Learn all about Garlic Extract

Garlic extract contains multiple active compounds, mainly allicin and its breakdown products. When garlic is crushed, an enzyme turns alliin into allicin, which then breaks down into various sulphur compounds. These affect the body in several ways. For heart health, they help block cholesterol production in the liver, increase cholesterol removal, and boost nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels. For immunity, they stimulate key immune cells (like macrophages and T-cells). As antioxidants, they fight harmful 'free radicals' directly and boost the body's own antioxidant defences. Their germ-fighting ability comes from sulphur compounds disrupting germ cell walls and blocking certain bacterial enzymes.

Garlic extract comes from the bulb of the garlic plant (Allium sativum). While supplements provide concentrated doses, eating garlic is also beneficial. Raw garlic has the most active compounds, as heat can damage the enzyme needed to produce allicin. Letting crushed garlic sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking helps preserve some activity. Achieving therapeutic effects often requires more garlic than typically eaten (around 1-4 fresh cloves daily for heart benefits). Other related vegetables (onions, leeks, chives) contain similar but different beneficial compounds. No other food has the exact same compounds as garlic.