You’re probably familiar with garlic as the herb that makes your tomato sauce sing with flavor — but it also has medicinal properties that can help in the treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and hardening of the arteries.
How Does Garlic Help?
Garlic, a plant related to onions and chives, contains a chemical compound called Allicin. Once believed to be solely responsible for garlic’s health benefits, Allicin is the active ingredient and source of its distinctive smell and taste. But recent studies suggest other sulfur-containing compounds in garlic also act as health aides.
Whether you take your garlic powdered, salted, minced or in supplement form, some studies show that high daily doses of garlic (about four cloves a day or 600-1500 mg if taken as an extract) may positively affect your health by helping to:
- Improve your blood pressure
- Lower your risk of heart disease
- Help with fatigue
- Reduce bone loss
- Fight common colds
- Treat acne
- Stimulate hair growth
When Is Garlic Not So Good?
Large amounts of garlic in your daily diet might affect your personal scent — and your breath — but is it dangerous? In addition to skipping it before a date or other social engagement, medicinal doses of garlic should be avoided if you are:
- Nursing
- Pregnant
- Taking prescription drugs like warfarin, antihypertensives and antiplatelets
- Undergoing surgery (it acts as a blood thinner)
Garlic has been used globally for centuries as both a medicinal herb and an essential ingredient in the kitchen. If it’s not already part of your daily diet, I recommend adding it in moderation.
West Carroll Family Healthcare Center is located in Bowdon. For more information, call 770-258-5424 or visit WCarrollFamilyHealthcare.org.