Garlic benefits, dosage and side effects

Garlic has the effects of a broad spectrum antibiotic, killing bacteria, fungi, viruses and molds, it is a natural ally for health.

Proven virtues and benefits of garlic

For proper digestion, use garlic

Consumed regularly, garlic gives good intestinal health, as it kills harmful bacteria and promotes the growth of a beneficial intestinal flora, making digestion freer and easier.

Mosquito repellent

Mosquitoes do not like garlic, do not ask me why, but this is verified. Instead of using potentially toxic chemicals, make your mosquito sprayer 
Put some chopped garlic cloves in 30 ml mineral oil for 24 hours, after filtering, mix the garlic oil with two cups of water and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Filter again if necessary, then Pour into a spray bottleAnd here you have your natural mosquito repellent.

An effective cough syrup

Put the chopped garlic in hot water and drink this liquid like tea helps to relieve the inflammation of the throat and dissipate excess mucus. You can add ginger or honey to make the liquid more pleasant.

Acne

Slice a clove of raw garlic and apply it on acne breakouts as a home remedy . Even if the smell is not pleasant, the antibacterial properties of garlic will lessen the appearance of acne, in addition to accelerate healing.

To repair a cracked glass

Did you know that garlic juice is a natural adhesive? To touch the garlic is sticky is not it! Then, it can be used to fill the cracks in the glass. Crush a clove of garlic and rub its sticky juice, in the cracks then wipe the excess .

Against ear infections

This popular remedy has existed for centuries, garlic kills the bacteria responsible for ear infections . Crush a clove of garlic, and place it in a teaspoon of hot olive oil for five minutes . Drain, cool and pour a few drops into the ear canal . You can also buy garlic oil in health food stores.

Melt the unsightly beads

Even though its powerful flavor and its special smell does not make you want to eat it, garlic actually has properties for weight loss, according to some research. Indeed, some elements present in garlic send signals of satiety to the brain, which will help you to eat less. It also boosts metabolic function to help you burn more calories.

Treat the athlete's foot.

Garlic is a powerful natural antifungal, which makes it ideal for treating fungal infections such as athlete's foot, irritations and itching. Add a few cloves of crushed garlic in hot water and soak your feet in this bath for 30 minutes.

Protection against colds

Garlic has been used for centuries to cure and naturally prevent colds. Researchers believe that allicin is the main biologically active component of garlic blocking bacterial and viral infections . But to benefit from garlic, you must eat three to four garlic cloves a day, preferably raw and ground, adding them to your meals.

Anti hair loss

Rich in allicin, garlic combats dandruff and hair loss.

The garlic oil used in scalp massage stops hair loss and stimulates their growth.

Good fishing, thanks to garlic

The strong smell of garlic repels insects, however it has the opposite effect on fish .Garlic cloves are recommended by some fishermen as an unusual bait that can attract catfish, carp, trout, etc.

Garlic is an aphrodisiac

Garlic facilitates the circulation of blood in the limbs. This explains why it has been used as an aphrodisiac. It could even promote the sexual endurance of man.

It prevents cancer 

Several studies indicate a positive effect of garlic consumption on the prevention of certain cancers. It would reduce the risk of cancer of the stomach, throat, esophagus, colon and ovary. In addition, garlic increases the level of combativeness of the immune system and helps the body to fight more effectively cancer cells.

Good for the heart 

Garlic would help to regulate cholesterol by fighting what is called "bad cholesterol," which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is therefore an indirect ally of the heart! In addition, it increases the fluidity of the blood, which reduces the formation of clots that can block the veins and arteries.

Good for the line 

Poor in calories and rich in potassium, calcium and envitamin A and C, garlic fights against bad cholesterol and promotes urinary elimination. It also stimulates metabolism and burns calories. In addition, the consumption of garlic gives the brain signals of satiety when you eat it. Garlic is therefore your slimming ally!

But if you want to use it in your diets, as always, consume it in moderation. Include it in your eating habits rather than forcing you to ingest it. Garlic can cause indigestion problems, diarrhea and bad breath.

Against warts 

No, your grandmother did not lie to you: garlic would be very effective against warts. To make them disappear, it is enough to rub gently your wart with a clove of garlic. Be careful however to protect the skin around the wart so that it is not burnt. A remedy to repeat until the total disappearance of the wart.

For beautiful nails 

To restore shine to your dull or damaged nails, rub them gently with garlic. It strengthens them and helps them regrow.

Anti-allergen 

Garlic would be an anti-allergen. It decreases by more than 90% the cellular response after exposure to an allergen.

Garlic contains more calcium than milk. For info, in 100g of milk one finds approximately 125 mg of calcium. In 100 g of garlic, there are 181 mg of calcium. It is also a source of selenium (a trace element that the body needs in small quantities and that is found only in food.) "Last thing, garlic effectively replaces antibiotics. It increases the level of antioxidant in the body.

True, the taste of raw garlic is unpleasant, certainly it gives an infectious breath, but will these disadvantages prevent you from using it for your well-being? Especially since these defects can be circumvented.

Dosage of garlic

1- Internally

Reduction of blood lipids, moderate hypertension and prevention of atherosclerosis (as a long-term adjuvant to dietary measures)

• Fresh garlic. Consume 1 to 2 cloves (4 g to 8 g) per day.
• Dried garlic. Take 0.5 g to 1 g per day.
• Normalized extract (1.3% allicin, from 3.6 mg to 5.4 mg allicin per gram of powder). Take 200 mg to 400 mg three times a day.
• Aged garlic. Take 600 mg to 900 mg daily. Note that in some studies, up to 7.2 g per day was used.
• Garlic oil (steam distillation). Take 5 mg to 8 mg daily.

Respiratory tract infections (cold, cough)

• Fresh garlic. Consume about 4 garlic cloves (16 g) per day.
• Dried garlic. Take 2 g to 4 g, 3 times a day.
• Dyeing (1: 5, 45% ethanol). Take 2 ml to 4 ml, 3 times a day.
• Normalized extract (1.3% allicin). Take 800 mg to 1600 mg three times a day.

2- Externally

Fungal infections (athlete's foot, etc.)

• Commercially available creams or gels based on ajoene, one of the ingredients of garlic (concentration of 0.4% to 1%). The cut and crushed bulb may also be used, but raw garlic can irritate the skin and mucous membranes and cause allergic reactions.

Precautions

Cons-indications

• None known, except perhaps for people with porphyria, a very rare disease of blood metabolism (see History).
• It is recommended, however, to avoid consuming large amounts of garlic (food or supplements) before and after surgery because of its anticoagulant effects that may increase bleeding. At the usual dietary doses (4 g per day), however, garlic does not present any danger before an operation ⁴³ .

Side effects

• Slight occasional gastrointestinal discomfort as a result of high consumption of garlic .
• Some people may have difficulty digesting raw garlic .
• Possible reactions of the skin or mucous membranes resulting from the topical application of fresh garlic .
• The breath of the garlic eater gives off scents that are not always appreciated. Regular consumption of garlic promotes the formation of enzymes that help minimize these effluvia. Eating fresh parsley also helps to reduce bad breath.

Interactions

With plants or supplements

• The effects of garlic could be added to other herbs or supplements that thin out the blood or have anticoagulant effects.

With medication

• The effects of garlic supplements may be added to those of blood thinners or anticoagulants. In healthy subjects, however, garlic did not interact with warfarin.

Opinion of our pharmacist

Modest, but numerous effects

Although the effects of garlic are modest, they are many. Because it affects all cardiovascular risk factors, it is an interesting complementary treatment for those affected. That is why Commission E, ESCOP and the World Health Organization recognize it as an adjunctive treatment for hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. It also has the potential to slow the progression of diabetes complications, another risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The important points to remember in the use of garlic are the dose and the regularity. As mentioned in the sheet, choose either a standardized product of alliin or allicin or aged garlic. It must be eaten every day. Occasional use does not confer results. Interesting results in the prevention of cardiovascular disease appear after several months.

The consumption of food garlic is also recommended. It is an essential health food. On the other hand, to have a tangible therapeutic effect, you have to eat a lot, one pod or more per day, which can be difficult to do continuously.

On the shelves

As research has determined that allicin is one of the major components that could be attributed to some of the therapeutic effects of garlic bulbs and their derivatives, manufacturers are increasingly providing supplements based on extract d Garlic standardized in allicin.

In fact, most of the time, what is standardized in these products is the aline content. Indeed, the bulb of garlic as such does not contain allicin. Allicin is a highly unstable compound that forms when the algin contacts an enzyme, allinase . This happens when the garlic is milled or chopped.

Rather than talking about a standardized extract in allicin, it should be said that it is an extract whose potential for allicin is normalized. Thus, a product containing 1.3% alliin should normally provide a good dose of allicin, provided that the manufacturer has ensured that the allinase, naturally present in the bulb, is well preserved in the extract so as to Be released at the appropriate time to allow the production of allicin.

Similarly, the use of enteric coated tablets favors the formation of allicin in the intestines rather than in the stomach where it is likely to be destroyed by gastric juices, allowing it to exercise systemic activity. This type of tablet also reduces the smells causing bad breath, detracting from the potential for producing allicin.

Experts generally consider that a standardized supplement should provide 3.6 mg to 5.4 mg of allicin per dose and that it should be enteric-coated (or enteric coated) while dissolving completely before leaving the intestines, Otherwise the best of the extracts would be totally ineffective, which may have occurred in some clinical trials with negative results.

The aged garlic is made by a fermentation process in which the ally is transformed into a series of derivatives of which virtually no allicin is found. It is therefore odorless. It would not, however, be ineffective if we are to believe the few clinical trials in which this type of extract (mainly the Kyolic® product) was used. The dosage should, however, be greater than when fresh or dried garlic is used, whether it is standardized or not.