11 Conditions Garlic Can Help Manage Naturally

Garlic has been used for thousands of years to prevent colds and infections. In recent years, researchers have discovered that garlic, and sometimes garlic supplements, can be beneficial for overall health. Here are the main conditions in which garlic can help.

Several studies suggest that garlic, especially aged garlic extract, may boost your immune system and help reduce the number of days you have cold symptoms.

This may be due to its ability to increase your production of natural killer cells as well as T and B cells. These cells are an essential part of the immune system that fights disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

One study found that eating garlic could keep you from missing school or work too much, while another found that garlic could stop viruses from replicating in your body.

Research has shown that garlic supplements can help lower blood pressure. Garlic may also reduce your risk of having a heart attack or other cardiac event by 16 to 40 percent. Additionally, garlic supplements tend to have fewer side effects than common blood pressure medications.

Another study found that a compound in garlic (allicin) can reduce the production of a hormone that increases blood pressure.

Some research suggests that garlic, particularly aged garlic extract, may help reduce oxidative stress and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It may also protect against Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and cerebral ischemia (a type of stroke). But the researchers note that more studies are needed.

Researchers have found that eating more garlic and taking garlic supplements can help lower LDL cholesterol, known as “bad” cholesterol. In one study, scientists found that people with high cholesterol who ate more garlic had lower results.

Another study found that supplementing with garlic for more than two months could reduce your cholesterol levels by up to 10%. However, researchers say it has little effect on triglycerides.

Although the effects of garlic on human lifespan are difficult to prove, a Chinese study found that people who ate it regularly tended to live longer than those who ate it less than once a week.

Researchers suggest this may be due in part to garlic’s ability to boost immunity, prevent cancer, and improve heart health. However, more research is needed to support these claims.

As you age, your risk of osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones) increases, especially in postmenopausal people. But some researchers believe that eating raw garlic or taking garlic tablets could help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis.

In a 2017 study, participants took garlic tablets equivalent to about 2 grams of fresh garlic per day, which increased their calcium absorption. Calcium helps support bone health.

A 2018 study found that garlic may benefit people with osteoarthritis and knee pain. Researchers found that after 12 weeks of garlic supplements (1 gram per day), people with osteoarthritis experienced less pain in their knee joints.

Heavy metals like lead can affect your blood pressure, cause headaches and harm your vital organs. Researchers have preliminary evidence that sulfur compounds in garlic can reduce lead levels in your blood and organs.

A 2012 study found that people who worked at a car battery factory and had excessive exposure to lead were able to reduce their toxicity levels by 19% through garlic supplementation. They also reported fewer headaches and improved blood pressure.

Garlic contains several beneficial compounds, some of which may have cancer preventive properties. For example, garlic can block certain phases of carcinogenesis (the process by which cells become cancer cells). Meanwhile, its sulfur components can affect the behavior of tumors in the body.

A 2021 study found that people who ate more garlic had a 54% lower risk of pancreatic cancer than those who didn’t eat it very often.

Research suggests that garlic can help manage metabolic conditions, like type 2 diabetes. A 2017 study found that increasing garlic consumption can help improve blood sugar (sugar) levels within one to two weeks. Garlic may also help reduce high cholesterol levels, common in people with type 2 diabetes.

Another 2018 study found that people with metabolic syndrome who took a garlic supplement lost weight and saw a decrease in their waist circumference. However, more research is needed to determine whether garlic helps with weight loss, as study results are mixed.

Taking garlic supplements may help people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) manage their symptoms and lose weight. Weight gain and difficulty losing weight are common symptoms of PCOS. A 2023 study showed that supplementation helped reduce body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and overall body weight in people with PCOS.

Several studies have shown that garlic has strong antibacterial and antifungal abilities. For example, some research shows that garlic can kill or limit the growth of bacteria linked to vaginitis and similar conditions. Garlic may also have a fungicidal effect which can fight yeasts like Candida albicans.

If you’re interested in adding garlic supplements to your diet, talk to a healthcare professional to see if it’s right for you. Although studies suggest that taking a garlic supplement may be safe, in some situations it may also increase the risk of bleeding.

Having this conversation is especially important if you are already taking blood thinners or take aspirin regularly. A healthcare professional can also help you determine the dosage that is right for you and help you make an informed decision.