۶ Impressive Health Benefits of Black Garlic

Black garlic is raw garlic that people have aged under controlled high-temperature, high-humidity conditions for several weeks. The garlic cloves turn brown, then eventually black as a result of the Millard reaction (1Trusted Source).

In addition to having black cloves, black garlic has a milder flavor and a more delicate, sticky consistency than raw garlic (2Trusted Source).
Black garlic also offers a number of health benefits that may outweigh those of raw garlic, which hasn’t been aged.
This article reviews 6 of the potential health benefits black garlic may offer.

۱. Contains more antioxidants

The aging process causes black garlic to contain substantially more antioxidants than raw garlic (3Trusted Source).
This is partly because allicin, the compound that gives garlic its pungent odor when crushed, is converted into antioxidant compounds like alkaloids and flavonoids as black garlic ages (2Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).
Antioxidants are compounds that help protect your cells from oxidative damage, which may otherwise lead to various diseases. People mostly consume antioxidants via plant foods, including garlic (5Trusted Source).

۲. May help regulate blood sugar

Uncontrolled high blood sugar in people with diabetes can increase the risk of complications, including kidney damage, infections, and heart disease (7Trusted Source).
Studies have shown black garlic may help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, and even prevent damage from uncontrolled diabetes. Scientists need to do more research on these effects in humans, however.

۳. May reduce the risk of heart disease

Black garlic may help reduce certain markers of heart disease, like triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. It may also increase HDL (good) cholesterol for some people.

۴. Compounds in black garlic may protect brain health

Black garlic may help prevent inflammation that can impair memory and worsen brain function over time.
Scientists have suggested that inflammation of the nervous system may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (1Trusted Source6Trusted Source).

۵. May have anticancer properties

Black garlic has shown some potential cancer-fighting effects in test-tube studies, but more research is needed to confirm whether it can effectively help to fight cancer in humans.

۶. Black garlic may help protect your liver

Black garlic may have a preventive effect on the liver, protecting it from damage that can result from injury, everyday chemical exposure.

Potential downsides

Neither raw nor black garlic appear to come with major side effects. However, raw garlic has a couple of downsides that black garlic may share.
Eating raw garlic in large amounts may increase the risk of bleeding. Because of this, people on blood thinning medications may also want to avoid black garlic in large amounts (27Trusted Source).

Still, it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional to determine whether black garlic is safe and appropriate for you.
Additionally, people who experience an allergic reaction after consuming raw garlic should also avoid black garlic (29Trusted Source).

The bottom line

Black garlic is raw garlic that has been aged under controlled conditions for several weeks. This changes its color and flavor.
This process also significantly increases the antioxidant activities of the garlic. In fact, antioxidants in black garlic are likely the reason for its potential benefits for the heart, liver, blood sugar, and brain, as well as its potential anticancer properties.