The Top 10 Garlic Benefits for Men
Garlic has been used as both food and medicine since ancient times, and it continues to be popular even today. While many people are familiar with garlic’s health benefits, there are actually even more than you might think—10, in fact! Read on to learn more about garlic’s benefits for men, including its anti-cancer properties, its anti-viral qualities, and its powerful ability to boost the immune system overall.
1) Boosts Immunity
Did you know that only 1 clove of garlic contains 4.8% of the daily value (DV) of Vitamin C? It’s true, and while it doesn’t sound like much, it helps build a strong immune system. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights off free radicals in your body, preventing them from causing damage to your cells and organs. Free radicals are associated with heart disease, stroke, chronic inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. By reducing their production, vitamin C can help protect against these diseases. Allicin also boosts immunity by fighting harmful bacteria and viruses in your body—it has even been shown to kill certain types of bacteria that cause food poisoning!
2) Cures Arthritis
Garlic is anti-inflammatory and has been found to help reduce joint pain from arthritis. It’s also used as a supplement to help those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The reason why garlic helps with joint pain is that it contains allicin, which reduces inflammation in joints and muscles. If you want to get rid of that nagging knee or back pain, try adding more garlic into your diet! Just make sure not to overdo it—you don’t want your breath to be so strong that people start avoiding you.
3) Lowers Cholesterol
A compound in garlic, known as allicin, has been shown to reduce cholesterol by stimulating bile production. Bile breaks down fats in our bodies and carries them out of our system through elimination. The more bile we produce, the more we eliminate fat from our system, making it easier to stay slim. Plus garlic is also high in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A helps with vision and bone growth while vitamin C strengthens your immune system by helping you resist bacteria.
4) Treats Acne
When it comes to cleaning up your skin, garlic can be a powerful ally. Garlic fights infections, inflammation, and bacteria—all of which contribute to acne. Take advantage of its antibacterial properties by eating one raw clove a day or cooking with garlic-infused olive oil. You’ll likely see results within two weeks, but remember that it’s very important not to overdo it on raw garlic as its strong flavor and odors can burn in your nostrils and throat.
5) Kills Candida
Candida is a fungus that grows naturally in your body. Under normal circumstances, it’s kept in check by other bacteria, but if its population grows out of control, you can get sick—and garlic may help kill it. In one study, researchers found that giving people with candidiasis garlic extract orally and applying it to their skin cleared up their symptoms within two weeks. The compound responsible for these benefits is allicin.
6) Treats Gout
There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that gout—an inflammatory disease that affects joints—is both painful and persistent, and while it’s treatable, it can be tough to keep in check. The good news is there are natural treatments to help you manage your symptoms. One of these natural treatments? Garlic! Research shows that garlic can lower uric acid levels, which in turn helps reduce gout flare-ups. In fact, a study published in Clinical Rheumatology found that when patients took aged garlic extract tablets (1,200 mg per day) for three months, they experienced a 50 percent reduction in joint pain. And if all of that isn’t enough to convince you about its benefits: Garlic is also an antioxidant and contains anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also said to boost immune function as well as fight off cancer cells.
7) Is an Antioxidant
Allicin, a compound in garlic, destroys free radicals and protects your cells from damage that may cause aging and disease. Not only is it an antioxidant, but garlic is also high in other antioxidants like beta-carotene, selenium, and Vitamin C. It’s important to note that while all of these nutrients are beneficial to you, they’re most effective when combined with each other. This means you should eat garlic along with healthy fats (like olive oil) and lots of colorful fruits and vegetables—these foods contain flavonoids which act as additional antioxidants to maximize their health benefits.
8) Improves Cardiovascular Health
By adding garlic to your daily diet, you can improve cardiovascular health. A study conducted by Egypt’s Al-Azhar University found that consuming a clove of garlic per day reduced triglyceride levels and increased HDL (good) cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol. While more research is needed to understand exactly how garlic can affect cardiovascular health, it has been shown to reduce blood pressure and potentially reduce platelet aggregation—meaning it could protect against heart attacks and strokes by preventing blood clots from forming.
9) Heals Wounds Faster
While there aren’t a lot of studies out there on garlic and wound healing, one study from researchers at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia found that applying raw garlic extract to cuts significantly sped up recovery time—in fact, it was as effective as conventional antibacterial agents. Researchers suggested that allicin, a sulfur compound found in raw garlic, might inhibit enzymes related to tissue damage and repair. It’s also worth noting that cooking garlic can reduce its antibacterial properties by 50 percent or more. If you have an infected cut or scrape, try rubbing it with fresh (or cooked) garlic before covering it with a bandage. (Note: The smell will linger for hours.)
10) Fights Cancer Cells
In one study, researchers found that adding raw garlic to colorectal cancer cells caused an 80% decrease in cell viability. The same study also found that, when combined with a commercial preparation of allicin, garlic caused a 100% decrease in cancer cell viability and triggered apoptosis (programmed cell death). Additionally, several other studies have shown that garlic extract has anti-cancer properties. Researchers believe these substances may prevent cancer by triggering apoptosis in cells that are abnormal and preventing normal cells from becoming malignant.
