Garlic and Phytos

I am sure you have heard that garlic was good for your heart. Well, of course, it is! We will cover some of why it is today. But did you know that garlic also has many properties that can decrease cancer risk, too?

 

When I think of garlic, I think of scrumptious Italian food like spaghetti, lasagna, mannicoti, fettucini alfredo, seafood pasta, etc., etc. I LOVE garlic. I am a “garlicky” cook and often use too much, but I will eat the garlic-laded food, regardless. I use garlic in all kinds of foods, not just those of the Italian variety. Yes, I would call myself a “garlic eater.”

 

What is in Garlic That is Beneficial?

 

Garlic contains several phytos that are organic sulfur compounds with varying levels of effectiveness for certain conditions described below. Diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide are usually the most effective according to published research.

How Can Garlic Affect the Risk of Heart Disease?

 

Atherosclerotic plaque is what generally occludes arteries and can cause a heart attack. It can also cause a stroke if the plaque accumulates too much in the carotid arteries. A theory of how plaque begins is that the LDLs (low density lipoproteins), otherwise known as the “bad cholesterol,” become a type of free radical by being oxidized in the blood. Diallyl disulfide from garlic was very effective in suppressing oxidation of human LDLs. Since diabetes mellitus is a prime risk factor for heart disease, compounds in garlic may benefit patients with diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases by preventing complications (1).

 

Even after a heart attack (myocardial infarction), garlic may be beneficial. Death of heart tissue occurs after a heart attack. Garlic oil given to rats after having a heart attack produced a marked reversal of damaging changes by decreasing lipid oxidization and enhancing antioxidant and detoxifying activities (2).

Small blood clots in the blood vessels occur normally. However, when a blood vessel is narrowed from plaque and a clot of significant size comes along, a heart attack can occur. The reason why you may have heard that taking an aspirin every day can prevent a heart attack is because of its blood thinning properties. Most patients that have had heart surgery are on blood thinners for the same reason. Garlic oil given to rats significantly inhibited blood coagulation. A word of caution from the researchers is that too much garlic oil can be taken and cause prolonged bleeding time (3). It is probably wise to be cautious with garlic supplements in particular. If your doctor has prescribed a blood thinner, only take a garlic supplement after getting your doctor’s blessing. Fewer problems occur when beneficial compounds are eaten in food.

How Can Garlic Affect Cancer Risk?

The liver houses a very important antioxidant enzyme system (cytochrome P-450). Garlic compounds such as diallyl trisulfide inhibit carcinogen (cancer promoter molecule) activation by accelerating detoxification of carcinogens in the blood via this liver enzyme system. Garlic phytos can also inhibit growth of transplanted tumors in animals by inducing death of the tumor cells or by preventing the cells from dividing (5). Research has indicated this effect in cultured cancer cells and in laboratory animals.

For ages birth to 39, the probability that a female would develop melanoma of the skin (skin cancer) is second only to breast cancer, and the probability is third highest for a male (6). If you are in this age group or have children who are, is this important information or what? We know that baking your skin is not a good thing, but people not only stay out in the sun too long unprotected from the UV rays, but females (especially) frequent tanning salons which use the same harmful rays. Garlic sulfides have shown to inhibit the growth of skin tumors in mice by inducing death of the tumor cells (7). Several studies have shown this same effect.

 

In my review, I found quite a few studies about the effects of garlic compounds on liver cancer cells. These phytos significantly decrease cell viability in human liver tumor cells (8). Other population studies and laboratory studies of human cancer cells and tumors in animals have indicated that garlic consumption also reduces cancer incidence in the colon, breast, stomach, cervix, and prostate (9). One study even shows cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy may even be made more sensitive to the therapeutic drugs by garlic phytos (10).

What Else?

The lack of estrogen secretion during menopause or the surgical removal of ovaries is accompanied by significant loss of bone unless hormone replacement is given. Garlic oil given to rats significantly protected against bone loss after their ovaries were removed (11).

 

 

How to Incorporate Garlic into Your Meals

 

I suggest when you cook your meats, that you add some minced garlic. You can buy it already minced. I use the canned type (not dried). It not only adds a lot of flavor, but can reduce the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines, which are considered to be cancer promoting (12). You get enhanced flavor and protection from cancer all at the same time.

Simple Recipe:

This recipe is taken from the American Institute for Cancer Research Newsletter on Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention, Spring 2007, Issue 95. The version here specifies less salt than implied in the original recipe. Just a bit of warning, this is a very garlicky recipe, so you may want to start off with less garlic than specified unless you already love garlic. You probably do not want to eat this just before going to church or a social gathering. If you do, stand at least 3 feet away from the people you are talking to.

 

Roasted Asparagus with Garlic

1 lb. fresh asparagus, tough ends broken off

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Pinch of salt

Lemmon wedges, for garnish

 

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. In shallow roasting pan, toss asparagus with oil to coat. Sprinkle asparagus with garlic and season with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes (depending on thickness of spears), until crisp but tender, shaking pan occasionally. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a note: Cook garlic for short periods at a time or at low temperatures because the sulfur compounds may lose antioxidant activity if heated for long periods at high temperatures.