12. Pancreas Support
The pancreas is responsible for secreting insulin, the body’s hormone for metabolizing blood sugar into cell energy. Now more than ever, the pancreas is often overwhelmed by the amount of insulin and other hormones it has to produce to counteract the over-consumption of sugars. We hear a lot about type 2 diabetes, which almost always is caused by diet and lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes) is a chronic autoimmune disease and is different from type 2 in that the pancreas secretes little or no insulin. (28)
Allicin in garlic repairs pancreatic tissue, which allows for the production of insulin. It’s been recommended for prevention and therapy for type 1 diabetes. (29)
13. Safe During Pregnancy
All pharmaceuticals are suspect for pregnant women because of potential harm to the developing baby. Garlic is safe to eat while pregnant. Group B Strep (GBS) is a fairly common bacterium that infects women during pregnancy, so much so that routine tests for the virus are performed during the third trimester. If untreated, GBS can cause stillbirth and be passed to the infant. Garlic has been proven effective in killing this infection while inflicting no harm to mother or child. (30)
14. Tuberculosis Treatment
TB is one of the leading causes of death worldwide (often in conjunction with HIV), especially in developing countries. Strains of TB have evolved that are highly resistant to conventional antibiotics, allowing this highly contagious disease to spread. The potential for pandemic is very real if this pathogen isn’t curbed. Garlic extract kills TB bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis while stimulating immune cell activity and counteracting inflammation. (31) Further, garlic works quickly, showing a significant reduction in bacterial infection within 24 hours of administration. (32)