Benefits of Garlic Supplements

If you're looking for a way to avoid garlic breath but gain the health advantages of incorporating garlic into your diet, you may want to consider how the benefits of garlic supplements compare to raw garlic to be sure you are really getting what you want from your supplement.

Nature Made Herbs Odorless Garlic Supplement Tablets

Garlic's recorded history goes back to 1500 B.C. where an Egyptian papyrus lists the use of garlic in the treatment of 22 different ailments. History also shows the use of garlic in ancient Greece and Rome. While many folklore tales include suggestions to use garlic more like an amulet or charm to scare away werewolves, vampires and other sources of evil, in the real ancient world garlic was used for things like:

• Dog bites
• Cure leprosy
• Cure asthma
• Increased stamina for the slaves building the pyramids
• Prevent the plague
• Repel scorpions
• Treat bladder infections

While there is no historic proof that medical benefits were actually realized, garlic has a long reputation as an herbal remedy. Today it is commonly used to treat the flu or colds and is considered nature's antibiotic.

In more recent history, garlic poultices were used in WWII to treat the wounded in an effectual but inexpensive way. Antibiotics were scarce during the war, and garlic proved to be an effective replacement.

It's easy to dismiss ancient reports of medicinal benefits of using garlic, but today modern science has been taking a closer look at garlic's medicinal properties. To date, studies have shown that garlic:

• Can control acne
• Can suppress tumor growth
• Is a potent antioxidant
• Is good for cardiovascular health
• Can reduce LDL cholesterol
• Is a good blood-thinning agent

Before we look at the benefits of garlic supplements versus raw garlic, it is important to know why garlic is good for you. In general, it is believed that the stronger the garlic flavor, the higher the sulphur content and thus the greater the medicinal value. The main ingredients responsible for the wide variety of health benefits are:

• Allicin, alliin, alliinase - These ingredients give crushed garlic its strong odor but they are also responsible for its antibiotic properties. However, allicin does not survive the cooking processes. Nor will it be found in garlic supplements. To release allicin, the garlic must be chopped or crushed.

• Diallyl Sulphides- The blood pressure lowering properties of garlic come mostly from the garlic sulphides. These sulphides are not killed in the cooking process and may also help manage cholesterol.

While garlic supplements provides a way for people who don't like the smell or taste of garlic to still get it into their diet, the benefits of garlic supplements lack the antibiotic properties found in crushed or chopped raw garlic. The problem is that many garlic supplements claim the same benefits as raw garlic, but they have no corroborating evidence to support claims that it lowers blood cholesterol or blood pressure, prevents cancer or any of the other myriad of claims.

When you eat raw garlic you pretty much know one is very much like another. However when it comes to supplements, the chemical composition varies from one brand to another. In fact, in the world of supplements people can't even agree on whether garlic powder, oil or aged "deodorized" garlic extract is best for our health. To further complicate the creditability of health claims, a recent report from ConsumerLab.com reported eight of 14 supplements tested had problems. For example they didn't meet label claims. Be sure to read the report to check the specifics on your garlic supplement.

While taking garlic supplements may seem harmless enough not to mention to your doctor or health care provider, in reality some people experience side effects such as:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Digestive problems

Also, garlic has been proven to thin blood so if you are on a blood thinner or take aspirin it is extremity important that you talk to your doctor before starting a garlic supplement. If you are scheduled for surgery, stop taking garlic altogether as it will put you at risk for possible bleeding problems. Be careful and smart, know what you're taking and make sure your doctor does, too.

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