Garlic Health Benefits
Garlic is a wonder flowering bulb with a massive range of potential health effects and benefits in the body. It is no wonder that garlic has been embraced by so many cultures. Garlic is so revered that garlic extract is also a really popular supplement, for a direct supply of fresh garlic in a high concentration.
Traditionally garlic has been used as a herbal remedy for infections, colds and diabetes. In ancient Greek, Chinese, Roman, Viking and Egyptian cultures garlic was used as a medicine. Garlic has also been used to treat wounds as a potent disinfectant. Garlic is grown worldwide, you can also grow it at home in your back yard.
The nutritional content of garlic has been heavily assessed by many nutritionists in modern times to determine how garlic confers its health properties within the body. As a food, garlic is so easy to include into your diet. Products exist such as garlic powder and garlic oil. We will go through some of these incredible effects on the body to show you why you should be eating more garlic.
Nutritional Contents of Garlic Extracts
In terms of the nutritional content of garlic, bulbs of garlic are rich with specific minerals, some vitamins and phytochemicals. All of these have potential health effects on the body. Garlic contains 9.8µg of selenium per 100 grams and 10mg of vitamin C. Garlic extracts have been measured to have high levels of potassium, zinc, iron and manganese. These will contribute to your overall antioxidant status, electrolytic balance and body enzyme functioning. Garlic bulbs contain 17 amino acids, contributing to normal protein levels in the body.
One study has measured an increase in organosulfur compounds within the body too, such as S-allyl cysteine. These are phytochemicals produced by garlic that could have potential health effects. Another of these is called allicin, but there are various organosulfur compounds in garlic. It is thought to be the most biologically active compound found within garlic.
Most of the health benefits of garlic are thought to originate from the organosulfur phytochemicals and other phytochemicals in garlic extracts. Some other phytochemicals present in garlic extract are polyphenols, flavonoids and geraniol.
Garlic Extract Antioxidants
Antioxidants are a key part of cellular homeostasis or maintaining life. These are compounds that negate high energy free radicals. When accumulated oxidative stress occurs in the body, you become vulnerable to free radical damage. This can lead to chronic diseases including cancer. Oxidative stress and oxidative damage are also implicated in cardiovascular disease too.
How is this relevant to garlic? Well, garlic is rich in antioxidants. Therefore, garlic is thought to help the body guard itself against free radical damage. The antioxidant action is thought to come from the phenolic compounds in garlic.
The activities of key vitamins like vitamin C, or minerals like selenium are supported by these phytochemicals within garlic. The antioxidant phytochemicals within garlic extracts help the body to shift its balance out of oxidative stress. This is a massive potential health benefit of garlic, as antioxidant status is very influential on overall health.
Garlic And Cancer
As mentioned, antioxidants can influence incidences of cancer. The effects of garlic on cancer are quite well researched and quite rightly so. One recent study has suggested that regular garlic consumption has a cancer supressing activity. This is relative to eating a diet without much garlic. There seem to be many studies that point to the same conclusions. Another important study outlined that garlic has a negative dose-response relationship with stomach cancer incidence. This extends to other cancers, including prostate and oral cancers. Garlic is thought to be able to influence the cell cycle pathway to prevent cancer cells flourishing, initiating cell death in malfunctioning cells.
The organosulfur compounds within garlic are also thought to confer some of its anticancer properties. For example, allicin is a potent organosulfur compound within garlic that might be responsible for the prevention of cancer cell growth. Allicin is released when the surface of garlic bulbs are crushed or bruised. It has fairly rapid bioavailability in tablets and is absorbed with 30 minutes of consumption.
Body Detoxification From Garlic Extract
Garlic has a really distinctive smell and taste. This is because of the organosulfur content and derivatives in garlic. These compounds are thought to have effects on detoxification enzymes within the body that detoxify your system of certain chemicals. Certain chemicals can be carcinogenic. Garlic is thought to reduce the bioactivation of these and certain compounds might have strong blood detoxification potential.
Effects On Heart Disease
Garlic extracts have been revered for many years as having positive effects on the heart and circulatory system too. Studies indicate that garlic has an overall lowering effect on blood pressure, as well as blood glucose levels. Allicin, from garlic extract, has also been found to have these effects. It also seemed to reduce weight gain from high sugar diets. Garlic extract has blood vessel dilating effects through blood nitric oxide production.
A combination of various biological stimuli reduce hypertension and the development of atherosclerosis when garlic extracts are consumed. High doses of garlic extract reduced blood homocysteine and fatty acid levels, while also reducing blood pressure. Garlic extract was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol levels.
Some of this is to do with antioxidant activity, as well as direct effects on vasculature or blood vessels and blood platelets. Atherosclerotic build up is a risk factor for strokes and cardiovascular diseases. Garlic could therefore have major health benefits for your heart.
Anti-Microbial Effects of Garlic
Garlic can also provide detox effects as a cleansing anti-microbial. It is one of the most famous anti-microbials in existence. Of all of the most commonly used spices, garlic is thought to be the most potent inhibitor of bacterial growth. Some bacteria can influence the growth of certain ulcers and cancers. Allicin from garlic extracts can have multiple health effects through the suppression of the growth of these bacteria, in addition to cancer cells.
The effects of garlic extract are so strong that garlic might be able to inhibit the growth of anthrax bacteria B.anthracis.
Garlic extracts can also act as a potent anti-fungal. It produces allicin, which helps to prevent the growth of fungi. The presence of garlic in the mouth seems to have an anti-fungal effect too, as well as antibacterial effects. Some anti-viral activities have also been observed with the use of garlic extract. Garlic extract was successfully used to prevent the development of colds compared to a control group.
We mentioned earlier how certain vitamin levels, like vitamin C, can be preserved through higher plant antioxidant levels. This preservation effect in the body also has implications for the immune system. This effect is known as immunomodulation. Allicin is an immunomodulator, that can improve the activities of key immune cells. This can also have effects on cancer growth for example, through T-killer cell activation, as well as the immune system. You can see how all of the possible health benefits all link together with garlic extract and support one another.
Side Effects Of Garlic
Some people do suffer from side effects from excess garlic consumption. There are reports of gastrointestinal issues when eating high amounts of garlic, however garlic is generally considered to be very safe. These are very rare and of course some people can suffer from food allergies too. This is something to be aware of. Side effects are usually found when people take a massive excess of garlic. Garlic is very safely used in cooking.
Conclusion
Fresh garlic and garlic extracts have been known for their health benefits for many years and were revered by the great ancient civilizations. Originally revered for their abilities to help with infections, colds and as a disinfectant to treat wounds, garlic has been extensively studied by nutritionists.
The basic nutritional contents of garlic bulbs consists of minerals, such as selenium, vitamin C and phytochemicals. Organosulfur phytochemical compounds, such as allicin, are responsible for the majority of garlic’s health effects.
Garlic extracts contain antioxidants that can re-stabilise the oxidative balance within cells. When accumulated oxidative stress occurs in the body, you become vulnerable to free radical damage. This can lead to cancer or other diseases. Garlic has been extensively studied in regard to its benefits on reducing cancer. It seems to be able to inhibit growth of bizarre cells that might be cancerous, initiating their death. Garlic might have effects on stomach, mouth and prostate cancers.
This might originate from organosulfur compounds like allicin, accumulating in garlic on cutting or abrasion. These compounds have also been shown to have detoxification potential in the body.
Certain properties of garlic extracts mean that it might be able to reduce hypertension and help with preventing cardiovascular disease. Garlic extracts might also have potential health benefits as an antimicrobial, with garlic also shown to have preventative effects on colds. Allicin has been shown to have anti-fungal properties.
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