Is there any relationship between garlic and the digestive tract infection disease?
Research has demonstrated that garlic is an effective antibiotic, with multiple studies demonstrating its ability to inhibit the development of bacterial and fungal infections.
This is a well-known fact, as garlic has been utilized for millennia to combat various forms of infectious disease.
However, the question remains: can garlic also be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains?
If a bacterium is capable of resisting multiple antibiotics, then it is likely to be a particularly powerful strain.
Furthermore, if garlic can be used to combat some of the most powerful drugs in modern medicine, what hope does an herb, which is often found in herbaceous plants, have against a more powerful strain?
A recent study conducted by researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences of India has revealed some intriguing results.
The study involved the collection of bacteria cultures from 166 patients suffering from digestive urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The pathogenic bacteria identified included E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and P. coliquin.
Upon initial testing of the bacteria, it was found that 93 of the 166 UTI patients had four or more antibiotic-resistant cultures, indicating that 56% of the patients had multiple antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
Furthermore, the researchers found that more than 95% of the cultures had penicillin-resistant bacteria, and more than half of the cultures had ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria.
Subsequently, the researchers created a garlic extract by crushing fresh garlic bulbs and blending it with water before filtering out the extracted extract, a process known as cold-water extraction.
The researchers tested 93 antibiotic-resistant bacteria cultures and found that 82 percent – 76 of the 93 – significantly inhibited the growth of bacteria.
The significant level of inhibition was greater than 10 millimeters. The researchers found that antibiotics did not match the antibiotic potential of garlic.
The researchers tested 76 of the bacteria cultures against a variety of common antibiotics commonly prescribed for drug-resistant digestive urinary tract infections. The zones of inhibition for these bacteria ranged from 11 to over 20 millimeters.
According to research, fresh garlic extracts have antibacterial properties in multidrug-resistant infections where most antibiotics are ineffective.
The researchers found that garlic extract reduced the growth of these bacteria to a minimum MIC of 35 mg/ml.
How does garlic work?
The effects of garlic on the growth of bacteria have been the subject of much discussion.
Some studies have shown that garlic stimulates the growth of the body’s own immune cells by stimulating the production of certain cytokines.
Others, such as the above-mentioned study, show that garlic also acts directly to inhibit bacteria.
One of garlic’s most interesting properties is that it disrupts the communication between bacteria.
In a 2005 study from the Technical University of Denmark, it was found that garlic inhibited the ability of the Pseudomonas bacteria to do something called quorum sensing.
This was confirmed in a 2010 study by researchers from India’s Punjab University.
Quorum sensing is similar to the way the internet or television works. Bacteria send signals to each other and to the whole group, telling them how and when to grow their colonies. When this is disrupted, the bacteria will not be able to grow.
Garlic contains more than 400 known medicinal components, some of which are antibiotics in themselves. When combined, they make garlic a powerful antibacterial agent against bacteria and fungi.
Some of the antibiotics found in garlic include ajoene and allicin. Allicin is easily extracted from fresh garlic by soaking it in water, although alcohol will extract it more easily.
However, allicin will degrade in 3 hours at room temperature and 20 minutes at room temperature when heated.
Fresh garlic provides the highest antibiotic potency.
Dehydrated garlic powder in capsules or tablets will likely not contain as much of garlic’s antibiotic potency.
This is because some of the antibiotic components are destroyed or degraded by heat. Most of the odorless garlic comes from the sulfur content of garlic.
As mentioned above, many of the antibiotic components found in garlic are sulfur-based.
FAQs Related To Garlic And The Digestive Tract Infection Disease
Is garlic good for intestinal infection?
The raw juice of garlic has been found to be very effective against many of the most common pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract.
What does garlic do to your digestive system?
Its active ingredients create beneficial gut bacteria that contribute to the health of the digestive system.
What diseases does garlic fight?
Nowadays, garlic is used to treat heart disease, such as atherosclerosis or hardened arteries (plaque build-up in the arteries that blocks blood flow and can cause heart attack or stroke).
It is also used to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as to strengthen the immune system.
What effect does garlic have on bacterial infection?
Garlic is super effective at killing bacteria. It can kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
What is the fastest way to cure intestinal infection?
It’s super important to make sure you’re drinking lots of fluids, like water and drinks for your mouth.
How many garlic cloves a day to fight infection?
The best way to get the most out of your garlic is to consume two garlic cloves per day.
How long does garlic stay in the digestive system?
24 hours
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