“Garlick maketh a man wynke, drynke, and stynke.” – Thomas Nash, 16th Century poet.
“Garlic, tho used by the French, is better adapted to the use of medicine than cookery.” – Amelia Simmons, ‘American Cookery’ (1796)
“A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat.” – Old New York proverb.
Overview
Garlic has been used in cooking for at least six millennia and we know from ancient texts that its health benefits have been recognized for at least two. Native to central Asia, this member of the Allium genus, which also includes shallots, onions, leeks and chives, has long been recognized as a natural way to lower cholesterol and reduce blood sugar.
What are the known benefits?
Garlic comes in many colors.
Allicin has been shown in several studies to lower blood glucose. This 2011 article showed that rats fed raw garlic displayed improved insulin sensitivity and associated markers. In this 2013 experiment, hyperglycemic rats increased their memory after supplementation with raw or cooked garlic extract.
According to the textbook Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants: Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs, (See the section on p. 285 entitled Antihyperglycaemic/Antidiabetic activity) an experiment with rabbits showed that the garlic component S-allylcysteine sulfoxide ameliorated the diabetic condition almost as well as insulin and the commonly prescribed glibenclamide.
Any other potential benefits?
Allicin also lowers blood lipids and blood pressure. See the sections entitled Role of Garlic in Atherosclerosis and Hyperlipidemia and Role of Garlic in Hypertension on page 613 of the textbook Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease. Note that garlic should not be taken in conjunction with bloodthinners such as Coumadin or warfarin.
Any reports debunking these benefits?
Very few sites dispute the benefits of garlic, but many say there’s no incontrovertible proof. However, absence of proof is not proof of absence, so read the studies and decide for yourself. Here’s a 2007 study that claims shallots have a greater positive effect than garlic.
What is the scientific mechanism at play?
The precise pathway is still not understood. Right now, scientists believe garlic may work on diabetics by causing the beta cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin or by stimulating the release of bound insulin.
Conclusion
Is garlic one of the best natural cures for diabetes, pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome? Read reviews and click here to learn more about extracts, powders and supplements for sale. Click here for recipes.
References
http://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-8-53
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075686/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2243241/
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