Garlic Health Benefits

Use of Raw Garlic in Wrinkle Prevention

Is garlic good for wrinkles? Absolutely! A diet that contains plenty of garlic, especially raw garlic, can go a long way towards preventing pre-mature wrinkles and fine lines on aging skin. The wrinkle fighting properties associated with garlic use are primarily attributed to allicin, a natural compound that is produced when raw garlic is crushed or chopped. Allicin has been touted as one of the world's most powerful antioxidants.

GarlicGarlic delivers wrinkle fighting allicin, vitamin C, zinc and selenium.
Antioxidants such as allicin inhibit free radical activity, which in turn helps fight wrinkles and fine lines provoked by an overdose of skin-damaging UV radiation. When your skin is exposed to the sun's UV rays, your body responds by forming enzymes called metalloproteinases. Some of these enzymes break down connective tissue — which can eventually lead to wrinkles and fine lines — and free radicals are known to boost production of harmful metalloproteinases.

In addition to delivering allicin, raw garlic is good for fighting wrinkles because it provides plenty of antioxidant minerals such as zinc and selenium. Furthermore, raw garlic is loaded with vitamin C, and ounce for ounce, it contains more than twice as much vitamin C as fresh tomatoes. While vitamin C is best known for its ability to scavenge wrinkle causing free radicals, it can also prevent pre-mature wrinkling of the skin by supporting healthy collagen production. As an added beauty benefit, vitamin C can help with pigmentation problems and inflammatory skin conditions.

Potential Side Effects

For most adults, consuming garlic in normal quantities as part of a healthy anti-wrinkle diet holds no serious negative effects. That said, if you consume excessive amounts of garlic on a regular basis, you are likely to experience one or more mild effects. Common mild side effects associated with garlic consumption include excessive sweating, 'garlicky' body odor, dizziness, heartburn, upset stomach, and bloating. In addition, garlic may cause irritable bowel, diarrhea, adverse skin reactions, swelling of the mouth, breathing difficulties, or coughing in people who are allergic or sensitive to garlic.

In addition to garlic-sensitive people, people who are scheduled for surgery should cut back on their garlic consumption, ideally at least two weeks before the surgery. Eating garlic before a surgery may slow blood clotting, which in turn may cause undesired bleeding. Due to the effects of garlic on blood, people with a bleeding disorder, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and patients who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications should also talk to their doctor before using garlic as a weapon against wrinkles.


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