Surely you are familiar with fresh or raw garlic, especially its strong smell and taste in food, and its amazing health properties for treating some diseases and health problems, but have you ever heard of black garlic? And about the benefits of black garlic and its therapeutic properties?

black garlic

Black garlic is raw garlic that is prepared for a period of time under a high temperature between (60-90 ° C), and under a high humidity between (80-90%) for several weeks, until it turns black, and its flavor becomes more mild and its texture is more viscous than Raw garlic, when compared to fresh garlic, does not release a sharp flavor due to its lower allicin content, and is softer, easier to chew and sweeter than fresh garlic.

Thus, changes occurred in the chemical properties of black garlic, such as changing its physical properties, as the enhanced vital activity of black garlic was affected compared to fresh garlic, and many studies were conducted on black garlic, its methods of preparation and production, vital activity, and its use, as well as health benefits, and it was proven that it is superior to garlic. Raw in terms of benefits.

While it seems to some that black garlic is a recent phenomenon, it has been around and used for centuries, but its origins are unclear, but it is certain that it began in Asia before spreading to the United States, and one of the reasons for its popularity is that black garlic, like fresh, raw garlic, contains antioxidants antioxidants and other key nutrients that can help improve your health and prevent serious health-related issues.

Nutritional value of black garlic

Black garlic contains antioxidants in more concentrated quantities than fresh garlic, which are important for the body and add to its therapeutic properties. Every 15 grams of black garlic contains:

• Calories: 40 calories
• Protein: 2 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 8 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams

Black garlic also contains notable amounts of:

• Vitamin C
• B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6)
• Folic acid
• calcium
• manganese
• magnesium
• phosphorous
• zinc

Benefits of black garlic

Black garlic also offers a number of health benefits that may outweigh the benefits of fresh, raw garlic that has not aged compared to it. You can learn about the benefits of black garlic through the following points:

• High concentration of antioxidants

The fermentation process that garlic goes through to turn it from fresh garlic to black results in a higher concentration of antioxidants compared to fresh white garlic, in part because allicin, the compound that gives garlic its pungent odor when crushed, is converted into antioxidant compounds such as alkaloids and flavonoids. When fermenting for black garlic.

Antioxidants are compounds that help protect the body’s cells from oxidation that may lead to various diseases. A person gets antioxidants mostly through plant foods, including garlic. A 2014 study found that the total antioxidant activity was significantly increased in garlic. Black during aging, the garlic reached its peak antioxidant content at 21 days of fermentation.

• Regulating blood sugar

High, uncontrolled blood sugar in people with diabetes can lead to an increased risk of complications, such as kidney damage, infections, and heart disease. While a 2019 study in mice fed a diet high in fat and sugar, treatment with black garlic extract led to improvements. In metabolism such as lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation and regulating appetite.

Also, the use of black garlic, fermented by Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria, helps prevent the development of gestational diabetes in pregnant women who are prone to developing gestational diabetes, according to a recent study conducted on a segment of pregnant women.

• Reduces the risk of heart disease

One of the important benefits of black garlic is also that it reduces indicators of heart disease, as well as reduces levels of total harmful cholesterol in the blood, harmful lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as triglycerides, and may also increase good cholesterol, which ultimately reduced the risk of heart disease.

One animal study compared the effects of raw and black garlic on rats recovering from heart damage due to ischemia — lack of blood flow to the heart. Researchers found that both raw and black garlic helped open up the circulation to protect the heart from damage.

One study gave participants with coronary heart disease 20 grams of black garlic extract daily for 6 months. Those who took it experienced increased levels of antioxidants and improved indicators of heart health.

• Benefits of black garlic for brain health

Black garlic helps prevent infections that can impair memory and lead to deterioration of brain function over time, as scientists suggest that the accumulation of a protein compound called beta-amyloid causes inflammation in the brain, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, one study conducted on mice showed that Black garlic can reduce brain inflammation caused by beta-amyloid and even improve short-term memory.

One of the benefits of black garlic is also that it works to prevent oxidative stress that causes memory impairment, as black garlic contains compounds that help protect the brain from memory loss and oxidative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and other related diseases, however scientists need to do more Much research has been done on these potential effects in humans.

• Anti-cancer properties

Many studies indicate the positive effect of black garlic in fighting cancer cells, where in a test-tube study conducted on 21 volunteers, black garlic extract showed stronger immunostimulating, antioxidant and anti-cancer activity, researchers found that a solution of black garlic extract was toxic to cancer cells Lung, breast, stomach and liver within 72 hours.

Other studies in test tubes showed that black garlic caused the death of cancer cells in human colon and stomach cancer, as well as leukemia, and it also reduced the growth of these cancer cells. This research is preliminary and scientists need to do more research on the potential properties in black garlic to combat cancer.

• Black garlic helps protect the liver

Black garlic helps protect the liver from damage that may result from its constant exposure to chemicals, drugs, alcohol and germs, as a study on mice showed that black garlic exerts protective effects in the event of liver injury, which prevents further liver damage, and it also turns out that black garlic improves liver function Liver in chronic alcohol-induced liver damage through its antioxidant activity.

Another study in rats with liver damage showed that black garlic reduces ALT and AST, two blood chemicals that indicate liver damage. Black garlic has a protective effect on the liver, protecting it from damage that may result from injury or daily exposure to chemicals. Or even chronic alcohol abuse.

Benefits of black garlic for men

Black garlic contains compounds that help reduce exercise-induced fatigue and even improve physical strength in men. These compounds also boost testosterone levels in both men and women, which indicates that it may be useful for increasing and improving sexual desire in both sexes as well.

Benefits of black garlic for immunity

The immune system plays an important role in public health, as black garlic works to enhance the immune system of the body by fighting free radicals through the antioxidants present in garlic, and thus protects against diseases and infections, and can help prevent chronic diseases as well, including Colds and fungal infections, including ovarian infections.

It turned out that benefiting from the benefits of black garlic was not only in this century, as its benefits were exploited in the fifties of the last century, as it was used to treat cholera and dysentery during World War I, and was also used to treat battle wounds in the absence of antibiotics, and to fight infections that resulted from resistance to some Antibiotics.

Benefits of black garlic for pressure

Garlic may help reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels by up to 11.2 mm Hg, and in some cases garlic supplements may work as effectively as standard medications to lower blood pressure, with far fewer side effects.

It was confirmed that black garlic extract was superior to other therapeutic drugs associated with improving the level of blood pressure, as black garlic extract contributed to the reduction of systolic blood pressure, in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension, according to a study published in Maturitas in 2010.

Notice; Patients with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before taking any other medical prescriptions such as black garlic, in addition to therapeutic drugs, so as not to interfere with them and cause any side effects or complications.

Black garlic uses

Although you definitely prefer to use fresh garlic and are more familiar with it, black garlic can be a delicious addition to your diet, as its sweet taste and gelatinous texture go well with just a few dishes. Here are some of the ways you can use garlic: the black:

• You can add it with soy sauce.
• You can use it to season soup.
• You can puree it with cheese sauce or cream cheese.
• You can mix it with mayonnaise or hummus.
• You can cut it into thin slices and add it to salads or pasta dishes.
• You can use it on top of pizza.
• Mix them with olive oil to make a simple salad dressing.
• You can also enjoy eating it on its own because it is milder than raw garlic.

Possible side effects of black garlic

Raw or fresh garlic, as well as black garlic, do not have side effects or significant damage to health, although black garlic is generally considered safe for consumption, but it nonetheless has some potential harms that must be taken into account, which fresh garlic may also participate in, which are :

• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Skin problems such as dermatitis
• Runny nose
• asthma
• Gases
• Nausea
• heartburn
• diarrhea
• The stench
• Lowering blood pressure
• Eating fresh garlic in large quantities leads to an increased risk of bleeding, which is why people who take blood-thinning medications may also want to avoid black garlic in large quantities.

However, one study examined the effects of aged garlic extract on blood clotting among people taking blood-thinning medications and found that it did not pose any serious risk, but it is best to speak with a doctor to determine whether black garlic is safe and appropriate for you.

And if you think you may be allergic to garlic, you should stop using it and speak with your trusted healthcare practitioner.

In the end, dear reader, after you got to know black garlic, how to prepare it, the benefits of black garlic for health, the difference between it and fresh garlic, as well as its potential harms, you should consult a doctor first if it is used to treat a disease or try to benefit from its therapeutic properties, and we wish you good health and wellness.