What is high-allicin garlic?

High-allicin garlic is a type of garlic that contains a high concentration of the compound allicin, which is responsible for its medicinal properties. It is usually produced by crushing or chopping garlic and allowing it to sit for a period of time to activate the allicin.

How does it work?

High-allicin garlic works by several mechanisms, including:

• Acting as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria, viruses, and fungi
• Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the body
• Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Improving immune function
• Preventing the formation of blood clots

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredient in High-allicin garlic is allicin, which is formed when the garlic is crushed or chopped. Other sulfur-containing compounds, such as diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide, may also contribute to its medicinal properties.

What forms does it come in?

High-allicin garlic is available in various forms, including fresh garlic cloves, garlic supplements, garlic oil, and garlic powder.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, with the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all recognizing its health benefits.

What does High-allicin garlic help with?

High-allicin garlic is garlic prepared to hold on to allicin. Allicin is the sharp-smelling compound made when a clove is crushed. It comes as fresh cloves, powders, tablets and aged extracts.

The evidence is not even across its uses. Blood pressure is the best-studied, with several trials in people. Other uses rest on smaller studies, lab work, or long tradition alone.

• My blood pressure is too high
  Strong evidence — several clinical trials in people, mostly in those with raised readings. In a number of clinical trials, garlic lowered both blood pressure numbers. The drop was largest in people whose readings were already high. In some trials the size of the drop was close to a low-dose drug.
  Evidence grade A · Traditional tier T3
• My cholesterol or triglycerides are too high
  Good evidence — clinical trials in people showing modest changes in blood fats. In trials, regular garlic use lowered total and LDL cholesterol by a modest amount. Some studies also found small rises in HDL, the good cholesterol, and small drops in triglycerides. In lab work, garlic slowed the rusting of LDL particles, the change that makes them harmful to arteries.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T3
• I catch every cold going round
  Good evidence — clinical trials run through cold and flu season; sizes and doses are not recorded in this file. In these trials, people taking garlic through the season got sick less often. Those who did catch something got better faster. In lab tests, allicin killed a wide range of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T3
• I want to protect my heart and arteries
  Early evidence — human studies of blood markers only; no trial on file counted heart attacks or strokes. Studies found garlic made blood platelets less sticky, which is linked to clotting risk. Other work points to calmer artery walls and a better working vessel lining. No study on file has followed people long enough to count heart attacks or strokes.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• My blood sugar is creeping up
  Early evidence — small, preliminary human studies. Small studies found garlic lowered fasting blood sugar by a small amount. Some also found cells answered insulin a little better. The change was small next to what diabetes drugs do.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• I want to calm long-term inflammation
  Early evidence — small human studies measuring blood markers, mostly with aged garlic extract. In these studies, some markers of long-term inflammation fell after aged garlic extract. In lab tests, garlic compounds mopped up free radicals. Whether lower markers mean better health over the years has not been shown.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• My immune system feels run down
  Early evidence — small human studies of immune cell activity. Small studies found garlic raised the activity of natural killer cells. These cells are part of the body's first line of defence. Garlic also raised some immune signalling proteins in this work.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• I get tired too fast when I exercise
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — modest and mixed results from small human studies. Some small studies found less tiredness during exercise in people taking garlic. A few found a lower heart rate and less felt effort. The findings are mixed, and Greek Olympic use is tradition, not proof.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T3
• Gut bugs, stomach ulcers and parasites
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — lab work and centuries of tradition; no human trial on file. In lab tests, allicin was active against H. pylori, the germ behind most stomach ulcers. It was also active against some harmful gut bacteria, and early lab work suggests it may feed helpful ones. Garlic has been used for gut parasites for centuries, but that is tradition.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3

What High-allicin garlic has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to replace blood pressure or cholesterol medicine, and nothing here supports stopping a prescribed drug.
• It has not been shown to clear an H. pylori infection or heal a stomach ulcer in people.
• It has not been shown to clear intestinal parasites in people; that use rests on tradition only.
• It has not been shown to match diabetes drugs for lowering blood sugar.
• It has not been shown to build strength, speed or muscle in athletes.

How to read this:

A grade shows how strong the human evidence is for that one use. A means several good trials agree. B means at least one good trial. C means small or early studies. D means weak or mixed results. Insufficient means no human study on file. This page reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a promise of results for you. Talk to your doctor before you start, above all if you take blood thinners or blood pressure drugs.

What can High-allicin garlic help prevent?

• Recurrent common colds (clinical evidence supports reduced cold frequency)
• Progression of arterial plaque (atherosclerosis)
• Hypertension-related cardiovascular events when used as part of a heart-healthy regimen
• H. pylori-associated gastric ulcer recurrence

Which foods are rich in it?

Garlic is the best dietary source of allicin. Other foods that contain sulfur compounds similar to allicin include onions, leeks, shallots, and chives.

What are possible side effects?

High-allicin garlic is generally well tolerated, but some people may experience side effects, such as:

• Bad breath
• Body odor
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Allergic reactions

What's the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of High-allicin garlic varies depending on the form and concentration of allicin. In general, doses range from 600 to 1200 mg of garlic extract or 2 to 5 g of fresh garlic cloves per day.

How many days does it take to work?

The time it takes for High-allicin garlic to work varies depending on the condition being treated. Some studies have shown beneficial effects after just a few days, while others may take several weeks or months.

What time of day is best to take it?

It's generally recommended to take high-allicin garlic supplements with food. This is because taking garlic on an empty stomach can cause gastrointestinal upset, including indigestion and heartburn, in some people.

Additionally, taking garlic with food may help increase the absorption of allicin and other beneficial compounds in garlic. One study found that taking garlic supplements with a high-fat meal increased the absorption of allicin by up to 45% compared to taking the supplement on an empty stomach.

Therefore, it's best to take high-allicin garlic supplements with a meal that contains healthy fats, such as avocado, nuts, or olive oil. If you prefer to consume raw garlic cloves, it's also recommended to take them with food to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.