Benefits of Garlic: The Top 5 Health and Beauty Boosts

                        

Garlic is the biggest jewel in the crown of all medicinal herbs. It prevents colds, enhances exercise ability, is a therapy for hair loss, prevents arthritis and lung cancer, and lowers blood pressure

It has been said that all current drugs and medications are simply versions of herbs and foods that can be patented by the drug companies. These herbs have been freely used throughout history for their healing benefits. The biggest jewel in the crown of all medicinal herbs is garlic. Here is some recent research news on garlic. 

1. Garlic Prevents the Common Cold – “Advances in Therapy” Journal 

This study included 146 people who received either a placebo or an allicin-containing garlic supplement for 12 weeks. The participants recorded any common cold symptoms and infections in a daily diary. At the end of the study, there were 63% less colds in the garlic group and they recovered much faster when infected – in an average of 1.5 days versus 5 days. 

2. Garlic Gel for Recurrent Hair Loss – “Indian Journal of Dermatology” 

In order to determine the effectiveness of a garlic gel applied to the scalp for recurrent hair loss, researchers divided the participants into two groups. One group used a garlic gel for three months and the other used a placebo. In addition, both groups used a steroid cream on the scalp. The size of the patches and overall state of the hair was recorded each month. 

At the end of the study, very good responses were observed in the garlic group. The study showed that the use of a garlic gel significantly added to the therapeutic benefits from the steroid cream and that it’s an effective hair loss remedy. 

3. Dietary Garlic Prevents Hip Arthritis – “Musculoskeletal Disorders” Journal 

1,000 healthy female twins participated in this study. The team of researchers recorded the details of the diets of the twins, especially vegetables and fruits, and compared this info with x-ray images that showed if there was any osteoarthritis development in the hips, spine and knees. 

Their discovery was that a high intake of vegetables and fruits, particularly those high in sulfur such as garlic and onions, resulted in lower signs of the beginnings of osteoarthritis in the hip. 

4. Aged Garlic Extract Lowers Blood Pressure – “Maturitas” (the European Menopause Journal) 

This study followed 50 patients over a 12 week treatment period. The patients were being treated with medication for high blood pressure, but it remained high and uncontrolled. The results showed that an aged garlic extract was effective in lowering blood pressure for patients with uncontrolled hypertension. 

5. Garlic Enhances Exercise Tolerance - “Indian Journal of Physiology” 

In a study of 30 patients with heart disease, treadmill tests were to examine their exercise capacity. After the initial test, they were given garlic oil capsules daily for six weeks. When the test was repeated, it was shown that the garlic had greatly improved their heart rate at peak exercise and had also reduced the work load on the heart. This gave the patients better exercise tolerance and ability. 

How to Take Garlic 

Garlic is best eaten raw. Some tasty ways to receive raw garlic health benefits is to add it to homemade salsa, guacamole, salad dressings, pasta sauce, in mashed potatoes, and mixed with butter and then spread on bread. Supplements are also available with good amounts of the potent ingredient. 

This health news is shared with you by Nutrition Breakthroughs, a provider of nutrition articles and effective natural remedies since 2001. Nutrition Breakthroughs makes the original calcium and magnesium based natural sleep aid Sleep Minerals II