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Aged Garlic Benefits

To make aged garlic, standard garlic is fermented for up to two years. According to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, aged garlic is made by chopping up garlic cloves and allowing them to sit in alcohol for a minimum of 20 months. During this process sulfur compounds in the garlic are broken down into other compounds that are not strong in odor or taste. While standard garlic offers health benefits, many people do not take it because of its strength. Aged garlic products offer the same health benefits, plus more, without the strong sulfur effects.

  1. Heart Disease

    • Aged garlic is well known for its ability to help prevent and treat heart disease. A study in the 2001 "Journal of Nutrition" reports that aged garlic extract lowers the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol that circulates in the blood stream as well as the amount of cholesterol that builds up on arterial walls. These benefits alone lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The Bastyr Center for Natural Health reports that consumption of aged garlic extract can also significantly reduce cholesterol and homocysteine levels in blood. Homocysteine is a protein in the blood, and having too much of it is can lead to heart disease, stroke and blood vessel illness.

    Cancer

    • A study in the 2006 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition" showed that aged garlic helps prevent the development of cancerous tumors by promoting apoptosis, or cell death, and it also prevents angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels. When cancer cells want to grow and form a tumor they also go through the process of forming new blood vessels, which allows the tumor to grow. Preventing angiogenesis is an effective way to stop cancerous tumor growths. In addition, aged garlic can help cancer patients while they go through treatments as well. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that aged garlic can reduce the negative side effects that come with chemotherapy, such as loss of appetite and fatigue, as well as damage the chemo drugs can inflict upon the heart and intestines.

    Dementia

    • Another study in the 2006 "Journal of Nutrition" reported that aged garlic extract helps protect the brain, which can help protect from Alzheimer's disease and dementia by warding off conditions that are a result of degenerating cells. While aged garlic can encourage cell death, it has been found to protect the brain's impulse-conducting cells from apoptosis. While AGE helps prevent these cells from degenerating, the study also reports that it can help improve the brain's ability to learn and memorize and can extend the overall life span of the brain.

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