Garlic is an herb that we always have on hand, usually in different forms. From powder, salt and mince for cooking to freshness for cooking and wellness. This herb has a plethora of uses in addition to being tasty! Discover below the benefits of garlic on our health.

Garlic: revered or feared?

Garlic is one of the oldest cultivated herbs dating back more than 5,000 years. But its place in society has fluctuated. Some cultures considered garlic to be an herb worthy of the gods. While others found it repulsive and suitable only for animal feed. Its use in society has expanded the range of these beliefs.

In fact, the ancient Egyptians worshipped garlic as a god and also used it as currency! For this reason, the Egyptians swore on garlic cloves, just as some swear on the Bible. It is interesting to note that only the lower class ate garlic because the rich believed it was too "coarse and common" for their delicate palates. In Greece, India and England, garlic was considered too pungent to be consumed by the upper classes.

Despite all the controversy, many cultures believed that garlic was protective. In ancient Korea, it was believed that tigers hated the smell of garlic, so people ate pickled garlic before crossing the mountains. In ancient Greece, midwives hung garlic cloves in the window to ward off evil spirits during childbirth.

Scientific reasons to eat garlic

There are reasons to eat garlic that have nothing to do with flavor but everything to do with health....

Benefits of garlic on heart and metabolic function

Some evidence suggests that garlic may help promote heart health and fight heart disease. Garlic can slow down atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and slightly lower blood pressure, between 7% and 8%.

A 4-year study found that people who took 900 mg per day of standardized powder slowed the development of atherosclerosis. It also appears to be an anticoagulant. That is, it acts as a blood thinner, which can help fight heart attacks and strokes.

In addition, a 2010 placebo-controlled trial included 50 patients with hypertension. The trial concluded that aged garlic was as good as blood pressure medication in lowering systolic blood pressure.

Finally, research shows that garlic can also help reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Healthy hair

According to a 2009 study, garlic can help reduce hair loss when used topically. It also has negligible side effects, making it a safe choice. Infuse garlic cloves in olive oil to make garlic oil and rub on scalp as needed.

Protects against group B streptococcus (GBS)

A local midwife suggests eating one clove of raw garlic or one garlic capsule a day to balance gut bacteria and prevent GBS. An in vitro study of the effect of allicin extract on GBS in a petri dish revealed that garlic was able to kill the bacteria within three hours. More research is needed to find out if this treatment works. But many midwives and mothers swear by it.

Colds and flu

According to a 2001 study, ingesting garlic can prevent the cold or flu. Yet the evidence for garlic's ability to shorten the duration of colds and flu seems to come from elderly friends and grandparents who swear by its effectiveness. But garlic is safe (and delicious!), so it's worth a try.

Antifungals

Garlic may help treat fungal infections such as athlete's foot, a study published in Annals of Applied Biology. But garlic can also be irritating to the skin. So be careful and listen to your body when using pure garlic juice or fresh garlic.

Repel mosquitoes

There is no evidence that eating garlic or rubbing it on the skin repels mosquitoes. But that doesn't stop people from doing it anyway! Many swear that eating lots of garlic in a camping meal helps repel biting mosquitoes. Garlic is a healthy food, so there's no harm in trying it.

The remarkable benefits of garlic: Anti-Cancer

Garlic is an anti-inflammatory and fights oxidative stress, making it a cancer-fighting agent. A review article published in Cancer Prevention Research explains that garlic and other allium vegetables affect many biological processes that alter cancer risk. Garlic can slow down the growth of cancer cells and speed up their death. Studies have focused on the effect of garlic on cancers, including:

• Stomach
• Prostate
• Colorectal
• Esophageal
• Chest
• Larynx
• Ovary

However, the review notes that the amount of garlic consumed that results in a reduced risk of cancer is not known. More research is needed to find this link. The main conclusion is that there are anti-cancer properties in garlic, which gives us one more reason to include it in a healthy diet!

Ear infections

Ear infections can be bacterial or viral. Antibiotics will obviously not help viral cases, but garlic will. Garlic oil is an excellent remedy for ear infections. It is naturally antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial.

How to take garlic?

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the following are generally considered safe doses. However, consult a physician or health care professional before using any herb as a remedy:

• Whole garlic clove: 2 to 4 grams per day of chopped fresh cloves (each clove weighs about 1 gram)
• Aged garlic extract: 600 to 1200 mg per day, in divided doses.
• Lyophilized capsules: 200 mg, 2 tablets 3 times daily, standardized to 1.3% alliin or 0.6% allicin. The products can also be found standardized to contain 10 - 12 mg/Gm of allicin and 4,000 mcg of total allicin potential.
• Fluid extract (1:1 w/v): 4 mL, daily
• Tincture (1:5 w/v): 20 mL, daily
• Oil: 0.03 - 0.12 mL, 3 times a day

Can garlic be harmful?

Garlic is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) products. But always consult your doctor or herbalist, as some herbs may interact with other herbs, supplements or medications.

Side effects of garlic include:

• Stomach ache
• Bloat
• Bad Breath
• Body odor
• Tingling sensation or lesions from handling garlic

Other, rarer side effects of garlic supplements include:

• Puzzle
• Exhaustion
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Dizziness/vertigo
• The allergiesincluding skin rashes and asthma

Garlic is considered safe for most people in sufficient quantities in food. It is not clear if additional doses of garlic are safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

When can garlic be unpleasant?

Garlic can be unpleasant if you have the following medical conditions:

• Bleeding disorder or upcoming surgery - Garlic (especially fresh garlic) can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Diabetes - Garlic can lower blood sugar levels, so it may lower blood sugar levels too much in some people.
• Stomach or digestive problems - Garlic can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
• Low blood pressure - because garlic can lower blood pressure, it can be dangerous for people with already low blood pressure.

Always consult your doctor to determine if garlic is right for you.

Do you take garlic? How to use it? Share below!

Sources:

Thomson, Bordia, Ali et Muslim. (01 mars 2006). Inclure l’ail dans le régime alimentaire peut aider à réduire la glycémie, le cholestérol et les triglycérides. bienfaits de l’ail , Consulté à l’adresse https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/136/3/800S/4664365

Traitement de l’alopécie Areata avec l’extrait topique d’ail. (n.d.). bienfaits de l’ail Consulté à l’adresse https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260656650

Cutler, R. R., Odent, M., Hajj-Ahmad, H., Maharjan, S., Bennett, N. J., Josling, P. D., . Dall'Antonia, M. (January 2009). In vitro activity of an aqueous extract of allicin and a novel topical gel formulation of allicin against Lancefield group B streptococci. benefits of garlic Retrieved from