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BLACK GARLIC VS. WHITE GARLIC: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLACK GARLIC


Black garlic is a type of aged garlic which is produced by heating whole bulbs of garlic over the course of weeks or months under strictly controlled heat and humidity conditions.

Black garlic has been in the spotlight for its health benefits and flavor composition and it is now a highly sought-after ingredient used in high-end cuisine in both savoury and sweet dishes. There are also several types of black garlic supplements available in the market.


How It is Made


Black garlic begins as regular fresh white garlic. It is then subjected to a high temperature  (60–90°C) and high humidity (80-90%) to achieve a sticky and soft consistency. The process makes garlic age faster, resulting in its dark colour.

Unlike white garlic, black garlic has a very subtle and delicate flavour due to the breakdown of the enzyme allicin during the aging process.


Black Garlic Benefits 


While the appearance of black garlic may be intimidating at first sight, it is packed with a wide array of health benefits. For a start, black garlic has 39 times the amount of antioxidants found in white garlic.

Antioxidants prevent or slow down the damage to cells caused by free radicals which the body produces. The body produces some antioxidants too, but this amount is often insufficient for the body’s needs. Hence, we will need to take in antioxidants via our daily diet. 

Studies have also shown that black garlic is beneficial for brain health – it can improve memory and slow cognitive decline. This can help prevent cognitive conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease which are often age-related diseases.

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Black garlic contains properties that may fight against cancer. Studies have shown that consumption of black garlic extract could inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells and leukemia cells.

Just like regular white garlic well known for lowering total and lower-density-lipid (LDL) cholesterol, black garlic can also achieve similar medicinal benefit and reduce overall risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Research has also shown that aged garlic is effective in controlling blood sugar levels and prevent diabetic complications. The powerful antioxidants in black garlic can reduce oxidative stress resulting from increased blood glucose levels.

You may have heard that eating garlic regularly may help prevent the common cold or flu and garlic can also reduce the severity of your cold or flu symptoms. Black garlic may also boost the immune system by stimulating the white blood cells whenever there is an infection.

There are no known major black garlic side effects, which is considered safe to use as a food ingredient. However, it is not generally recommended for infants. So, how should we eat black garlic?


Black Garlic Recipes


Knowing the benefits of black garlic, the question is now on how to make black garlic dishes which we can enjoy. There are so many ways to include black garlic in your diet! It can simply be used to replace garlic in any food preparation to intensify the flavours.

For appetizers, the subtly sweet tang of black garlic goes well with robust cheeses, you may include a few bulbs on a cheeseboard for your next party. You can also mix some black garlic with ground meat to make burger patties. Otherwise, you may also spread it directly on the bun or on top of the burger to replace butter, mayonnaise or other spreads.

For salad toppings, you can slice black garlic thinly and use to top salads. For salad dressings, you may blend some cloves with olive oil for an alternative healthy relish.

For an asian twist, you may also partially replace the regular white garlic found in Ba Kut Teh with some black garlic cloves.

For storage of black garlic, they are best kept in a dry and cool area and black garlic can be typically stored for up to three months after the packaging is removed.

Black garlic is a type of aged garlic which is produced by heating whole bulbs of garlic over the course of weeks or months under strictly controlled heat and humidity conditions. Black garlic has been in the spotlight for its health benefits and flavor composition and it is now a highly sought-after ingredient used in high-end cuisine in both savoury and sweet dishes. There are also several types of black garlic supplements available in the market.

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Other Uses of Black Garlic


The skin of the black garlic, when mixed in water, can also be used for a foot soak to improve blood circulation and for its antibacterial properties. 

Where can we buy black garlic in Singapore? Fresh black garlic can be found in most major supermarkets and gourmet food specialty shops in Singapore. There are also many supplements made from black garlic such as black garlic essence and black garlic capsules which have proven to be very popular in recent years.

It is recommended to eat 1-2 cloves of black garlic once or twice a day for normal maintenance of health. For black garlic supplements, you may follow the dosage information as stated on the product packaging.


Alternative supplements to black garlic?


Some may be allergic to black garlic or cannot take the taste of black garlic. So if you are looking for alternatives to black garlic, you can consider activated ginkgo tablets to maintain heart health全连增耐力 to help strengthen various aspects of men’s health. 

All Link Activated Ginkgo Tablets contain a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba. It supports both our brain health and heart health. It is helpful for preventing brain disorders is because it supports healthy circulation to the brain.

In addition, Ginkgo is also beneficial for reducing blood viscosity, protecting the arterial walls and maintaining healthy blood vessels. For men,  you can consider AL Men’s Boost+ for further supplementing of your well-being. The unique blend of ingredients in Men’s Boost+ are known to provide antioxidant benefits and support men’s reproductive and prostate health. 

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Made with Gingko Biloba Leaf extract, this supplement helps to protect both your brain and heart by promoting healthy blood circulation to all parts of your body!

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