Most of us may still be unfamiliar with black garlic, even though there are various benefits that are a pity to miss. Apart from the black color, this onion also has other characteristics, namely a soft and chewy texture, as well as a sweet and sour taste.
Black garlic is the result of the fermentation process of fresh garlic which is stored at a temperature of 60–70 degrees Celsius for 30–40 days. Changes in color, texture, and taste are obtained from this fermentation process.
The benefits of black garlic are mostly obtained from the various bioactive compounds in it which have antioxidant properties, such as polyphenols, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and antioxidants. s-allylcysteine (SAC).
In addition, black garlic also contains various nutrients, such as amino acids, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, zinc, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, as well as vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, and B6.
Benefits of Black Garlic
The following are the various benefits of black garlic that you can get:
1. Maintain heart health
Similar to garlic, black garlic also has benefits in maintaining and improving heart health by helping to reduce hypertension.
In addition, black garlic is known to help lower cholesterol and fat levels in the blood, thereby reducing your risk of coronary heart disease.
2. Prevent cancer
Thanks to its collection of bioactive compounds, black garlic is also thought to be useful for preventing cancer. One of the studies that has been done is the benefits of black garlic on colorectal cancer.
The antioxidant activity of these bioactive compounds is able to fight excess free radicals in the body that have the potential to cause the development of cancer cells.
3. Maintain brain function
In addition to counteracting free radicals, the antioxidants in black garlic can also reduce inflammation in the body. This property is thought to be useful for improving cognitive function, namely your ability to think, remember, solve problems, and make decisions.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants can also prevent you from experiencing various diseases due to decreased cognitive function, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
4. Improve immune function
The antioxidant content in black garlic can protect your immune cells from damage caused by excess free radicals. This will certainly help boost the immune system.
With a good immune system, your body will be able to fight various disease-causing microorganisms more effectively.
5. Maintain blood sugar levels
The content of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in black garlic is useful for maintaining stable blood sugar levels. In addition, a study states that the antioxidant properties of these compounds are also able to prevent various complications due to diabetes.
Easy Ways to Get the Benefits of Black Garlic
Obtaining black garlic may not be as easy as getting fresh garlic in the market. However, don't worry. You can make your own black garlic at home using just rice cookers. Here are some steps:
- Prepare rice cooker and put a few cloves of garlic in it.
- Set button rice cooker to the setting for heating (not for cooking).
- Let stand for 2 weeks with a warm temperature that continues to burn.
- After 2 weeks, remove the blackened onions from the rice cookers.
You can get the benefits of black garlic with minimal risk of side effects. After going through the fermentation process, you can eat black garlic right away, or you can add it to other dishes as a substitute for fresh garlic.
You can consult your doctor first if you are still unsure about adding black garlic to your daily diet, especially if you have certain medical conditions. That way, the doctor can suggest intake according to your health condition.