Top 7 Health Benefits of Black Garlic
Black garlic is just raw garlic that has been fermented for several weeks in tightly regulated high-temperature, high-humidity conditions. Black garlic differs ... read more...from raw garlic in that it contains black cloves, a softer flavor, and a more delicate, sticky consistency. Additionally, black garlic has a variety of health advantages that may outweigh those of raw, unaged garlic. The possible health advantages that black garlic may have been discussed in this article.
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Black garlic has much more antioxidants than raw garlic due to the fermenting process. This is partially due to the fact that when black garlic ferments, allicin, the chemical that gives it its strong smell when crushed, is transformed into antioxidant substances including alkaloids and flavonoids.
Antioxidants are substances that aid in preventing oxidative damage to your cells, which may otherwise result in a number of ailments. Antioxidants are mostly consumed by people through plant foods, such as garlic. According to a 2014 study, black garlic's overall antioxidant activity considerably rose as it aged. In the study, after 21 days of fermenting, garlic's antioxidant level peaked.
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Diabetes patients who have uncontrolled high blood sugar levels are at an increased risk for consequences such as kidney damage, infections, and heart problems. In a 2019 experiment, black garlic extract administration improved metabolic functions including lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and controlling hunger in rats fed a diet heavy in fat and sugar. The antioxidant activity of black garlic may help prevent the problems that frequently come from high blood sugar, according to an older 2009 research on diabetic rats.
In a different animal experiment from this year, rats were fed a diet heavy in fat. When compared to rats that didn't take black garlic, those rats had much lower blood levels of insulin and glucose. According to one study including 226 women at risk for the illness, the antioxidant activity of black garlic fermented using the bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus may even help prevent the onset of gestational diabetes. It's critical to remember that some of these findings came from research on animals and that further research is required to determine how black garlic affects human blood sugar levels and diabetes.
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According to studies, black garlic may reduce triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood, which are all signs of heart disease. The amount of HDL (good) cholesterol may also rise. In one animal experiment, rats suffering from cardiac damage brought on by ischemia, or a lack of blood flow to the heart, were treated with raw and black garlic to compare the results. Researchers discovered that raw and black garlic both improved circulation to safeguard the heart. In rats fed a high-fat diet, black garlic extract was found to help lower total blood fats, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. These are often elevated levels that are associated with an elevated risk of heart disease.
Black garlic decreased high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in distinct animal research, lowering the risk of heart disease. In a different trial, for a period of 12 weeks, either 6 grams of aged black garlic extract or a placebo were given to 60 participants with increased cholesterol. Black garlic lowered possible heart disease indicators and raised HDL (good) cholesterol. Participants in research who had coronary heart disease received 20 grams of black garlic extract every day for six months. Compared to those who took a placebo, those who drank it had higher antioxidant levels and better heart health markers.
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Numerous studies show that black garlic is effective in preventing the growth of cancer cells. Black garlic extract had greater immune-stimulating, antioxidant, and anticancer properties than raw garlic extract in a test tube investigation in the blood of 21 individuals. The black garlic extract solution was hazardous to lung, breast, stomach, and liver cancer cells within 72 hours, the researchers discovered.
In additional test tube tests, researchers discovered leukemia, colon, and stomach malignancies in humans as well as black garlic-induced cancer cell death. Additionally, it slowed the expansion of these cancer cells. Researchers discovered that aged garlic likely exhibited protective benefits against cancer in the majority of the human, animal, and test tube trials they reviewed, which included data from 25 investigations. Scientists need to do further research on the possible cancer-fighting abilities of black garlic because this study is very preliminary.
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Black garlic may aid in defending the liver from harm that might result from repeated exposure to drugs, alcohol, chemicals, and infections. According to research on rats, black garlic has preventive properties that act to stop additional liver damage after liver injury.
Additionally, black garlic may be beneficial for longer-lasting ailments. For instance, research on animals revealed that black garlic, maybe due to its antioxidant activity, improved liver function in cases of persistent alcohol-induced liver damage. Aged black garlic was proven to reduce ALT and AST, two blood molecules that signify liver impairment, in a different investigation on rats with liver injury.
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Black garlic and its components may have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, according to research. In a 2016 study, researchers found that using an aged garlic extract reduced the severity of colds and the flu. It decreased the severity of the symptoms, the number of days during which the disease interfered with function, and the number of sick days that study participants had to miss from work or school. Researchers also hypothesized that taking supplements of black garlic improved immune system performance.
According to research published in 2020, certain chemicals found in black garlic and garlic extracts may be neuroactive, or able to activate brain tissue. The effects of mature garlic extract on cognitively impaired mice were examined by the study's researchers. The findings imply that chemicals in black garlic positively affect animal learning and memory formation and improve brain function.
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Garlic has been utilized for strength and endurance by many civilizations. Black garlic may help several elements of physical exercise and rehabilitation, according to recent studies. According to a 2015 study on garlic supplementation and aerobic activity, black garlic's antioxidants may be able to lessen the oxidative damage that exercises cause in men.
When imbalanced unstable atoms known as free radicals interact with other molecules in the body and cause harm, this is referred to as oxidative damage. This oxidative stress may be reduced by antioxidants, such as those in garlic. A 2016 study involving six male participants raises the possibility that using black garlic supplements might enhance muscular function. The administration of 5 milliliters of aged black garlic extract over a 10-day period resulted in an increase in the participants' muscular strength and performance.