Garlic has become an indispensable spice and vegetable in many cuisines around the world. To preserve its valuable active ingredients, you should chop it well but only cook or fry it briefly. As a medicinal plant, garlic is used in powder form or as an oil macerate.
Garlic is a plant from Central Asia that is now cultivated almost worldwide. Leading producers are China and India, but there are also large plantations in the Mediterranean region, especially in Spain. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that can grow up to 1 m in height and produces small, white leaves. Garlic has bulbs that usually consist of a central clove and numerous smaller outer cloves. Its juice is pungent and sticky, which is due to the sulfur-containing substances.
Ingredients and effect
Fresh garlic contains the amino acid alliin, which, when cut or dried, forms the active compound allicin through contact with the garlic's own enzyme, alliinase. In addition, the bulb contains flavonoids, selenium, and essential oil. Primarily thanks to these ingredients, garlic has an antibacterial, lipid-lowering, and anti-platelet effect. Garlic is used both for the prevention of arteriosclerosis and for elevated blood lipid levels. At the same time, platelets are prevented from aggregating too strongly, so that garlic can contribute to healthy blood flow in people with an increased tendency to thrombosis. This naturally benefits the cardiovascular system.
What you should consider when taking garlic
In particular, consuming fresh garlic (and also some garlic supplements) can lead to changes in the odor of your skin and breath. Rarely, a high dosage can also trigger gastrointestinal complaints or allergic reactions. Furthermore, you should be aware of a potential strengthening of effects if you are simultaneously taking anticoagulants (e.g., Marcumar) or blood pressure-lowering medication. A reduction in the effectiveness of saquinavir (a drug for the treatment of HIV infection) can also occur. Before surgery, you should stop taking garlic products because they can reduce blood clotting ability.
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