flavor to vegetables, soups, beans, meat, fish, sauces, and whole-grain dishes without relying heavily on salt or highly processed ingredients. A balanced diet that includes garlic and other vegetables can support overall nutrition and cardiovascular health.
Research has also examined garlic supplements in relation to cholesterol and blood pressure. Some studies suggest that garlic supplements may produce modest reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar in certain people. These effects are not equivalent to treatment for a medical condition, and anyone with high cholesterol, hypertension, or diabetes should continue appropriate medical care and prescribed medication.
The antimicrobial properties of garlic are particularly interesting because of allicin. When a fresh garlic clove is crushed or chopped, an enzyme reaction produces allicin and other sulfur compounds. These substances have demonstrated antimicrobial activity under laboratory conditions. The human body, however, is much more complicated than a laboratory dish, and
