Black Garlic: 6 Proven Benefits and How to Use It
Black garlic is a vegetable obtained from fresh garlic, which is subjected to a specific temperature and humidity where a series of chemical reactions are created, such as the Maillard reaction, which gives it its characteristic color and, in some cases, it is fermented with yeast to increase its properties. This process modifies its color, consistency and composition.
Compared to fresh garlic, black garlic has a sweeter flavor, has an elastic texture when chewed and its odor is not strong. In addition to this, it has more antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and organosulfur compounds, so it is currently considered a functional food, as it provides various health benefits.
Benefits and properties
Black garlic apparently possesses anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-obesity, hypolipidemic and neuroprotective properties. For this reason, it could provide several health benefits, these are:
1. It could prevent early aging
It is demonstrated that black garlic contains abundant antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and cysteine, these are obtained thanks to the fermentation process of fresh garlic, and in the body help to neutralize cell damage caused by free radicals, preventing early aging and improving diseases such as diabetes.
2. Help prevent and treat cancer
Apparently, some studies indicate that black garlic increases the death of tumor cells and inhibits their growth and invasion, decreasing tumor size and preventing metastasis in different types of cancer mainly in stomach, colon and lymphomas.
3. Lose weight and control dyslipidemia
Black garlic could help reduce body weight when combined with exercise, because it increases metabolism and reduces the size of fat-containing cells in the abdominal region, called adipocytes. In addition to this, it could also help regulate insulin and blood sugar levels, helping not only diabetics but also to control appetite.
In addition to this, it also reduces triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the blood, increasing the good HDL. According to a study the consumption of 6 grams per day of black garlic could exert a cardioprotective effect, preventing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
4. It is anti-inflammatory
Some studies have suggested that thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of black garlic, it could help fight diseases and septicemia, because it stimulates the body’s defense cells, in addition to hindering the production of pro-inflammatory cells.
5. Improve memory
Black garlic could help improve memory and protect the nervous system, because it exerts an anti-numbing effect, improves cognitive processes and prevents neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity, preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Apparently, according to a study the daily intake of 12.5 mg to 50 mg per kg of weight could exert this neuroprotective effect.
6. Protect the liver
The liver is a vulnerable organ to the use of drugs, chemicals, alcohol, infections and supplements. Some studies have shown that a daily intake of 200 mg/kg of body weight could help protect the liver from the side effects of drugs, including hepatotoxicity, and recover from cell damage.
In addition to this, it could also help improve liver diseases such as fatty liver, favoring the decrease of fat accumulated in this organ.
How black garlic is obtained
Black garlic is obtained from fresh garlic, through a fermentation process that is carried out at a controlled temperature that is between 60 and 90 ÂșC, and with a humidity between 70 and 90% for a period of time.
This fermentation process causes the garlic to darken because some garlic components, such as allicin, are transformed and give rise to alkaloids and flavonoids that give black garlic its properties. See what are the differences with fresh garlic.
How to use black garlic
Black garlic gives a pleasant flavor to foods, and can be used in various ways, such as: in the preparation of sauces, mixing crushed garlic with soy sauce or olive oil, to dress foods such as meats, salads or pasta and to prepare garlic bread.
In addition to this, there are now also garlic supplements. black, which can be purchased through online stores or natural products. It is important to read the manufacturer’s instructions and if possible get advice from a phytotherapist, as the dosage will depend on what you want to use it for.
Before being processed by heat, garlic also has health benefits. See what they are in the following video:
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