Top 7 Health Benefits of Garlic That Prevent Diabetes

Among the health benefits of garlic, probably most people have heard of allicin – the active ingredient that gives garlic its strong smelling scent. However, not many people are aware of all the other health benefits of garlic. Garlic can actually be used as a cancer fighter, a weight loss aid, an antibiotic, an antiseptic, a natural detoxifier, and a liver protector.

What Are The Important Health Benefits Of Garlic?

Most of the beneficial health benefits of garlic stem from its multiple chemical properties. Allicin is the chemical that gives garlic its spicy smell. Allicin is a compound found throughout the plant, but it is the pungent and volatile oil that gives garlic its specific smell. Allicin is the first chemical found in all plants, so it is also present in plants and animals. However, allicin is the strongest and most damaging of all the chemical properties of allicin.

In addition to its pungent scent, allicin is known for its multiple health benefits. Some studies showed that it can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, increase antioxidant activity, improve insulin sensitivity, decrease tumour growth, and inhibit the formation of abnormal cells. These studies showed that garlic extracts can help people who suffer from high blood pressure. 

This is because illicit acts as a weak anti-diuretic agent, reducing the amount of urine in the bloodstream. This may help prevent hypertension.

Another of the many heart disease benefits of garlic is its ability to prevent atherosclerosis, the process by which fatty plaques form on the artery walls. Atherosclerosis can cause a buildup of plaque that narrows the passageway and causes heart disease. Garlic oil may prevent the development of fatty plaques and cholesterol build-up by acting as a vasodilator. 

This means it helps open up the passageways, making it easier for the blood to flow through them and providing it with a greater volume.

Another study performed by the European Registry of Controlled Trials showed that there was a significant improvement in patients treated with high blood pressure who took a low dose of a standardized garlic powder compared to placebo. The standardized powder was also more effective than a low-dose intravenous antihypertensive drug, meaning garlic was just as effective as H2 blockers or calcium channel blockers. 

The benefits may be due to the blood-thinning component of the compound since allicin is believed to act like diuretics on the cardiovascular system. Since it helps increase cardiovascular activity, the heart rate and blood pressure may actually rise.

Finally, one of the biggest studies performed on diabetic patients was done in the United States. This study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, showed that those patients who ate more garlic had lower blood sugars, triglycerides and cholesterol. Diabetic patients that consumed at least three cups of garlic a day had a significant improvement in their blood sugar levels and their LDL cholesterol levels were much less severe than those of a control group. 

This is the most definitive research so far showing how beneficial it can be for those suffering from diabetes. It’s important to note that this study was performed on a small group of diabetic patients, therefore the results may not apply to all people suffering from diabetes. For more information, please see the author’s website.