According to researchers from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural science, aged garlic extract can help to reduce inflammation among obese patients. They published their findings online in the latest edition of Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. The study highlights the importance of eating healthy, especially foods that contain garlic, in the fight against obesity-related diseases. This condition of carrying around excess weight has been linked to low-grade system inflammation. The inflammation, in turn, raises the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases in the future. However, you can decrease this risk by including garlic in your diet.

The team observed 51 healthy but obese patients for the study. The average age of the patient was 46 and their mean BMI (body mass index) was 36. The group went through a parallel, double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to help determine the effects that aged garlic extract had on the immune system. The researchers found that the inflammation levels of the participant who was on a daily dose of 3.6 grams of aged garlic extract reduced after six weeks. They also saw a dramatic improvement in blood lips makers after comparing those at the baseline with those after the six weeks period.

“We found that six weeks of aged garlic extract supplementation was able to modulate immune cell distribution and prevent the increase of serum concentrations of…factors that play important roles in the development of obesity-induced inflammation,” the authors wrote in their study. “Moreover, blood LDL levels, which often increase with obesity and are a major health concern,were significantly lower after aged garlic extract supplementation.”

The implications of the study are astounding. One of the biggest risk factors associated with the development of other chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes or hypertension is Obesity. Studies have linked these illnesses to the level of inflammation in the body. The result from the study suggests that taking garlic supplements or eating more garlic is enough to reduce the risk of developing these conditions.

A good number of people are obese because of the sedentary lifestyle they live coupled with their unhealthy eating habits. A staggering six million (approximately) adults are obese all over the globe. As we grow more indulgent with what we eat and lazier, the number is only going to grow more. The good news is, it’s never too late to make your health a priority and start consuming foods that’ll help fight off inflammation. Here are some healthy suggestions you can try.

• Green leafy vegetables — eat more kale, spinach, and collards.
• Fatty fish — they are loaded with omega-3 acid.These items help make your immune system stronger.
• Nuts —according to some studies, walnuts, and almonds help with weight loss plans and in promoting a healthy heart.
• Ginger and turmeric — these some of the more powerful anti-inflammatory spice foods out there. Several studies have shown that using the two liberally in dishes can reduce the risk of various diseases, including cancer.