Is Eating Garlic Daily Good for You?

Theresa Groskopp

eating garlic daily Eating garlic daily may have potential benefits for your health. Read on to discover what these benefits may be!
Have you ever heard of eating garlic daily to gain potential benefits? How about garlic supplements? Garlic has been a popular antidote among Greeks for centuries. And while you might need some serious help freshening your breath afterwards, modern science does back up the potential health benefits of eating garlic daily. While garlic is a wildly popular cooking ingredient, it has long been used for medicinal purposes. In some circles, it's actually considered a superfood because it contains plenty of important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and B6, Manganese, Selenium, and other antioxidants. However, one of the most important potential benefits of garlic may have to do with its effect on the circulatory system. Some studies show that red blood cells process garlic by turning it into a cell messenger called hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide (also known as H2S) relaxes the blood vessels and improves blood flow throughout the body. This is why many experts believe that eating garlic daily could benefit the heart.

3 Reasons for Eating Garlic Daily

You know that strong scent you smell when you chop a clove of garlic? That smell is caused by allicin, a compound that enters the body through the digestive tract and spreads throughout the body. Allicin is responsible for many of garlic's healing properties, which you will learn more about below. Here are a few reasons why you should make garlic an additional part of your diet or supplement routine:
  1. Garlic may help support the immune system. You might know people who eat garlic to help treat cold symptoms. According to some studies, that's not just an old wives' tale. A 12-week study found that garlic reduced the number of colds in participants by 63 percent compared to a placebo. Plus, the study found that the length of cold symptoms was reduced. Another study found that taking a garlic supplement reduced the amount of time a cold or flu lasted for participants by 61 percent.
  2. Garlic may support your heart health. Cardiovascular diseases are growing more common and they remain among the top diseases that can cause death. That's a big reason why taking care of your heart is so important and oftentimes that starts with maintaining a blood pressure within the recommended range. The good news is, garlic may be able to help you achieve this. Several studies have found that using a garlic supplement may help people maintain a healthy blood pressure already in a normal range. However, supplement doses must be fairly high to achieve this result. According to Healthline, the amount of allicin needed to support a healthy blood pressure already in a normal range is the equivalent of three cloves of garlic a day.
  3. Garlic may also help your heart by supporting healthy cholesterol levels already in a normal range. Some studies indicate that garlic has a positive effect on LDL cholesterol levels (also known as bad cholesterol). However, further research has shown that garlic supplementation doesn't seem to have any reliable influence on HDL or good cholesterol levels. Given the impact of garlic on your LDL cholesterol levels, it may be helpful to supplement with garlic in order to keep your heart as healthy as possible. However, you should talk to your doctor about this just to make sure!
  4. Garlic promotes brain health as you age. Plenty of studies have been done to examine the impact of antioxidants on brain health. As you age, your brain can undergo oxidative damage that can lead to neurological problems such as forgetfulness, irritability, confusion, and more. Garlic contains antioxidants that can support the body against this type of oxidative damage. It's also possible that the combined effects garlic has of supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels already in a normal range may support brain health as you age.

How to Eat More Garlic

You probably use a lot of garlic in cooking just think about how often you add garlic to pasta, chicken, or vegetables! However, that doesn't necessarily mean you're eating enough garlic to gain potential health benefits. If you want to increase the amount of garlic in your system, you can try using a garlic supplement. At Natural Healthy Concepts, we have dozens of garlic supplements that may help you reach your health goals. If you're worried about dealing with any unpleasant odors, we also offer a selection of odorless products that can help you gain potential health benefits without worrying about a strong garlic smell. Do you have questions about using garlic supplements? Or maybe a good experience to share? Tell us in the comments!
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About the Author

Theresa Groskopp

Certified Nutritionist in Appleton, Wisconsin,Founder of Natural Healthy Concepts. Natural health and nutrition advocate. Enjoys gardening, biking, fitness, boating, animals (especially cats), and cooking.

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