7 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic You Should Know

7 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic

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In this blog post, we are going to unveil the 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic!

Many plants can be found in our environment, and some of their benefits are unknown to us.

For instance, the garlic plant, although known as an ingredient in cooking, has some potential benefits for our bodies.

Now, let us discuss its health benefits one by one.

Disclaimer: Information on medicinal plants is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before use.

7 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic

1. Garlic is known for boosting our immunity

One of the benefits of garlic extract is that it enhances the immune system.

The immune system serves as our shield against harmful effects, such as pollution, germs, bacteria, and other substances that make us ill.

According to a review article published in PubMed Central, research shows that garlic can boost the function of the immune system.

The results were based on multiple clinical trials, including in vitro (cell line), in vivo (animal model), and healthy human studies, and all clinical trials showed that garlic indeed possesses immunomodulatory agents that may help improve and boost the immune system.

Since garlic regulates our immune system, garlic extracts may help to prevent health-related issues such as obesity, cardiovascular disorders, gastric ulcers, and even cancer.

2. It works as a natural anti-inflammatory

Another amazing health benefit of garlic is that it serves as a natural anti-inflammatory.

The role of anti-inflammatories in our bodies is they help us manage and reduce the pain caused by injuries, such as swelling and redness.

Research from PubMed Central also highlights that garlic extract certainly produces anti-inflammatory properties that may help us in reducing inflammation, including redness, swelling, and pain.

Hence, research shows that garlic possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may help us reduce inflammation and pain.

3. Garlic contributes to improving heart health

One of the major causes of death around the world is related to the heart.

Our heart serves as the power pump in our bodies, and its primary role is to pump blood and oxygen that keep us alive.

Once our heart becomes unhealthy, heart-related diseases will follow, such as stroke, hypertension, and heart attack.

So, it is crucial to protect our hearts at all costs.

Experts believe that garlic may help improve our heart health.

In published research from the PubMed Central on the effects of garlic on cardiovascular disorders, it indicates that garlic consumption reduces heart-related issues, including heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.

Thus, based on research, we can conclude that garlic may protect and improve our heart’s health.

4. It also acts as a natural antibacterial agent

Garlic contains organosulfur compounds, such as alliin and allicin, which are responsible for its antibacterial properties.

One of the major roles of antibacterial substances is they help kill or inhibit the growth of harmful or bad bacteria in our bodies.

In fact, based on a review article published by the PubMed Central, the organosulfur compounds found in garlic provide excellent antibacterial properties, such as bactericidal, antibiofilm, antitoxin, and anti-quorum sensing activity.

Also, based on Science Direct, these antibacterial properties found in garlic are effective in treating a wide range of bacteria, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus, Bacillus, and Clostridium.

Hence, studies show that the bioactive compounds found in garlic, such as alliin and allicin, contain anti-bacterial properties that may help protect us from several types of bacteria.

5. Garlic also helps lower blood pressure

Hypertension is one of the major causes of premature death around the world.

This usually occurs when we don’t have a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Additionally, people with health issues, such as obesity and diabetes, are prone to this.

Researchers believe that garlic may help improve our blood pressure.

For instance, a review article published in PubMed Central highlights the effectiveness of garlic supplements in patients with hypertension. During the meta-analysis of 12 trials, 553 hypertensive participants showed a reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Thus, these clinical trials strongly suggest that garlic indeed may help manage our blood pressure.

6. It also contains anti-cancer properties

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death, where approximately 9.6 million people died in 2018.

The organosulfur compounds in garlic are believed to have properties that are responsible for its anti-cancer properties.

Research published in PubMed Central suggests that garlic and nanoformulations have shown efficacy against several types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer.

This clearly shows that the bioactive compounds in garlic contain anti-cancer properties that may help us fight cancer cells.

7. Garlic is rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants serve as janitors in our bodies, where their main job is to kill or neutralize free radicals or unstable molecules, and prevent cell damage.

Many researchers believe that the presence of organosulfur compounds in garlic possesses antioxidant properties.

For instance, research published by the PubMed Central indicates that garlic contains antioxidant properties. This was based on multiple assays or tests where two groups of garlic were studied, aged garlic and fresh garlic, to measure their antioxidant properties.

Both garlic (aged and fresh) show antioxidant properties, but the study found that the aged garlic showed more potent antioxidants than the fresh one.

So, What Does This All Mean About Garlic?

Despite being used as a flavoring, we know now that garlic has amazing benefits for our bodies, such as boosting our immune system, acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, improving heart health, acting as a natural anti-bacterial agent, lowering blood pressure, and being anti-cancer and an antioxidant.

What are your thoughts on garlic?

Have you ever used garlic for its health benefits?

If so, feel free to share your experience in the comments!