Garlic Bulb Powder

Garlic Bulb Powder

Garlic (Allium sativum) is well known as a natural health remedy that has long been used in the treatment of a wide array of diseases. In fact, garlic was found in ancient Egyptian pyramids and ancient Greek temples. Researchers believe that the vital chemical compound in garlic called allicin, is mainly responsible for most of its medicinal qualities. Aside from being an ancient herbal remedy, garlic bulb and most parts of the garlic plant are used in various international cuisines. You can enjoy the potential health benefits of garlic by eating it raw or mixing it with your favorite dish. Garlic bulb supplements are also available in powder form and capsules.

Benefits of Garlic Bulb Powder

There are several health benefits of garlic that are supported by human research studies. Among them are the following:

Boosts Immune Function

One large 12-week study found that consuming garlic supplements everyday reduced the occurrence of colds by 63% compared with placebo supplements.^[1] Another study found that healthy subjects who consumed a high dose of garlic extract (2.56 grams per day) had better recovery time compared to those who took placebo.^[2]

Lowers Blood Pressure

Results from two high quality studies show that garlic bulb has blood pressure-lowering effects.^[3-4] According to these studies, garlic supplementation at 240-960 mg daily can significantly lower blood pressure in patients with mild to severe hypertension.

Improves Cholesterol Levels

Several studies have shown that garlic supplementation in patients with abnormal cholesterol profile can help reduce total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels by 10-15% .^[5-7] This finding is highly significant since abnormal cholesterol level is a major risk factor for stroke, heart disease and other serious health conditions.

Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease and other Cognitive Impairments

A 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that garlic extract supplementation can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments by improving blood flow to the brain.^[8] Another study also found that extracts of fresh garlic that are aged over a prolonged period contain antioxidant phytochemicals that prevent free radical damage in the brain, thus lowering risk for cognitive impairment.^[9]

Improves Exercise Performance

A 2005 study found that 6 weeks of garlic oil administration in patients with coronary heart disease significantly improved heart rate and reduced the work load upon the heart, resulting in better exercise tolerance.^[10] After the treatment, the patients performed better in treadmill stress test.  

Detoxifies the Body

At high doses, the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to possess protective effect against heavy metal toxicity. In a four week study involving employees of a car battery plant (subjects were excessively exposed to lead), researchers found that garlic supplementation significantly reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%.^[11] Garlic supplementation also reduced many symptoms of lead toxicity, including headaches and high blood pressure.

Maintains Strong Bones

Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that there is a strong link between high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and postmenopausal bone loss. Interestingly, one study in menopausal women found that dry garlic extract supplementation at a daily dose of 2 grams significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that the treatment can help prevent age-related bone loss.^[12]

References:

1. Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Advances in therapy. 2001; 18(4):189-93.
2. Nantz MP, Rowe CA, Muller CE, Creasy RA, Stanilka JM, Percival SS. Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2012; 31(3):337-44.
3. Dhawan V, Jain S. Garlic supplementation prevents oxidative DNA damage in essential hypertension. Molecular and cellular biochemistry. 2005; 275(1-2):85-94.
4. Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP. Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. Maturitas. 2010; 67(2):144-50.
5. Silagy C, Neil A. Garlic as a lipid lowering agent–a meta-analysis. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London. 1994; 28(1):39-45.
6. Stevinson C, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Garlic for treating hypercholesterolemia. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Annals of internal medicine. 2000; 133(6):420-9.
7. Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P. Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis. Nutrition reviews. 2013; 71(5):282-99.\
8. Borek C. Garlic reduces dementia and heart-disease risk. The Journal of nutrition. 2006; 136(3 Suppl):810S-812S.
9. Borek C. Antioxidant health effects of aged garlic extract. The Journal of nutrition. 2001; 131(3s):1010S-5S.
10. Morris DM, Beloni RK, Wheeler HE. Effects of garlic consumption on physiological variables and performance during exercise in hypoxia. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. 2013; 38(4):363-7.
11. Kianoush S, Balali-Mood M, Mousavi SR. Comparison of therapeutic effects of garlic and d-Penicillamine in patients with chronic occupational lead poisoning. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology. 2012; 110(5):476-81.
12. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Hesabgar HA, Owlia MB, Hadinedoushan H, Barzegar K, Fllahzadeh MH. The effect of garlic tablet on pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of dietary supplements. 2012; 9(4):262-71.