Surprising Health Benefits of Garlic
Intensely aromatic and flavorful,
garlic is used in virtually every cuisine in the world. When eaten raw,
it has a powerful, pungent flavor to match the truly mighty garlic
benefits. Garlic is particularly high in certain sulfur compounds that
are believed to be responsible for its scent and taste, as well as its
very positive effects on human health.
Eating garlic regularly is not only good for us; it has been
linked to reducing or even helping to prevent four of the major
causes of death worldwide, including
heart disease, stroke, cancer and infections. The National Cancer
Institute does not recommend any dietary supplement for cancer prevention,
but it does recognize garlic as one of several vegetables with potential
anticancer properties.Other than the most extreme, rare situations, I
believe every person on the planet should consume garlic. It’s extremely
cost-effective, super easy to grow and tastes absolutely fantastic.
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Garlic not only makes food delicious, it may also have a
number of health benefits. Some of these benefits are more likely if you eat
your garlic raw, since cooking it may reduce the amounts of certain chemicals
garlic contains. Before adding large amounts of garlic to your diet or taking
garlic supplements, speak with your doctor as garlic can interact with certain
medications and isn't safe for everyone in amounts greater than those used in
cooking.
So Here are here are the 10 best ways to use them:
The Blood Purifier:
Tired of covering up those zits with concealer every morning? It's time to tackle the root cause of acne by purifying your blood from inside to get healthy skin on the outside. Take two cloves of raw garlic with some warm water everyday, early in the morning and consume a lot of water the entire day. If you're looking to shed some pounds, squeeze the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and have it with 2 cloves of garlic in the mornings. Garlic will help to cleanse your system and flush out toxins.
It May Lower the Cancer Risk:
People who consume raw garlic at least twice a week experience low rates of lung cancer than those who consume garlic less often,according to a 7 years study published in"Cancer Prevention Research" in July 2013.
Garlic may also be beneficial for preventing or treating colon and pancreatic
cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center -- although
research is still preliminary
Garlic may lower Risk of Heart Diseases:
Consuming garlic on a daily basis (in food or raw) helps to lower cholesterol levels because of the antioxidant properties of Allicin. It is also immensely beneficial to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It is essential to remember that the sulphur-containing compound Allicin tends to lose its medicinal properties when garlic is cooked whole. It is imperative to consume garlic raw or semi-cooked to derive any of its benefits.
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Garlic May help Alzheimer's Diseases and Dementia:
Oxidative damage from free
radicals contributes to the aging process.Garlic
contains antioxidants that support the body's protective mechanisms against
oxidative damage/High
doses of garlic supplements have been shown to increase antioxidant enzymes in humans,
as well as significantly reduce oxidative stress in those with high blood
pressure.The
combined effects on reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as the
antioxidant properties, may help prevent common brain diseases like Alzheimer's
disease and dementia
An Anti-inflammatory Effect:
If you suffer from an inflammatory condition, it may help to
consume raw garlic. A study published in "Food and Chemical
Toxicology" in August 2013 found that garlic had an anti-inflammatory
effect, with raw garlic exhibiting a stronger effect than garlic that had been
heated. The levels of a compound called allicin were greater in the raw garlic,
which is most likely the reason for its greater benefits.
Effective in Cold & Flu
Garlic is going to provide you relief from that stubborn cold and flu (yes, they absolutely love you and never want to leave). Taking 2-3 cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day or sipping some garlic tea (with a touch of honey or ginger to lift up the taste) is not only going to relieve a stuffy nose and cure the cold but also build your immunity against these frequent visitors over time.founder of Nutrihealth says," One of the earliest uses of garlic was by meat-eaters because it was believed that meat could cause infection which garlic could fight off from the body. More commonly used by labourers who are exposed to infections and disease-friendly environments till recently, its plethora of health benefits has made white-collar workers also take to
, "Garlic can be added to hot stews, broths and soups to fight sinusitis, cold and flu. And garlic is best had in its raw state."
Garlic Can Reduce Blood Pressure:
Human studies have found garlic
supplementation to have a significant impact on reducing blood pressure in
people with high blood pressure.In one study, aged garlic extract at doses of
600-1,500 mg was just as effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood
pressure over a 24 week period.Supplement doses must be fairly high to have these
desired effects. The amount of allicin needed is equivalent to about four
cloves of garlic per day.
Garlic for Diabetes or Insulin:
A decrease in insulin sensitivity increases your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Consuming raw garlic may help improve your insulin sensitivity, thus lowering your risk for diabetes, according to a preliminary study published in "Nutrition & Metabolism" in 2011. However, this study used rats, so further research is necessary to see if the same benefit exists in humans.
For Skin and Hair:
The invigorating properties of garlic protect the skin from the effect of free radicals and slow down the depletion of collagen which leads to loss of elasticity in aging skin. Applied topically, garlic does wonders to skin infected with fungal infections and provides relief from skin ailments like eczema. It is also an effective remedy for fungal infections like athlete's foot and ringworms.
Garlic May Improve Bone Health:
No human trials have measured
the effects of garlic on bone loss.However,
rodent studies have shown that it can minimize bone loss by increasing estrogen
in females.One
study in menopausal women found
that a daily dose of dry garlic extract (equal to 2 grams of raw garlic)
significantly decreased a marker of estrogen deficiency .This
suggests that this garlic may have beneficial effects on bone health in women.Foods like garlic and onions have also been shown to
have beneficial effects on osteoarthritis All of us know about the wonders of onion for hair but its brother, garlic is no less of a hero for your thinning mane. Well, its surprise time. Rubbing crushed garlic extract on your scalp or massaging with garlic-infused oil is known to prevent and even reverse hair loss.
The Best way of Using Garlic:
Garlic is best used raw for
microbial properties, although cooked garlic still has a lot of value. In
fact, the antioxidant value is equal (or sometimes even higher) when cooked,
which is counterintuitive because for most foods, cooking tends to decrease
nutritional content.You can add raw garlic to recipes that are sautéed, roasted or baked. You can also toss some raw garlic into your next homemade salad dressing, marinade, tomato sauce, soup or stew to get all these wonderful garlic benefits. Adding raw garlic to any vegetable, fish or meat is sure to intensify the flavor and health benefits.
Whether you’re ultimately using garlic raw or cooked, you
can up the garlic benefits by chopping or crushing it and letting it sit before
eating it or heating it for a recipe. The chopping activates alliinase
enzymes in the garlic’s cells, and the sitting allows these enzymes to
convert some of the garlic’s allin into allicin. Allicin then rapidly breaks
down to form a variety of organosulfur compounds. Scientists suggest allowing
garlic to stand for 10 minutes after chopping or crushing before cooking it.
Another way to use garlic is for infections. Using garlic oil is an excellent ear infection home
remedy that
can really work.
Traditional cultures that don’t typically struggle with these types of diseases receive regular intake of garlic in their diets and don’t require medical interventions because heart disease, cancer and inflammatory-based illnesses are easily preventable when eating the right foods.
For general health promotion for adults, the World Health Organization recommends a daily dose of two to five grams (about one clove) of fresh garlic, 0.4 to 1.2 grams of dried garlic powder, two to five milligrams of garlic oil, 300 to 1,000 milligrams of garlic extract, or other formulations that are equal to two to five milligrams of allicin.
Garlic is best stored at room temperature and should always be kept dry to prevent it from sprouting
Traditional cultures that don’t typically struggle with these types of diseases receive regular intake of garlic in their diets and don’t require medical interventions because heart disease, cancer and inflammatory-based illnesses are easily preventable when eating the right foods.
For general health promotion for adults, the World Health Organization recommends a daily dose of two to five grams (about one clove) of fresh garlic, 0.4 to 1.2 grams of dried garlic powder, two to five milligrams of garlic oil, 300 to 1,000 milligrams of garlic extract, or other formulations that are equal to two to five milligrams of allicin.
Garlic is best stored at room temperature and should always be kept dry to prevent it from sprouting
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