Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion. It is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran and has long been a common seasoning worldwide, with a history of several thousand years of human consumption and use.
Those are famous words from the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the father of Western medicine.
He actually used to prescribe garlic to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Modern science has recently confirmed many of these beneficial health effects.
Garlic Contains Compounds With Potent Medicinal Properties
It is closely related to onions, shallots and leeks. There are about 10–20 cloves in a single bulb, give or take. Other compounds that may play a role in garlic’s health benefits include diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine. The sulfur compounds from garlic enter the body from the digestive tract and travel all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects.
Nutritious But has very few calories
Calorie for calorie, garlic is incredibly nutritious.
One clove (3 grams) of raw garlic contains :
- Manganese: 2% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin B6: 2% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 1% of the DV
- Selenium: 1% of the DV
- Fibre: 0.06 grams
- Decent amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1
This comes with 4.5 calories, 0.2 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs.
The Active compounds in Garlic can Reduce Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes are the world’s biggest killers.
Improves cholesterol levels, Risk of heart disease
For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplements appear to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10–15%. Garlic was one of the earliest “performance-enhancing” substances.
People with heart disease who took garlic oil for 6 weeks had a 12% reduction in peak heart rate and better exercise capacity.
Help Detoxify Heavy Metals in the body
A four-week study on employees of a car battery plant (excessive exposure to lead) found that garlic reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%.
Three doses of garlic each day even outperformed the drug D-penicillamine in reducing symptoms.
his suggests that this supplement may have beneficial effects on bone health in women.
Garlic is very easy (and delicious) to include in your current diet. Garlic comes in several forms, from whole cloves and smooth pastes to powders and supplements like garlic extract and garlic oil.
This a healthy and super satisfying dressing.
Have garlic to boost your immune health
One of the most common ways to consume garlic for health benefits is to have it on an empty stomach in the morning. It contains compounds that help the immune system fight free radicals and disease-causing foreign pathogens. Crushed garlic has allicin, the main active ingredient in garlic that improves your internal defence system.
The best way to have garlic
Take two garlic cloves, peel their skin and crush them using brick and mortar.
Word of caution
Pregnant women, children, people suffering from a bleeding disorder, diabetes, low blood pressure and breastfeeding women should not try this home remedy.
Garlic health benefits
Consuming raw garlic might lead to bad breath and a burning sensation. This common seasoning is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. This compound enters the body from the digestive tract and reaches all over the body, where it exerts its biological effects. A healthy gut speeds up the weight loss process and prevents stomach-related issues like diarrhoea and constipation.
Detoxifies the body
The sulfhydryl compound in it can remove toxic substances from the body and prevent diseases like typhus, diabetes, depression, and some types of cancer.
Make your skin look better
Dry and itchy skin is common in winter. An effective way to prevent skin-related diseases is to have garlic in the morning on an empty stomach. Have garlic every day in the morning for clear and supple skin.
Ccontrolling hypertension
The presence of sulphur-containing compounds like allicin, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl trisulfide, in this bulbous vegetable can help to keep your blood pressure in check.
Science has now confirmed it.