Benefits of Garlic Juice in Weight Loss

Garlic is an herb known for its pungent scent and flavor. Used in a wide variety of recipes, it adds flavor to most any meal and has also been credited with many healthful properties. Yet did you know that garlic aids in weight loss as well? Garlic juice in particular can be especially beneficial if you're trying to lose weight. Here's all you need to know about this miracle herb.

What It Is

• Garlic juice is a liquid oil that is extracted from a solid clove of garlic. To obtain garlic juice, use a garlic press to squeeze this oil out of several cloves of garlic. The resulting liquid will have a more concentrated garlic flavor than the clove itself. You can also purchase prepackaged garlic juice, which often comes in jars or spray bottles and can be found in most grocery stores.

Why It Works

• Garlic contains the compound allicin, first discovered in 1944 by scientist Chester J. Cavallito. Allicin is what gives garlic its pungent smell, but it also infuses garlic with powerful antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Allicin provides garlic with protection against fungi, insects, and many types of bacteria while it is growing, and it provides humans with similar protection when consumed. However, allicin is often depleted when garlic is cooked, which means that garlic juice has more health benefits than cooked garlic.

Weight Loss Benefits

• For those trying to lose weight, garlic juice provides a wealth of benefits. First, the allicin in garlic juice cuts through unhealthy fats and helps to reduce their levels in the body, which can be one of the most difficult things for a dieter to do. Garlic juice also helps to regulate cholesterol by lowering the levels of LDL--the bad cholesterol--and increasing the levels of HDL--the good cholesterol--another goal of many trying to lose weight. In addition, garlic juice can help to break up clots in the bloodstream, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a major risk for those who are overweight.

Other Benefits

• Garlic juice also contains the antioxidants vitamins C and E and the micronutrient selenium. Garlic juice aids in the prevention of several types of cancer, including cancer of the colon, the lung and the esophagus. It also kills fungi, yeast and many types of bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Salmonella.

Potential Dangers

• The toxin botulism can grow in raw garlic if stored in oil at room temperature, or even in the refrigerator, for long periods of time, so be sure to check the freshness of your garlic before you use it to make garlic juice. Garlic has been known to inhibit several anticoagulant prescription medications used in surgery, and it can trigger allergies in some who consume it. The allicin in garlic juice can also be an irritant, so be careful about getting it on your skin and especially avoid getting it in your eyes. Allicin can also cause irritation in the digestive tract. Be sure to consult with your doctor if you have any side effects from the use of garlic juice.