Garlic has been used as food and valuable medicine for 1000’s of years all over the world including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and Rome.
It is not only an extremely flavorful addition to food but it also has a wide range of benefits to your health.
1. Garlic for Colds
Garlic has been found to be extremely effective at killing various micro-organisms that cause infections, including the common cold. Studies have shown that taking garlic not only makes you less likely to get a cold but that it can also reduce the length and severity of a cold.
One 12-week study showed that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of colds by 63% compared to a placebo. The average length of cold symptoms was also reduced by 70%, 5 days in the placebo group to just 1.5 days in the garlic group.
2. Boosts the Immune System
Studies show that the consumption of garlic stimulates the white blood cells, the immune cells of the blood which are responsible for fighting bacteria and viruses.
3. Lowers Blood Pressure
In studies garlic has been shown to effectively reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. (1, 2, 3)
In one study, aged garlic extract was just as effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period. (4)
Another study showed that garlic has promising results in decreasing blood pressure of people with “uncontrollable” blood pressure. (5)
So garlic, in a standardizable form, could work as well as prescription hypertension medications. One study explains that garlic’s polysulfides promote the opening or widening of blood vessels and, therefore, blood pressure reduction.
4. Lowers Cholesterol
In studies, garlic has been shown to lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
LDL cholesterol is harmful because it clogs blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke*. For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplements appear to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10–15%. (6, 7, 8, 9)
5. Garlic has anti-bacterial properties.
It can be taken internally and used externally for this effect.
It has been used as an antibiotic to treat bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections for the last 7,000 years. (10)
As recently as WW1 and WW2 garlic were used to dress wounds to prevent infection and gangrene.
Garlic can also be an effective antibiotic for oral hygiene, including having an antibacterial effect on dental plaque bacteria that cause tooth decay. Garlic can also be used for oral infections like periodontitis, oral thrush, and sore mouth from dentures. Garlic may be used in conjunction with antibiotics or to treat drug-resistant bacteria. (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
6. Garlic has Anti-parasitic Properties
Garlic has anti-parasitic properties and has been used to expel worms and other parasites.
Garlic has successfully treated parasitic intestinal infections like giardiasis and tapeworm infections in rats.
The allicin in garlic disrupts the parasite’s ability to absorb nutrients and reproduce. Garlic also promotes immune function and strengthens the body’s defense mechanism against parasitic infections by stimulating white blood cells.
7. Garlic has Anti-Fungal Properties
In studies, garlic has been shown to have anti-fungal properties on many fungi, including candida.
In petri-dish studies, fresh garlic extract inhibited the growth of Candida, the most common type of yeast infections.
8. Garlic for Heart Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States.
Garlic has been shown to be an effective preventative agent and treatment for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and diabetes. A study of garlic benefits found that garlic consumption has significant cardio-protective effects.
Garlic lowers cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, treats hardened blood vessels, and prevents platelet aggregation in patients with heart disease. Garlic has been shown to help reverse early heart disease by removing plaque buildup in arteries.
Studies showed that Aged Garlic Extract can help slow the progression of atherosclerosis and reverse the early stages of heart disease. (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
9. Garlic for Hair Loss (Alopecia)
A study showed that Garlic gel when added to a steroid cream treatment significantly helped to treat patients suffering from alopecia, a type of hair loss that results from immune cells attacking hair follicles. Garlic may prevent the autoimmune response and induce hair re-growth by increasing immune suppressor cells.
10. Garlic for Diabetes
Garlic reduces insulin resistance, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels in patients with diabetes.
A study of diabetic rats showed that garlic may be very helpful in improving the overall health of diabetics. The rats receiving garlic had significantly lowered blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
And the best part of all, garlic is a delicious addition to your diet!
Summary
It is an herb that can be taken in controlled and standardized doses in capsulized form, but it is also an herb that can be added to your regular diet for general health. Raw or barely cooked garlic is the best so that the health-giving nutrients aren’t destroyed.
Herbal Roots aka Mortar and Pestle Herbs uses only organic whole bulb garlic, grown in the USA. Our garlic is not chemically processed and has no additives or fillers.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product.
References: all links to references and studies have been verified ✓.
