Garlic has a lot of proven benefits for our health. Many benefits were confirmed in clinical studies where it was found that eating garlic cloves reduces high blood pressure, while also improving the values of the bad cholesterol. There’s also a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests garlic improves symptoms of early dementia and prevents Alzheimer’s.
With so many proven benefits of eating garlic, a lot of companies came up with a garlic extract formula that is packed in supplement capsules. In this article, we’ll review the best garlic supplements for improving your blood pressure, as well as other health conditions.
Before we get to the reviews, let’s discuss key things to consider before springing for your garlic supplement purchase. Here are our top picks:
Best Overall: BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic – an all-in-one formula that will improve your overall health, as well as blood pressure and LDL cholesterol
Runner Up: Sundown Garlic – will lower the LDL cholesterol within a month and won’t cause a bad smell.
Best Budget: Nature’s Bounty, Garlic – A budget-friendly option that will help your immune system keep up while improving the health of your heart.
You may also like: 8 Best Multivitamin Supplements For Vegans 2021: Ultimate Guide
Things To Consider Before Purchasing Garlic Supplements
As you may know, garlic is more than an ingredient to season your food. Let’s take a look at its key benefits, ingredients, and potential drawbacks of it.
Key Ingredients
Garlic supplements are mainly available in capsules. However, some people also use garlic powder. Here are the most commonly found ingredients in garlic supplements.
- Allium Sativum – Mainly found as a garlic bulb extract, which is used to season the food or aid with conditions like high blood pressure. You’ll find this ingredient in pretty much all garlic supplements.
- Vitamins – Most of the vitamins found in garlic cloves can also be found in the garlic supplement. That includes Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin B6, Magnesium, Selenium, and other minerals.
- Chlorophyll – Is what gives plants their green pigment. However, it’s also used in medicine. Because garlic has a strong odor many often consider bad, chlorophyll is used to neutralize the strong smell and potential bad aftertaste.
Types of Garlic Supplements
Most garlic supplements come in the shape of capsules. Those capsules, however, sport different types of garlic powder, which we will detail below.
- Powdered garlic capsules – This is one of the most natural methods. It’s derived by crushing the garlic cloves under the pressure. After crushing them, you need to dry them and dehydrate them before they are turned into a powder
- Steam-distilled garlic oil – Some capsules are made using garlic oil. It’s also rich in 1% sulfur inside 99% vegetable oil.
- Aged garlic extract – Garlic cloves get stored away and put in ethanol where they are aging for 20 months before used to be made into capsules.
- Garlic oil macerate – To make oil macerate, scientists use ground garlic and crush it in vegetable oil.
Benefits of Garlic And Garlic Supplements
Garlic has many benefits, and both younger and older alike use it to improve both their general health and sleep health.
- It can help improve high blood pressure. A 2019 study is just one among many which found a link between lower blood pressure after eating garlic.
- It can improve sleep health. It’s one of the old-nana stories that garlic cloves are placed under the bed to help you fall asleep easier. Anecdotal evidence that supports this claim keeps emerging.
- Garlic clove is good for overall cardiovascular health because it helps improve the bad cholesterol, according to a study.
- It’s good in treating periodontal conditions such as gingivitis and other, more severe gum diseases, according to a study published earlier in 2020.
- Finally, one more study found that aged garlic extract which is used for garlic supplements can help slow down Alzheimer’s disease.
- According to a study, garlic can boost the immune system and response and improve immunity, including against illnesses like colon cancer.
Potential Drawbacks And Risks Of Garlic Powder
- For many people, it has a bad taste, so if there’s no odor neutralizer like chlorophyll it may have a bad taste.
- According to a study, too much garlic, and garlic supplements in particular can cause long-term liver damage.
- A 2016 study found a link between too much garlic and potential problems with acid reflux, heartburn, and excessive burping. Combine that with bad garlic breath, and you’re not going to have a good time.
- Many health experts warn that people who take anticoagulant medications shouldn’t take garlic supplements. While in most cases, it’s permitted to take some, you should still discuss it with your healthcare provider.
How Can Garlic Supplements Improve Your Health?
As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of benefits of garlic supplements, and garlic in particular. But, how does it all work, and will it improve your health? The short answer is yes.
The long answer, however, dives into the depth of medicine and human biology. As mentioned above, garlic is a great way to fight LDL cholesterol, which, above 100 can cause horrible damage to your veins and other blood vessels.
Garlic is a low-calorie vegetable, which is why it’s a great warrior against LDL cholesterol and everything that can potentially harm your heart.
Still, keep in mind that a lot of people avoid garlic as a nutrient unless it’s well-obscured into a seasoning or a sauce, despite it being a low-carb snack. That’s what leads to people taking garlic supplements, which are often quite helpful if you choose the right option.
That’s why we listed the list of active ingredients in garlic supplements to help you understand what’s relevant and helps. That’s why a lot of garlic supplement companies don’t keep all the active ingredients actual garlic has in their product. That as a result either doesn’t work at all or has a delayed effect, which can take a while.
A low-carb diet isn’t something that works overtime, it can take days and even weeks for our metabolism and digestive system to shape to it and pull the right vitamins into our system. That’s why, garlic powder will work only if you combine it with other valuable nutrients, including the raw garlic itself.
Who Should Take Garlic Supplements
- People with high blood pressure
- People who have difficulties controlling their LDL cholesterol values that often exceed 100.
- People with low immunity.
- People who have difficulty falling asleep.
Who Shouldn’t Take Garlic Supplements
- People who take certain medications.
- People who have problems with liver or certain liver disease.
Best Garlic Supplements 2021
We displayed important bits about garlic supplements as well as garlic in general and will now count our picks of the best garlic supplements we found.
1. Best Overall: BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic
When we started reviewing the BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic, we didn’t know where to start with its amazing benefits.
- Type: Capsules
- Active ingredients: Allium Savitum (Garlic Bulb Extract), Petroselinum Crispus (Parsley), Chlorophyll, Gelatin, Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Soybean Oil, and Silica.
- Vegan: Yes
- Key benefits: It’ll help you eliminate cholesterol and improve your blood culture. All that while being odorless and easy on the digestive system.
- Dose: 2 capsules per day
- Quantity: 120 capsules
It can be used together with your meal, to improve overall problems with your heart health, while improving the bad LDL cholesterol. It’s a great companion and an agent that is enriched with important nutrients that will improve your immune system and overall health.
This option is rich with allicin, the main active ingredient of garlic which primarily improves your health. It’s also important that the garlic supplement that is GMP complaint is made to be vegan-friendly and will inevitably improve your overall health.
In addition to all benefits it offers, this garlic supplement is also offered with a 60-day trial. Taking two capsules a day, it’ll take you 60 days to spend the entire package.
With that in mind, if you don’t like it in 60 days, you can get your money back. It’s also equipped with chlorophyll which neutralizes the bad taste and odor, so you don’t have to worry about annoying reflux and burping.
Editor’s note:
It uses soybean oil, which is often derived as a GMO process. Additionally, soy is a strong allergen, so it’s important to be careful when taking this supplement if you’re allergic to soy.
2. Runner Up: Sundown Garlic
When the first option is out of stock, this is the best alternative that you can find. It’s made out of odorless garlic extract and is free of most allergens, including gluten, lactose, fish, sodium, starch, and sugar.
- Type: Softgel
- Active ingredients: Odorless Garlic Extract 10 mg, (Allium sativum) (bulb), **(a 100:1 Extract, equivalent to 1,000 mg of fresh Garlic Bulb)
- Vegan: No
- Key benefits: Helps with improving heart health and LDL cholesterol.
- Dose: 1 softgel up to 4 times a day
- Quantity: 250 softgels
What’s more important is that this particular supplement is a completely natural product, free of all GMO substances.
The primary function of the Sundown garlic is to improve the problems with your heart, such as heart rate and arrhythmia.
Additionally, Sundown Garlic that is made out of aged garlic extract will protect your stomach from annoying and persistent burping, as well as acid reflux which can result in heartache.
The flavor is completely neutral and natural, with no additions of sweetening products or artificial dyes. The 100:1 garlic extract found in the supplement is equal to 1,000mg of garlic bulb. You can take one softgel up to 4 times daily.
Editor’s note:
Sundown Garlic is not vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Also, pregnant women shouldn’t take it. The vitamins necessary for the immune system to work properly are directly in the garlic extract, with no added vitamins.
3. Best Budget: Nature’s Bounty, Garlic
You don’t have to worry if you’re restricted on budget, because Nature’s Bounty garlic has got you covered.
- Type: Tablets
- Active ingredients: Allium sativum, Dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, calcium carbonate, ethylcellulose
- Vegan: Yes
- Key benefits: Improves cardiovascular health and helps lower blood pressure.
- Dose: 1 tablet 2-3 times a day, preferably when eating.
- Quantity: 120 tablets.
Every tablet is equipped with a 2000 mg equivalent of nature garlic. It’s a trusted brand with over 40 years of providing great quality garlic. It’s a herbal supplement that’s recommended to take during meals.
The coated tablets are made so to be odor-free and laboratory tested, so you don’t have to worry about any unwanted effects. Odor-free also means that you won’t have to worry about annoying burping and acid refluxes. It’s also rich in ingredients like vegetable cellulose and no sugar, milk, or other lactose-rich components. There are also no other allergens like gluten, wheat, fish, and others. That also makes it a vegan-friendly option.
When it comes to dosing, it’d be best to take 2-3 tablets per day, preferably as you’re eating for a stronger effect. You can expect the swift effect of the therapy, especially if you’re affected by high blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol. After a month, you can notice a change in your values.
Editor’s note:
Even though it states that it’s odor-free, sometimes it can leave a bad aftertaste and cause bad breath. That, however, doesn’t mean that you’ll experience burping or stomach problems.
4. Best Garlic Supplement for Immune System: NutraChamps Odorless Garlic Pills
During cold winter months, NutraChamps Odorless Garlic Pills will trigger your immune response to work overtime.
- Type: Softgels
- Active ingredients: Odorless Garlic 100:1 Extract, Parsley Seed 500:1 Concentrate, Chlorophyll, Aged Black Garlic, Flaxseed Oil, Gelatin
- Vegan: No
- Key benefits: Improves immune response to keep you healthy, while also lowering high blood pressure.
- Dose: Up to 2 per day.
- Quantity: 120 softgels.
It’s made out of premium ingredients and certified with the cGMP quality manufacturers. The company uses fresh cloves, which are designed so to be odorless. That means there’s no risk when it comes to social interactions after taking this one.
The supplement isn’t strong in the sense that it’ll cause your stomach to feel upset, or result in unpleasant heartburn, burping, or acid reflux. Instead, it soothes the stomach, and activates the entire immune system, especially during the winter months when viruses are prevalent.
It’s equipped with chlorophyll, aged black garlic, and parsley. The supplement having chlorophyll is a clear indicator that it’s odorless and that you don’t have to worry about bad breath. It’s rich in amino acids and antioxidants which are food for your immune system.
Although the primary purpose of NutraChamps pills is to improve your immune system and keep you healthy, it’ll also help you with lowering your high blood pressure and keep your heart protected.
Editor’s note:
We only mind that this is not a vegan-friendly formula and that the quantity includes fewer softgels than other softgel options.
5. Best for High Cholesterol: KYOLIC® AGED GARLIC EXTRACT
If you want a 100% organic option to getting rid of the bad LDL cholesterol, you should try KYOLIC out.
- Type: Capsules
- Active ingredients: Garlic extract, lecithin, Gelatin, Silica, Magnesium Stearate
- Vegan: No
- Key benefits: Gives great results when it comes to lowering LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Dose: Up to 2 per day.
- Quantity: 100 capsules.
It uses aged garlic extract to provide swift and impeccable cholesterol results within a month. Aged garlic extract is used to remove the trails of garlic odor which is often unpleasant to many people.
Kyolic garlic extract is also GMP certified, and because the strong odor and taste are eliminated, you won’t have to worry about bad breath. Additionally, the KYOLIC garlic extract doesn’t feel hard for the stomach, so you can continue to enjoy all its added benefits.
It’s designed in a way to not only improve the health, and serve all benefits that garlic normally serves, but to swiftly tackle all the issues with your cardiovascular health, mainly with the LDL cholesterol that is often responsible for high blood pressure.
Lastly, KYOLIC Aged Garlic Extract is free of sodium. Keep in mind that sodium-rich food is often the one main culprit behind abnormally high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. With eliminated sodium, your blood vessels and body overall can begin healing from high bad cholesterol, and the first results will be visible within a month.
The extract is also free of sodium, preservatives, sugar, gluten, and artificial colors and flavors.
Editor’s note:
As the manufacturer declared, taking this product can expose you to lead which is known to be cancerous according to California’s State law.
6. Best for High Blood Pressure: Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic
If you’re looking for a trusted source of healthy products, Puritan’s Pride is worth looking at. It’s popular for its zinc-rich supplements which are meant to improve your blood circulation, metabolism, and whole immune system.
- Type: Softgels
- Active ingredients: Odorless Garlic, Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin.
- Vegan: NA
- Key benefits: Actively helps your body lower the persistently high blood pressure.
- Dose: Up to 2 per day.
- Quantity: 250 softgels
Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic that uses organic garlic extract is no exception. It’ll help you regulate your blood pressure and improve your overall health.
It uses traditional herbs that are known for their antioxidant properties, meaning they are an amazing treatment option for acne, and other bad immune responses.
Lastly, it’ll also help in treating high blood pressure and improving the condition with LDL cholesterol, allowing your body to get rid of bad cholesterol from your blood, maintaining healthy circulation.
Editor’s note:
It’s best not to be used if you’re pregnant, planning to conceive, or planning to undergo a surgical procedure. Make sure to consult with your healthcare provider before deciding whether Puritan’s Pride odorless garlic is for you.
7. Best Gluten-Free: Nutricost Garlic
Sometimes, finding a gluten-free option isn’t easy. However, once you do, you’ll enjoy better immunity, more restfulness, and a better heart condition. That’s exactly what the Nutricost Garlic promises.
- Type: Softgels
- Active ingredients: Odorless Garlic, Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin
- Vegan: NA
- Key benefits: This allows you to treat your cardiovascular health without worrying about gluten intolerance.
- Dose: 1-4 softgels, preferably when eating.
- Quantity: 240 softgels
It’s manufactured in a GMP compliant facility that is FDA-registered. That means not having to worry about potentially harmful compounds.
Additionally, as we said earlier, this is a gluten-free option that also happens odorless, so you don’t have to worry about having bad breath for hours on end. Additionally, it won’t leave you feeling uncomfortable in the stomach or result in bad acid reflux.
The package contains 240 garlic softgels with 1000mg per serving inside one capsule. Given that it’s odorless you won’t notice any bad taste.
It also maintains the qualities of other garlic supplements we reviewed earlier, it will help you stay healthy and it will effectively battle high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, with results visible after a few weeks.
Editor’s note:
Even though it’s stated that it will not cause any sort of stomach discomfort, people with GERD or irritable gut syndrome may not enjoy this product as much.
8. Best Vegan: Sports Research Odorless Garlic Oil Pills
Vegans face a lot of difficulties finding the right garlic oil pills. Although vegan, these garlic pills will give you all the benefits of the garlic supplement like other options we reviewed.
- Type: Softgels
- Active ingredients: Garlic, Parsley, Chlorophyll, Organic Virgin Olive Oil, PlantGel Capsule ( Non-GMO Tapioca Starch, Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water)
- Vegan: Yes
- Key benefits: GMO-free, Soy-free, and vegan-friendly formula that will improve your blood pressure and health.
- Dose: 2 a day.
- Quantity: 150 softgels
Powered with parsley, organic extra virgin olive oil, and other plant-based compounds, you’ll improve your cardiovascular health, including high blood pressure.
It’s a non-GMO verified oil that is both vegan-friendly and soy-free. In addition to all the benefits, the company will provide 90-day protection so you can get your money back if you’re not satisfied with the product.
Editor’s note: Some people find it’s strong on their stomachs. Additionally, this product isn’t recommended for women who are pregnant or people who will have surgery. If you’re in one of those groups, talk to your doctor before taking these supplements
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