The herb puts up a good fight against atherosclerosis, bacteria, viruses, among many others.
By
PT Staff, published on March 01, 2000 - last reviewed on March 20, 2008
It may not do much for your breath, but perhaps no other herb can do more for your heart-health than garlic. Used for centuries around the world to numb toothaches and ward off vampires, a new generation is taking to garlic with a passion. German health authorities have approved garlic as a primary defense against atherosclerosis—the build-up of fatty plaque on artery walls that can lead to heart disease—and high cholesterol levels.
Research, including more than 1,000 clinical trials that have been conducted on its medicinal uses, supports the enthusiasm. A study published in Coronary Artery Disease found that of 60 mice fed high-cholesterol diets, the 30 given allicin, one of garlic's active ingredients, developed fewer fatty deposits in their arteries. One German study showed an 18 percent reduction in plaque build-up in people who took 900 mg of garlic powder a day. And an Oxford University overview of 16 clinical trials involving nearly 1,000 people found that those taking 600 mg to 900 mg of dried garlic powder daily for a month or more saw a 12 percent reduction in their cholesterol levels and a 13 percent reduction in triglycerides, another type of fat found in the blood.
Garlic may have other powers, as well. A study published in Cancer Detection and Prevention found that giving garlic extract to guinea pigs with skin cancer slowed the growth of their tumors, and a study in Microbes and Infection heralded garlic as an effective treatment against certain bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Garlic is being investigated as a possible foil for infections that resist traditional antibiotics, and it's even being tested in Russia as a treatment for arthritis.
Note to garlic lovers looking for an excuse to eat more: You may have to eat a lot of raw garlic to experience its benefits, as much as five to 10 cloves a day—a prospect that may drive your friends away. Luckily, garlic supplements offer an odor-free alternative. But just remember that the herb is a blood-thinner, and people taking aspirin or other anticoagulant drugs should talk to their doctors before taking the supplement.
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