Nature has a way of knowing exactly what our body needs to help fight certain ailments. Suffering from inflammation? Take turmeric. Need to fight off a cold or flu? Wild oil of oregano will do the trick. Now, nature has once again given us a natural solution to some of our health issues. Here’s why black garlic is about to become the next big think in healthy living.
What is black garlic?
Black garlic is a type of aged garlic. It’s made by heating whole bulbs of garlic over the course of several weeks, a process that results in black cloves. It can be aged for up to 60 days but will be ready to use after three weeks. Black garlic has been used for flavor and medicinal purposes and in a variety of Asian cuisines for centuries.
What are the health benefits?
Black garlic shares many of the same health benefits as white garlic. This includes:
- Contains antioxidants
- Helps to fight cancer growth
- Boosts heart health
- Preserves cognitive function
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Increases immunity
- Fights infection
Ancient civilizations used garlic to treat asthma, digestive disorders, heart disease, infections, respiratory disorders, tumors, and even intestinal worms.
What are the health benefit differences between white garlic and black?
Black garlic has a similar content of allicin, the active ingredient in white garlic that imparts its benefits, but without the odor. rich in amino acids and has almost double the amount of antioxidants when compared to white garlic. It also contains an additional compound called S-Allycysteine in very high concentrations which is water soluble and thus absorbed easily within the body. S-Allylcysteine has been shown to assist with the absorption of allicin. This makes it much more effective than white garlic for all the benefits mentioned above and additionally it is well tolerated by the digestive system so the chance of gastric distress is completely minimized.
Are there studies about the health benefits?
Yes, there are! Several, actually. Here are just a few of them:
- A 2012 in vitro study, it exhibited the strongest anticancer and antioxidant properties, and also had a more powerful effect on stimulating immunity than white garlic.
- An animal study published in Nutrition Research and Practice reported that the high antioxidant levels in black garlic may also be useful in preventing diabetes complications.
- A 2014 in vitro study showed that aged garlic extract was able to effectively kill off and reduce the growth of colon cancer
- Research in a 2008 study shows that antioxidants can reduce the risk of developing certain types of chronic disease, including coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
- A study published in 2017 involving an analysis of nine clinical trials with a total of 768 patients with type 2 diabetes found that those who took 50 to 1,500 mg of a garlic supplement each day for two or three months had significant reductions in their fasting blood glucose levels.
Real Simple called it one of the 11 superfoods you should know about!
Anything I should know before trying it?
A research review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that garlic (along with green tea, ginkgo, ginseng, and hawthorn) can interfere with the efficacy of some heart medications or increase their side effects. It may also make some other drugs less effective, such as saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection. As with any new supplement addition to your routine, ask your medical professional about the benefits of taking black garlic.
With all the benefits listed about, you can see why black garlic is about to become the next big think in healthy living. As with any supplement, be sure you purchase from a reputable supplement company known for its quality products.
