Garlic Benefits – More than Just Great Taste and Flavor

Most kitchens across the world use garlic for the mouthwatering aroma and special flavor it lends to the simplest of dishes. The humble bulb has been an essential part of various cuisines in dips, sauces, meat and vegetable dishes, pastas, pizza toppings, curries, gravies, and others. The ancients were well aware of garlic benefits and understood its potency as an antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. Excavators studying Egyptian tombs were surprised to see the presence of garlic bulbs in them. This fact indicates that people in olden times were well aware of the goodness of the spice.

Garlic Benefits for Health and Wellness

Lowers Blood Pressure

If you were to consume 600 to 1,500 mg of garlic extract each day, you would get the same benefits as the Atenolol drug. This medication is highly effective in controlling hypertension and thus, garlic protects your heart from heart attacks and strokes. In addition, garlic can help lower bad LDL cholesterol while leaving the good HDL cholesterol intact. However, to get the benefits of the heart-healthy Allicin compound contained in garlic, you must consume it raw or partially cooked. Make sure to add about 4 cloves to your daily diet and reap its many benefits.

Prevents Degeneration of the Brain with Aging

Garlic contains powerful antioxidants that prevent the oxidative process in the brain cells which typically occurs with aging. By preventing the free radicals from causing damage, garlic can protect your brain from degenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Works as a Detoxifying Agent

The sulfur compounds present in garlic can help your body shed the buildup of heavy metals in your body. Not only can it prevent damage to your organs, but it can also ease the symptoms caused by the presence of heavy metals in the blood.

Gives You Beautiful Skin and Hair

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, garlic benefits extend to your skin and hair. By fighting free radicals in the skin, it prevents the erosion of collagen and elastin that causes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to consuming the spice in your food, you can also try topical applications for relief from conditions like eczema, fungal infections, ringworms, athlete’s foot, and acne, the bane of teenagers. Applying crushed garlic extract or garlic oil can prevent hair loss and promote the growth of new hair.

Prevents Colds and the Flu

A regular intake of garlic can boost your immune system and help you fight illnesses like colds and the flu. In addition to preventing ailments, garlic can reduce the length of the infection and assist in recovery. Eat a bowl of hot soup with 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, and you can get quick relief from blocked sinuses.

Enhances Digestion

Garlic benefits digestion when you eat it after a heavy meal. That’s because the spice combines with enzymes in the digestive tract to break down the food more easily. If you were to consume a few raw cloves, the iron, vitamin C, and selenium content help destroy intestinal parasites like tapeworms. You can also use garlic for weight loss. Add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of water and drink it with 2 raw garlic cloves.

Additional Garlic Benefits

Aside from these garlic benefits, a regular intake can help you with various other health issues. For instance, you get protection from cancers particularly colorectal cancer. And, because it boosts your immune system against infections, the spice might just help you live longer. Although modern-day studies have not proved this for a fact, garlic may improve stamina and improve athletic prowess. Consuming raw garlic cloves is also a recommended remedy for knee pain and arthritis.

Health benefits aside, go ahead and add garlic to your food and enjoy its delicious aroma and taste.