· Key Takeaways Eating garlic can make your immune system stronger. Garlic can help lower your cholesterol levels. Consuming garlic may improve your liver health. Current research shows that garlic may have some real health benefits, such as protection against the common cold and the ability to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”Those are famous words from the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the father of Western medicine.He prescribed garlic to treat various medical conditions — and modern science has confirmed many of these beneficial health effects.See full list on healthline.comGarlic is a plant in the Allium (onion) family. It’s closely related to onions, shallots, and leeks.Each segment of a garlic bulb is called a clove. There are about 10–20 cloves in a single bulb, give or take.Garlic grows in many parts of the world and is a popular ingredient in cooking due to its strong smell and delicious taste.However, throughout ancient history, people widely used garlic for its health and medicinal properties. There is documented evidence of its use by many major civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians.Scientists now know that most of garlic’s health benefits are due to the formation of sulfur compounds when you chop, crush, or chew a garlic clove.Perhaps the most well-known compound is allicin. However, allicin is an unstable compound that is only briefly present in fresh garlic after you cut or crush it.See full list on healthline.comCalorie for calorie, garlic is incredibly nutritious.A single clove (about 3 grams) contains 4.5 calories, 0.2 grams of protein, and 1 gram of carbs.Garlic is a good source of several nutrients, notably:•manganese•vitamin B6•vitamin CSee full list on healthline.comResearch from 2016 suggests that aged garlic extract (AGE) can boost your immune system.The study found that people who took AGE supplements for 3 months during the cold and flu season experienced less severe symptoms and fewer days missed of school or work.Other research suggests that the compounds in garlic may have antiviral properties. In addition to boosting your immune system, it may help prevent viruses from entering host cells or from replicating within your cells.SummarySee full list on healthline.comAccording to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke are responsible for more deaths than almost any other condition.High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most important factors that may lead to these diseases.A 2020 meta-analysis of studies found garlic supplements to reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Researchers linked this effect to a 16–40% reduced risk of experiencing cardiovascular events.The analysis noted that the effect of garlic was similar to some blood pressure medications but with fewer side effects.A 2019 review notes that allicin in garlic may limit the production of angiotensin II, a hormone that increases blood pressure. It may also relax your blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily.SummarySee full list on healthline.comA 2018 research review suggests that garlic can lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol. The authors recommend that people with high cholesterol eat more garlic but caution that more research is needed to verify their findings.According to 2016 research, taking garlic supplements for more than 2 months could reduce your LDL by up to 10%. Researchers noted this effect in people with slightly raised cholesterol levels.But garlic does not seem to have the same effect on triglyceride levels, another risk factor for heart disease.Research also suggests that garlic does not have an effect on HDL (good) cholesterol.SummaryGarlic supplements seem to reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, particularly in those with slightly high cholesterol. There appears to be no effect on HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.See full list on healthline.comOxidative damage from free radicals contributes to the aging process and related cognitive decline.Garlic contains antioxidants that support your body’s protective mechanisms against oxidative damage. Research suggests these antioxidants may significantly reduce oxidative stress and lower your risk of related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.Animal studies suggest that allicin in garlic may also help protect against cognitive decline. Human research is needed before we can fully understand its potential.Some studies have found garlic supplements to benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease directly.SummaryGarlic contains antioxidants that can help protect against cognitive decline related to cell damage and aging. This may reduce your risk (or slow the progression) of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.See full list on healthline.comThe potential effects of garlic on longevity are basically impossible to prove in humans.But given the beneficial effects on important risk factors like blood pressure, it makes sense that garlic could help you live longer.In a 2019 Chinese study, older adults who consumed garlic at least weekly lived longer than those who consumed garlic less than once a week.The fact that it can help defend against infectious diseases is also important. Such diseases are common causes of death, especially in older adults or people with weakened immune systems.SummaryGarlic has known beneficial effects on common causes of chronic disease, so it makes sense that it could also help you live longer.See full list on healthline.comGarlic was one of the earliest “performance-enhancing” substances.Ancient civilizations used garlic to reduce fatigue and improve the work capacity of laborers. Olympic athletes in ancient Greece consumed garlic to improve their performance.While rodent studies have shown that garlic helps with exercise performance, there have been very few human studies.A recent study found that garlic didn’t improve cyclists’ performance in a 40-km time trial. However, it may have reduced exercise-related oxidative stress and muscle damage.A small 2015 study also noted that garlic supplements might increase oxygen capacity during exercise. But more research is needed to confirm this potential benefit.SummarySee full list on healthline.comAt high doses, the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.Allicin in garlic can help reduce levels of lead in your blood and vital organs.A 2012 study involving employees at a car battery plant (who had excessive exposure to lead) found that garlic reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%. It also reduced many clinical signs of toxicity, including headaches and high blood pressure.Three doses of garlic each day even outperformed the drug D-penicillamine in reducing symptoms.SummaryStudies show that garlic can significantly reduce lead toxicity and related symptoms.See full list on healthline.comNov 12, 2025 · Garlic has many benefits for your health. Its antibacterial properties may help slow the growth of microorganisms that can make you sick. And garlic supports gut health, heart health, and blood sugar. Garlic is a common trigger for heartburn and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms for some people. · Eating a clove of rawgarlic daily for a month is unlikely to harm most healthy individuals and may bring modest benefits in cardiovascular risk markers and immune support. · In this article, we’ll break down the science-backed benefits of eatingrawgarlic daily, explore what makes it so effective, and show you how to add it to your routine without overwhelming your taste buds. · Medical research links garlic to a number of health benefits. However, some studies have suggested that rawgarlic may be more effective than the cooked version, while garlic supplements... Is raw garlic good for You?The answer lies in its active compound— allicin. This sulfur-based compound forms when garlic is crushed or chopped, and it’s responsible for most of the vegetable’s medicinal effects. From boosting your immune system to supporting heart health and reducing inflammation, raw garlic packs serious health power into every clove.Can you eat raw garlic?Garlic (Garlic) has been used medicinally for centuries. Modern research shows that many of its potential health benefits stem from its sulphur-containing compounds that form when you crush or chop a clove. Eating it raw preserves these compounds more fully than cooking, so it's worth exploring what a month of raw garlic might do.Is raw garlic better than cooking?Raw garlic is typically considered more potent because it retains higher levels of allicin, the active compound responsible for many of its health benefits. Cooking garlic can reduce allicin, but it still offers health benefits like improved cardiovascular health and digestion.What are the health benefits of garlic?Other compounds that may play a role in garlic’s health benefits include diallyl disulfide and S-allyl cysteine. The sulfur compounds from garlic enter your body from the digestive tract. They then travel all over your body, exerting strong biological effects. Summary16 hours ago · Learn how raw garlic can boost your health with antioxidants, lower cholesterol, fight infections, and more. Find out how to eat raw garlic with recipes, tips, and precautions. · Garlic has many benefits for your health. Its antibacterial properties may help slow the growth of microorganisms that can make you sick. And garlic supports gut health, heart health, and blood sugar. Garlic is a common trigger for heartburn and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms for some people. · Eating a clove of rawgarlic daily for a month is unlikely to harm most healthy individuals and may bring modest benefits in cardiovascular risk markers and immune support. · In this article, we’ll break down the science-backed benefits of eatingrawgarlic daily, explore what makes it so effective, and show you how to add it to your routine without overwhelming your taste buds. · Medical research links garlic to a number of health benefits. However, some studies have suggested that rawgarlic may be more effective than the cooked version, while garlic supplements... 16 hours ago · Learn how raw garlic can boost your health with antioxidants, lower cholesterol, fight infections, and more. Find out how to eat raw garlic with recipes, tips, and precautions.
