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Home Health Information Garlic. Common Names: garlic. Latin Names: Allium sativum. Garlic is the edible bulb from a plant in the lily family. It was traditionally used for health purposes by people in many parts of the world, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Japanese.

Currently, garlic is most commonly promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Fresh garlic, garlic powder, and garlic oil are used to flavor foods.

Garlic may be used topically applied to the skin. How Much Do We Know? What Have We Learned? Learn about its potential power to help prevent and treat disease, from heart disease to cancer.

MindBodyGreen provides third-party-tested supplements made with high quality ingredients. Our testers and dietitians discuss whether MindBodyGreen…. Vitamins are for athletes to stay healthy. You may get all you need from the food you eat. Some athletes may benefits from vitamin supplements.

Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a type of omega-3 fat that may improve many aspects of your health, from your brain to your heart. Here are 12…. Vitamins are what your body needs to function and stay healthy. It's possible to get all the vitamins you need from the food you eat, but supplements….

Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that helps with blood clotting and healthy bones. It can be found in leafy greens, vegetable oils, and broccoli. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Nutrition Evidence Based How Garlic Fights Colds and the Flu. Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT , Nutrition — By Helen West, RD — Updated on September 29, Garlic can boost immune function.

Can garlic help prevent colds and the flu? How to maximize the benefits of garlic. Garlic supplements. How much garlic should you eat per day? Other tips to boost immune function. The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: History.

Sep 29, Medically Reviewed By Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT. Sep 28, Written By Helen West. Share this article. Read this next. How to Store Garlic. But you can get a heftier dose of garlic than the spice or vegetable provides with garlic supplements. Garlic supplements are available in various delivery formats to suit individual preferences and needs.

Some common forms include capsules gelatin or vegetable-based , tablets, softgels, powdered extracts, and liquid extracts. Enteric-coated garlic supplements are also widely available, containing garlic extract, typically in the form of a powder or oil coated with a special enteric coating.

This coating is designed to withstand the stomach's acidic environment and dissolve in the alkaline environment of the small intestine. The purpose of enteric coating is to protect the active compounds in garlic from being degraded or destroyed by stomach acid.

This is especially important when it comes to allicin. An enteric coating allows the garlic supplement to pass through the stomach without being affected by the acidic environment and reach the small intestine intact.

Once in the small intestine, the enteric coating dissolves, releasing the active compounds in garlic and absorbing them into the bloodstream. Because of this, enteric-coated supplements typically improve absorption since the active compounds are released in the intestine, where absorption is more efficient.

Another considerable advantage of enteric-coated garlic is that it can help reduce the potential for garlicky breath since the coating delays the release of volatile compounds until it reaches the small intestine. This can significantly minimize the characteristic garlic breath or body odour.

Of course, it goes without saying that enteric coating can also help minimize gastric irritation since it reduces direct physical contact with the stomach. This is especially important when it comes to garlic, which can cause GI discomfort in conventional supplement forms.

While enteric coatings offer many benefits, it's important to remember that, as in all things — not every enteric coating is created equal.

Indeed, enteric coatings can contain dangerous synthetic ingredients like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate HPMCP , polyvinyl acetate phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and cellulose acetate phthalate.

Many of these are suspected carcinogens and known endocrine disruptors. Look for enteric-coated supplements from reputable brands that use only high-quality, safe, natural ingredients for optimum efficacy, purity, and safety.

Some of the most trusted garlic supplement brands available in Canada include:. Copyright National Nutrition Ltd.