Garlic is a miracle herb that has been widely used since time immemorial due to medicinal value. Since ancient times, garlic has been used to treat or prevent conditions and diseases. In the modern day, it is mainly used as a spice. It is well known for its pungent smell which is as a result of the sulphur compounds it contains.
Allicin is one of the vital and active compounds of garlic. It is the compound that contains antioxidants, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Allicin benefits can be efficiently harvested when the herb is finely chopped, pureed or minced. Here are the top 10 health benefits of adding garlic to your food.
- Treats skin infections
Do you have skin infections like eczema? Garlic could offer you a lasting remedy if you add it to your food as you cook. It contains ajoene chemicals which are very effective at treating fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.
- Lowers blood pressure
According to a study conducted in the year 2005, garlic has the great ability to reduce high blood pressure in the human body. The human body has a protein by the name Angiotensin II. It facilitates the contraction of blood vessels, increasing the pressure of blood. This is where the active ingredient in garlic, Allicin, comes in to inhibit the activity of the Angiotensin II protein. As a result, it checks the blood pressure and restores it back to normal.
- Attacks allergies
Garlic is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore it can easily fight allergens, keeping you allergy free. Raw garlic juice can be used to stop itching that comes from bug bites and rashes instantly.
- Toothaches
Garlic comes with analgesic and anti-bacterial properties which help you relieve toothache. Placing crushed garlic cloves on the affected tooth can relieve the pain. Nonetheless, that might irritate the gum.
- Treats Yeast infections
Do you frequently suffer from vaginal yeast infections? Garlic will help you to minimize the occurrence because it features anti-fungal properties. Therefore, it can naturally inhibit fungi growth, especially in women experiencing poor blood glucose control.
- Reduces chances of suffering from neurodegenerative disorders
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are some of the neuro-degenerative disorders which are greatly connected to the chronic brain inflammation. This inflammation leads to the accumulation of particular proteins which attack neurons and damage them. Victims experience mental decline and accelerated ageing. Adding garlic to your food while cooking maximizes the anti-oxidant levels in the body. This helps to buffer the free radicals’ activity, reducing inflammation. Coupling this with cholesterol and blood pressure reductions, garlic gives the body fair support to fight neurodegenerative conditions.
- Minimizes LDL cholesterol levels
Garlic is well known for its ability in reducing cholesterol effects. As a matter of fact, this is one of the popular roles it plays in the human body. It reduces serum LDL with 10-15 per cent. Globally, numerous people ingest garlic cloves for this purpose which it successfully executes. It’s important to note that consumption of garlic does not have an effect on triglyceride or HDL levels.
- Detoxification
By now you might be aware that heavy metals are extremely toxic. They embed themselves in deep organ tissues and fat layers. As a result, they cause major problems including organ failure and triggering cancer. Garlic features the capacity to chelate the heavy metals and facilitate their excretion from the body. In case you consume lots of seafood and fish or your work exposes you to the heavy metal risk, garlic should sort you out.
- Blot clot prevention
Excessive blood clotting exposes a person to the risk of suffering from strokes and heart attacks. These conditions attack you without your knowledge, as one second you could be fine but the next second, you are fighting for your life. When you add garlic to your food, it reduces the chances of a thromboembolic event, keeping you from a fatal health condition that results from blood clots.
- Treats coughs and cold
According to research published in the year 2014 in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews garlic is highly effective in healing coughs and colds. Additionally, when taken regularly in food, garlic protects you from flu and other respiratory conditions.
These are just some of the major and few health benefits of consuming garlic. It is an invaluable herb that boosts your health in numerous ways. The nutritional profile of this spice is very solid, making it a necessity in your kitchen. You may not take garlic in large portions all at once, but it will serve you a lot of health benefits adding it to your food as you cook.
Wondering how else you can make healthy meals? Here are 10 heart friendly meals to add to your diet
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