We know we love Italian food. We know we love to use garlic when cooking. It’s found in kitchens all over the world. We know that vampires hate it. But do we know how wonderful it is for diabetics?
Garlic reduces insulin resistance. According to a 2017 study published in Food and Nutrition Research, taking a garlic supplement significantly reduces HbA1c, a key marker of diabetes (and the “number” physicians always want to know).
Garlic increases C-peptide levels. Connecting peptide (“C-peptide”) measures how much insulin your pancreas is producing. (That’s why Diabetes Relief requires this in lab tests.) After two weeks of supplementation, garlic considerably increases C-peptide levels.
Garlic improves heart health. People with diabetes often have cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels. Garlic supplementation helps to lower the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and improves the blood levels of good cholesterol (HDL). So garlic decreases your risk of developing diseases that damage the blood vessels.
Is It Safe To Take Garlic For Diabetes? Garlic is unlikely to cause any serious health effects, but it can cause some minor side effects, such as heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. These side effects can be reduced by adding garlic to your diet instead of taking it alone in raw form.
Source: “3 Reasons To Include Garlic In A Diabetes Diet” by Shailesh Sharma, at diabeticsweekly.com.