Are garlic's benefits over-rated?

Garlic has been widely used in Thailand for centuries both as food and as medicine. Other cultures have also made use of garlic, especially those in Asia as well as the Mediterranean region. Garlic in the form of supplementary pills is widely popular now due to its well-known health benefits.

Garlic contains over 200 substances, some of which are thought to be beneficial to the health such as allicin, which gives garlic its distinct smell and flavour. Many people do not regard allicin as garlic's best medicinal property because it can be easily destroyed by heat and the body gets rid of it quickly after digestion.
There are many kinds of garlic pills, depending on how old the garlic is and how it is processed. So far, there is no evidence whether garlic powder, garlic oil, garlic pills or odourless garlic work better or differently from each other.
The variety of garlic products is due to the belief that garlic can lower cholesterol levels, prevent cancer, treat high blood pressure, heal diabetes and alleviate many illnesses, even the common cold.
Scientific studies, which do not necessarily agree with what people have believed for hundreds of years, have found that garlic can slow down platelet formation _ which explains why it can help treat acute clogged arteries.
Studies involved animals show that garlic can cure cancer and can lower cholesterol levels. Studies involving humans showed less obvious results because each study used different kinds of garlic so it is difficult to compare them.
The effect of garlic on cholesterol levels has been proved by many studies. It can lower cholesterol levels by 10%, but many other studies counter this claim. An article that archived all garlic-related studies reveals that 60% concluded that garlic can help reduce LDL cholesterol.
There was a carefully structured and well-planned study published many years ago. It performed a test on 192 people and found that regardless of whether a person had been eating a bulb of garlic, garlic powder or a placebo, after six months, their cholesterol levels did not differ.
As for its cancer prevention claim, a population-based study found that people who frequently eat garlic have a lower chance of developing cancer. However, a study in China found that seven years of consuming garlic cannot help cut the risks of developing stomach cancer.
Garlic's beneficial effects on other diseases have received less attention. Only small scale studies have found that garlic can slightly lower blood pressure and prevent platelet formation, but there is no evidence that garlic can treat common colds or diabetes, as people have been led to believe.
However, these studies are based on modern statistics and modern medicine. It might not be the same as herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years. Do not believe with your ears or your eyes or be impressed by numbers. It is best to judge with your head.
Garlic is reported to have side effects, too. You can bleed more easily if you eat garlic pills containing anti-platelet agents such as warfarin, aspirin or fish oil. Garlic also reacts to some medicines such as those used for high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, cancer and high cholesterol. In some cases, garlic can cause nausea and gas.
To sum up, garlic as supplementary health food is not strongly supported based on modern studies. Although it can help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, the results are minimal, especially compared to other healthy foods such as low-fat food, fresh fruits and vegetables.
It is still debatable which form of garlic is best. If you do not suffer from undesirable side effects, adding garlic to your diet would not be so bad. Don't forget that garlic should not be exposed to heat for too long or it will lose some of its beneficial nutrients. The tasty flavour and aroma, however, still remain.

reference http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/health/259612/are-garlic-benefits-over-rated