Sprouted Garlic: Rare Benefits Not Many People Know About

While many sprouted foods can be toxic to consumers, sprouted garlic exhibits entirely the opposite effect.

 

 

Do you habitually throw away garlic cloves as soon as you see green shoots sprouting, fearing they might pose health risks similar to sprouted potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, or ginger?

It is widely known that many sprouted foods are hazardous as they produce harmful toxins. However, sprouted garlic is a noteworthy exception.

A study conducted by the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed that sprouted garlic contains significantly more potent antioxidants than regular garlic.

In their research report, Dr. Jong-Sang Kim and his colleagues found that garlic sprouted for five days not only exhibited stronger antioxidant activity compared to freshly sprouted garlic but also contained unique metabolites.

The researchers even discovered that sprouted garlic produces protective compounds that defend itself against harmful agents.

"Plants are highly vulnerable to attacks from bacteria, viruses, and insects during the sprouting process. To protect themselves, they produce various chemicals collectively known as phytoalexins.

Fortunately, while these compounds are toxic to insects and microorganisms, they are beneficial to human health," Dr. Kim explained.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a member of the American Medical Association and a bestselling author on The New York Times, has also endorsed the benefits of regularly consuming sprouted garlic.

These benefits include reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, improving cardiovascular health, and preventing 14 types of cancer, including brain, breast, lung, and prostate cancers.

In 2014, Prevention magazine published an article revealing that many food companies were researching products containing extracts from sprouted garlic.

However, researchers emphasize that this does not mean people should only consume sprouted garlic. It is important to remember that regular garlic is also a "miracle food" for our health.

This discovery merely encourages people not to waste aged, sprouted garlic cloves by discarding them unnecessarily.