Here’s What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Garlic Regularly ...Saudi Arabia

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Here’s What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Garlic Regularly

You likely know that diet impacts the health of all of your organs, and the liver is no exception. Loading up on leafy green veggies and lean and plant-based proteins while limiting alcohol and saturated fat are well-documented ways to improve your longevity.

However, we pay less attention to the seasonings we add to our meals, such as garlic, and how they may affect liver function and overall health. Does garlic pass the sniff test? Registered dietitians like Sharniquia White, MS, a culinary dietitian and the founder of YouNiqly Nourishing LLC, point out there's more to garlic than aromatics, even though she admits you can "smell it from a while away."

    "Garlic is pungent, super savory and, when roasted, can add a bit of sweetness to your dish," White says.

    But is garlic good for the liver? It's a good question, especially with all of the "detox diets" out there.

    "If you are healthy and do not have any type of liver disease, your liver is 100% effective at filtering out drugs, toxins and bacteria in the form of urine or stool," Katherine M. Patton, RD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic, tells Parade. "Cleanses often include high doses of herbal or vitamin and mineral supplements, which have been associated with liver damage due to the stress they put on the liver to filter out the substances."

    Food first is generally the way to go when it comes to diet strategy, and garlic can add a boost to your liver. Registered dietitians share what happens to the liver when you eat garlic.

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    According to registered dietitians, garlic may provide some benefits for your liver, especially because it may offer some anti-inflammatory properties. However, garlic is not a cure-all for anyone with liver disease, nor will it by itself protect you from developing it.

    Is garlic good for the liver?

    "Garlic may be good for the liver in certain situations, but mainly as part of an overall healthy diet, not as a treatment on its own," explains Dr. Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, a fitness and nutrition advisor for Garage Gym Reviews. "For someone who is generally healthy, adding garlic to meals can still be a good habit, but it probably won’t cause a noticeable liver change [by itself]."

    Dr. Mohr says the strongest research to support using garlic to improve liver health comes from people living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Studies, including a 2022 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, suggest a link between garlic powder supplements and liver enzymes and certain metabolic markers.

    Dr. Mohr adds that you won't see any same-day improvement in your liver from garlic. However, Patton points to research indicating that consistently consuming garlic can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress within as little as 12 weeks. She notes that garlic contains bioactive compounds (such as allicin and diallyl disulfide). These compounds may improve antioxidant activity, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines (proteins and chemical messengers within the body) and help guard against fat accumulation in the liver.

    If you continue to consume garlic regularly, Patton explains that you'll notice greater benefits in the months and years that follow. Plus, she notes that daily garlic supplementation can help reduce liver fat, but importantly, this research is on people living with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver). In particular, raw garlic may decrease the risk of worsening liver disease in people with MASLD, according to a study on Chinese men.

    "Because chopping, crushing or chewing raw garlic releases more allicin than if you're preparing and consuming cooked garlic, individuals can ingest a high amount of allicin from dietary raw garlic intake," Patton says.

    Still, she notes we aren't sure how much raw garlic you'd have to consume to lower your chances of experiencing liver disease progression.

    Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Liver When You Drink Green Tea

    How Garlic Can Harm the Liver

    Consuming garlic is generally safe, but White notes that people taking certain medications should talk with their doctor about how regular garlic consumption could interact with them. "Garlic could also potentially interact with medications such as Warfarin, Aspirin and other anticoagulant medications," she says.

    Also, keep in mind that the liver is part of your digestive system, and garlic isn't always well-tolerated.

    "Raw garlic can increase heartburn or cause GI discomfort," White adds.

    But Dr. Mohr explains most healthy people don't have issues with garlic, especially liver-wise. Still, he emphasizes that it's vital to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting any new supplement or making long-term, drastic changes to your diet. He adds that garlic supplements are more concentrated than food, which may be especially harmful for people currently living with liver disease or taking medication for another condition.

    "But for most healthy people, garlic in normal amounts poses no meaningful long-term risk, since the danger lies in excess rather than in garlic itself," Dr. Mohr says.

    Up Next:

    Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Bananas

    Sources:

    Sharniquia White, MS, a culinary dietitian and the founder of YouNiqly Nourishing LLCKatherine M. Patton, RD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland ClinicDr. Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, a fitness and nutrition advisor for Garage Gym ReviewsLiver Cleansing Imposters: An Analysis of Popular Online Liver Supplements. American Journal of Gastroenterology Effects of garlic supplementation on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Functional Foods. Effect of garlic powder supplementation on hepatic steatosis, liver enzymes and lipid profile in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Nutrition. Plant‐Based Foods and Their Bioactive Compounds on Fatty Liver Disease: Effects, Mechanisms and Clinical Application. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.Association between dietary raw garlic intake and newly diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a population-based study. European Journal of Endocrinology.

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