Garlic is one of those herbs people either seem to love or hate, and there is very little in between. Much of the reason it is loved (or hated) is due to it's very strong odor and flavor, but it is so much more than an additive to a food dish. Garlic possess many health benefits, and has a history of being used medicinally dating back to ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, and China.
Sulfur is key
Though the ancient world realized Garlic was beneficial, it was modern science that discovered it was the sulfur compounds in garlic that are the driving force behind those benefits. When a clove of garlic is chopped, crushed, or chewed, it releases these compounds, allicin, diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine. They are only present for a brief period after the clove has been crushed, so fresh garlic holds the most potential benefit. Garlic Extracts are processed in a way that helps preserve the compounds.
Nutrient Dense, Calorie Light
Garlic is high in vital nutrients like Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium, and Fiber. It also has Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron and Vitamin B1, as well as small amounts of many other nutrients. In short, garlic contains a little bit of many important nutrients, while remaining low in calories.
Keep Colds Away
Just like with vampires, garlic has shown to help fight off sickness as well. In a large 12 week study of garlic supplementation vs a placebo, the garlic group experienced 63% less colds, and the average length of the colds were reduced from approximately 5 days to around 1 and a half days (70%).
Beat High Blood Pressure, Crush Bad Cholesterol
Supplementation studies of high amounts of garlic yielded similar results in reducing blood pressure as prescription medication. This dosage was high, equivalent to about 4 cloves of garlic per day.
Garlic extract also seems to have a positive effect on reducing LDL (Bad cholesterol) levels. There isn't enough evidence to support any effect on HDL (good cholesterol), or triglyceride levels.
The high amounts of garlic required to achieve these results is what makes extract supplements very beneficial, as they are an easy way to consume higher amounts of garlic.
Heavy Metal Detox
High amounts of garlic have been shown to reduce blood concentrations of dangerous heavy metals such as lead. Garlic also improved the symptoms associated with toxicity, including headaches and high blood pressure.
Easy Addition
If you enjoy garlic, great! It's a very simple addition to your diet. It is difficult to get the amounts used in clinical studies through diet alone though. This is where a garlic extract supplement can be very beneficial. Below are a few of the Garlic supplements we carry.
Nature's Way Garlic
580mg per capsule
Source Naturals Wellness Formula
360mg of Garlic per serving, along with other herbs and vitamins formulated to help improve immune function.
