD ,WHEN EXPERIENCES AN UPSET STOMACH, IF YOU GIVE IT ABOUT TEN MINS YOU WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER. TRULY BARB.

  12. waydo says:

    eat garlic with your pizza and pasta , lots and lots of tasty garlic !

  13. olajuyigbe layiwola says:

    How best can garlic be used to tackle high blood pressure.

  14. Rev. Victor Badger says:

    I am impressed by the information on garlic. I will continue to read. Thanks

  15. mustaque says:

    iam unmarried 26 year old male.Iam sufferimng with sexual problem so garlic helps me to solve my problem? it is possible my penis has totally bent how to do it normally and also has erectile dysfunction so please help me what type of remedies i prefer to get my normal ability…

  16. Alan says:

    That Garlic has 1 percent of the potency of Pennicillin is probably an understatement. During WW2 the entire Russian army had only Garlic to use as an antibiotic yet they had a very good record of saving lives with it

  17. bhavarlal says:

    i have some confusion. should i eat or swallow the garlic. i am swallowing the 2 pcs of garlic.. pls suggest me..

  18. April says:

    I think it’s up to you whether you eat or swallow the garlic.

    You can swallow the garlic but make sure you crush it slightly with the side of a knife. This will release the active compounds. Then cut it up into bits that you can easily swallow.

    Alternatively you can finely chop it up and put it into some food (eg a pasta sauce) just before serving.

  19. michelle says:

    thank you on the information on garlic but is there a preferd type of garlic to use, thank you

  20. April says:

    I have no idea what the best type of garlic is, I just buy garlic bulbs from my local supermarket.

  21. naturopath says:

    A stronger tasting clove of garlic has more sulphur content and hence more medicinal value it’s likely to have. Some people have suggested that organically grown garlic tends towards a higher sulphur level and hence greater benefit to health. In my experience it certainly tastes better so I buy organic whenever possible whether or not it’s best for my health.

  22. neena johl says:

    very good healthy information . I cut in small portions and take with warm water.

  23. david says:

    i have been using garlic now for a few monthe and i cannot help but recomend it to anyone striving for a healthy lifestyle. the smell does not bother me at all. i just eat it raw.

  24. Mummyiz says:

    I don,t know how I got to this web site but I love it. Please could U send me information always to my Email address epecially food that are bebeficial to people with diabetics and hypertension. My sweet mother is having problem with it. I am grateful. keep up the good job and more grease to your elbows.

  25. vera says:

    Hi this is just so amazing how people can make a difference by writing down so many stuff on how garlic can improve your lifestyle ..I have nothing against that , its so true I had an awesome experience with garlic..

    My grandmother have a heart condition ,she felt like she was having a heart attack so she told me to chopped some garlic and hand it to her…after a lil while she felt better I was really surpprise of what garlic can do to you ..

  26. loulou says:

    Garlic is amazing. My dad started growing garlic in 1985, after he realized the major health benefits. He always had blood issues when i was growing up. His 80 yr old doctor suggested it to him after several medications did not work. He now produces it at a mass rate and sells it to local organic stores and resturaunts. I really couldn’t belive the health benefits until i tried it for my self.. Plus I love the taste..

  27. S W F says:

    I just started taking a garlic supplement 4 times a day and one of those little probiotic drinks. I have a problem with white “furry” patches on my tongue that no matter how much a brush, rinse, scrub and scrape just won’t go away. I heard that what I might have is a digestive infection and the garlic will help heal it. Wish me luck!

  28. Allen Dosch says:

    I am not a big fan of Garlic, but while stationed in Alaska and Greenland, I found out that mosquitos (the big black ones) would attack and bite all the time. I was told by some of my Danish friends that if I ate garlic, the mosquitos would not land and bite. I took their advice and began a daily routine of eating garlic with at least one meal. Lo and behold, no more mosquito bites. When I returned to the states I did the same and then found garlic gel-capsules with parsley. The parsley pretty much killed the garlic smell from my breath and coming out of my body pores. Maybe it was just me, but it worked. Who’d have thought!!!! And I noticed an increase in energy as well.

  29. mujadali says:

    information about garlic

  30. zizi john says:

    i like to call it the wonder drug!!!

  31. ANAY says:

    roast the garlic and you wont have bad breath

  32. garlic also good for cancer..i have a lot of testimonies..about garlic..

  33. i am now realised that garlic is essential to humanhealth,pls.the site help to send for me more health-profitable foods which can enhence my lifestyle.thanks for your helpull job.

  34. Sherine says:

    chopping the garlic and swallowing it quickly with a glass of water may help to get it down quiicker and wihout leaving an odour because it is not chewed.

  35. Tharki says:

    Natures gift are always advantageous

  36. kimutai says:

    thanks i use garlic every day and i enjoy using despite its offensive smell