The Many Benefits of Garlic
Garlic is one of my favorite things to add to just about any meal. Did you know that, in addition to seasoning, garlic has awesome health benefits, too?
Garlic has antibiotic properties due to its allicin. Allicin is released with the garlic is chopped or crushed.
Garlic can help lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, which can help boost heart health.
Garlic extracts and garlic powder may help lower blood pressure.
Garlic has hepatoprotective properties. This means that it can help protect the liver from damage.
Garlic may help with weight management. A 2023 study found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome taking garlic supplements saw reductions in:
- weight
- their body mass index
- waist circumference
The antioxidants in garlic help prevent oxidative damage, which means it may slow down the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Consuming garlic may be beneficial for bone health because it can help reduce oxidative stress.
Garlic contains numerous compounds that may have anticarcinogenic properties, which help protect against cancer. These compounds include:
- allicin
- diallyl disulfide
- diallyl sulfide
- diallyl trisulfide
- S-allyl mercapto cysteine
- S-allylcysteine
These may help protect against cancer in a number of ways. They include cell cycle arrest, which is when the cancer cell stops duplicating and dividing, and apoptosis, which refers to the death of cancer cells.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, consuming a diet rich in vegetables in the garlic family may lower a person’s risk of certain cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancers. Examples of vegetables in the garlic family include:
- garlic
- onion
- shallots
- leeks
- chives
While garlic alone will not protect against cancer, consuming garlic as part of a balanced diet may help reduce a person’s risk.