<https://steptohealth.com/garlic-capsules-benefits-and-recommendations/#article>
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Garlic has traveled the world in its passage through history as a food, condiment, and supplement. All this is thanks to its culinary and therapeutic properties. For example, garlic capsules can be used as an adjuvant for cardiovascular disease prevention.\r\n\r\nIts active components have many health benefits. The most effective is the sulfur compounds, which help with its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory potential.\r\n\r\nDue to its importance, there are different forms of presentation in the market. Garlic capsules are among the most commonly used.\r\n\r\nHow much should be consumed per day, and what recommendations are appropriate to make the best use of them? Stay with us to learn how best to incorporate garlic capsules into your diet!\r\nWhat type of vegetable is garlic?\r\nGarlic is a plant whose scientific name is Allium sativum, which means \"hot crop\" or simply \"hot.\" It has its origin in Central Asia. From there, it spread to Asia Minor and Egypt, and from there to all of Europe, and then to Africa and America.\r\n\r\nAs a vegetable, it's a bulb that belongs to the Liliaceae family. It's composed of several bulblets, called \"teeth,\" which are attached to a base. Each clove is enveloped by an inner tunic and the entire bulb by an outer one.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the bulb is the storage organ of the plant as it contains carbohydrates and proteins. It has several active components.\r\nActive components\r\nIn addition to water and carbohydrates, such as fructose, garlic contains sulfur compounds, fiber, and free amino acids. Vitamin C, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, and phytosterols stand out among its nutrients. Meanwhile, its most important minerals are potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, iron, and calcium.\r\n\r\nIts active sulfur compounds are especially relevant. Here, it's worth mentioning allixin, allicin, alliin, thiosulfinate, diallyl di- and trisulfide, triosulfinate, allyl mercaptocysteine, and S-allylcysteine (SAC).\r\n\r\nGarlic also contains hormones that act similarly to human hormones. In addition, several amino acids have been isolated, such as histidine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.\r\nLike this article? You may also like to read: How to Make a Garlic and Lemon Ointment for Varicose Veins\r\nThe benefits of garlic capsules\r\nGarlic capsules are supplements containing a unit dose of one or more active ingredients. They're intended for oral administration. When acquiring them, it's necessary to verify how the raw material was obtained. Their effectiveness depends on this.\r\n\r\nFor example, raw garlic retains more active ingredients than cooked garlic. When it's fresh, it's more potent than older, processed, or preserved types of garlic.\r\n\r\nRaw garlic retains more substances with beneficial potential than the garlic processed with some cooking.\r\nGarlic capsules have an antioxidant effect\r\nSome studies have emphasized the antioxidant effect of Allium sativum  extract. When consumed, a decrease in the production of free radicals has been observed. These radicals oxidize cells, leading to damage to their functioning and accelerating aging.\r\n\r\nIt has also been observed that frequent garlic consumption leads to an increase in antioxidant factors, such as glutathione and the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Both protect lipoproteins from oxidation and help prevent cardiovascular diseases.\r\nThe components with the highest antioxidant activity in garlic are allicin and S-allyl cysteine or SAC.\r\nGarlic reduces blood lipid levels\r\nSome research has concluded that garlic modifies blood lipids, as it's able to counteract the increase of triglycerides in the blood. It's able to reduce cholesterol levels by 12% after four weeks of treatment.\r\n\r\nThe maximum decrease in cholesterol has been observed with raw garlic at a dose of 10 grams per day, or garlic oil, at a dose of 8 milligrams per day.\r\nIt can regulate blood pressure\r\nThe bioactive compounds in garlic relax blood vessels, improve blood flow, strengthen the vascular wall, and lower blood pressure. Garlic is also able to reduce blood clot formation by inhibiting platelet aggregation.\r\n\r\nIts high antiatherosclerotic potential has promoted its use in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.\r\nIt has a neuroprotective effect\r\nGarlic extract may have neuroprotective effects, mainly due to the antioxidant properties of S-allylcysteine. This component may improve cognitive decline in disorders linked to oxidative stress.\r\n\r\nIt's therefore recommended in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, and Huntington's chorea. The neuroprotective effect promotes memory and learning.\r\nGarlic has an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory role\r\nSome studies have found that garlic extract improves the immune system, which is linked to the reduction of inflammation. The most active compounds are sulfur compounds, and the effective dose for enhancing an immune response in humans is 1.8 to 10 grams of garlic per day.\r\n\r\nGarlic components also stimulate the production of the body's lines of defense. For example, lymphocytes, macrophages, and \"killer\" cells. They also increase immunostimulatory cytokines.\r\n\r\nThis immunomodulatory activity is effective in aiding in the treatment of flu, colds, and bronchitis . Likewise, it has also been associated with the mechanism of cancer prevention.\r\nGarlic has antimicrobial and antifungal properties\r\nThe anti-infective properties of garlic have been known since ancient times. It presents antimicrobial activity against different disease-producing bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and H. pylori, among others. Garlic has shown significant inhibitory effects against fungi, types of yeast, and parasites.\r\nWe think you may be interested in reading this, too: How To Reduce Cholesterol with Garlic: 3 Home Remedies\r\nRecommendations on garlic intake\r\nGarlic can be found in 5 different forms on the market:\r\n\r\n \tFresh and raw\r\n \tAs an essential oil\r\n \tAs a macerated oil\r\n \tPowdered\r\n \tAged as garlic extract\r\n\r\nThese preparations are marketed as capsules or tablets. They have a coating to avoid decomposition of their active components and affectation of the breath.\r\n\r\nThe European Medicines Agency establishes the following doses for adults and the elderly, according to the type of preparation contained in the capsule:\r\n\r\n \tWith garlic powder: A single dose of 300 to 750 milligrams of daily doses between 900 to 1380 milligrams divided between 3 to 5 intakes\r\n \tLiquid extract: A single dose between 110 to 220 milligrams, four times a day, and as a daily dose between 440 to 880 milligrams\r\n \tDry garlic extract: A dose of 100 to 200 milligrams, once or twice a day, or daily doses of 100 to 400 milligrams is recommended\r\n\r\nIt's important to read the label and follow the indications of your physician or nutritionist to adapt the dosage to each particular case.\r\nGarlic is part of natural remedies that have been known since ancient times. The supplement industry has produced more commercial versions for its use.\r\nPossible adverse effects of garlic capsules\r\nThe frequency with which some adverse effects may occur is still unknown. However, the following are mentioned as the most common:\r\n\r\n \tBad breath and body odor\r\n \tHeadache, dizziness, and profuse sweating\r\n \tFlatulence, stomach upset, and diarrhea\r\n \tAltered platelet function with possible bleeding\r\n \tChanges in intestinal microflora\r\n \tLow blood sugar levels\r\n\r\nContraindications of garlic capsules\r\nGarlic capsules should be avoided during certain physiological states, such as pregnancy and lactation. In the latter case, it may alter the taste of breast milk.\r\n\r\nIt should also be omitted in patients with bleeding problems, digestive disorders, suffering from low blood pressure, and those who are planning on getting a surgery.\r\n\r\nNor should these capsules be taken with oral anticoagulants in conjunction, such as warfarin. The same goes for antihypertensives, such as lisinopril, or analgesics, such as paracetamol.\r\nIs it recommended to incorporate garlic capsules into healthy diets?\r\nThe answer to this question is yes. In healthy diets, we usually use garlic as a condiment, so the amounts to be ingested will not always be sufficient to enjoy some of the aforementioned benefits.\r\n\r\nHowever, it's advisable to only take garlic capsules under the guidance of a health professional who can indicate the best preventive doses. These will depend on the presentation of the capsule.\r\n\r\nHowever, the best types of garlic capsules are the most concentrated ones. A garlic extract in doses of 100 to 220 milligrams distributed in 2 to 4 daily intakes is sufficient.\r\n\r\n"
<https://steptohealth.com/garlic-capsules-benefits-and-recommendations/>