With over 400 chemical components, garlic health benefits seem endless; researchers have established that garlic is effective in preventing and treating a stupendous multitude of maladies. Garlic helps lower blood sugar and may be used (under a doctor’s supervision) by people with diabetes in addition to their regular regime of insulin and special diets. Researchers have found that certain compounds in garlic such as allicin, allyl propyl disulfide and S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide work by increasing the amount of insulin in the blood by blocking the liver’s inactivation of insulin, making more insulin available to the body. While more research is still needed to know the full extent of garlic’s effectiveness, diabetic patients may benefit by taking moderate amounts of garlic as a supplement : raw and cooked garlic or aged garlic extract not only can help regulate blood glucose, but also possibly prevent or lessen the effects of some of the complications of diabetes. Among the complications of diabetes may include high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, arteriosclerosis, kidney disease and kidney failure (requiring dialysis or kidney transplant), nervous system damage, amputations and blindness.
The following is a partial list of the health benefits of garlic or its constituents for diabetes :
- Lowers glucose levels in the blood
- Combats or prevents arteriosclerosis
- Fights infections
- Strengthens the immune system
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- Regulates blood pressure
- Fights or prevents heart disease
- Promotes blood flow
Note Precaution : Discuss with your doctor or medical professional the advisability of taking garlic for your type of diabetes and health conditions. Although garlic is not considered toxic as a food by the American Food and Drug Administration, it may cause side effects for certain individuals and for anyone taking it in large quantities. When taking medicinal amounts, a doctor’s supervision is essential for patients with brittle diabetes.
Source : Agoracosmopolitan
