Food as Medicine

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>>> Garlic: Is It Good For You?


Web MD


https://www.webmd.com/diet/garlic-good-for-you#1


IN THIS ARTICLE

Nutrition Information

Potential Health Benefits of Garlic

Potential Risks of Garlic


Garlic has been used, both medicinally and as a food or flavoring, since the dawn of recorded history. Ancient medical texts from as far afield as Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome discussed the medical uses of garlic. The Bible and Qur’an mention it, and while the plant is native to Central Asia, cloves dating back more than 3000 years were found in King Tut’s tomb.

Garlic is part of the Allium genus, which also includes onions, shallots, leeks, and chives. Some of the other members of this genus share certain health properties with garlic {Encyclopedia Britannica: "Allium."} Its potential benefits include:

Cardiac Health
Antimicrobial
Anticancer

In food, garlic is used in small quantities and contains very few calories, fat, protein, or carbohydrates. Its health action comes from the enzymes and unique compounds that it contains. One clove of garlic contains:

Calories: 4
Protein: 0 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 1 gram
Fiber: 0 gram

Potential Health Benefits of Garlic

Medical research links garlic to a number of health benefits. However, some studies have suggested that raw garlic may be more effective than the cooked version, while garlic supplements are the most effective. Garlic tea retains the health benefits of raw garlic, as long as it is prepared properly: the key is boiling your crushed garlic no longer than 3 minutes.

Cardiac Health

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found that a component of garlic oil, diallyl trisulfide, helps protect the heart after a heart attack and during heart surgery. Mice that received this component after a heart attack had 61% less damage to the affected cardiac tissue than untreated mice.

The research also suggested that the component could reduce heart enlargement in a mouse model of heart failure. Further research is needed to understand the effects on humans.

Garlic supplements, and in particular aged garlic extract, have also been shown to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. It appears to do so in part by preventing vasoconstriction, or narrowing of blood vessels. While garlic’s effects are comparable to standard blood-pressure drugs, it has been found that people who have inadequate levels of vitamin B may not experience this benefit.

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