Garlic is one of the most valued and time honored cures. Not only can it ward off vampires, but it can also boost your health. For years, people have been relying on garlic for its alleged health benefits. It is known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, protect people against diseases, fight bacterial infections, and act as a natural antibiotic. However, evidence was often poor, and reliable trials are required to robustly inform health policy. The results of research are hoping to change that.
In this text, we will discuss 10 health benefits of garlic. However, it is important to remember that this list is not a replacement for professional medical diagnosis or guidance. Always consult a healthcare professional about any medical issues. And keep in mind that too much garlic leads to body odor.
Historical Significance of Garlic
In Chinese and Indian traditional medicines, garlic has for centuries been a popular medicinal plant used to address various medical issues. In ancient Egypt, it was used for the preservation of health and the embalming of mummies, while in modern times, wet garlic and crushed garlic are widely utilized in natural medicinal solutions. Allium sativum is actually the scientific name for garlic, an onion that belongs to the Alliaceae family, a strong-smelling species or genus. The name “garlic” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “garleac,” which means “spear-like” or “spear plant.” In some countries, garlic is called “stinking rose.” As garlic is a popular herb, modern scientific or medical research has paid a great deal of attention to this widely consumed edible cooking plant. There have been a number of independent experiments carried out around the world. These investigations verified the majority of the health benefits of garlic derived from traditional uses handed down through many generations. The sulfur-containing compound methyl allyl thiol, present in garlic, is one of the active components responsible for many of the health benefits of garlic. The word “garlic” may mean “all heal” or “cure-all.” So it is no wonder that this herb, with a long history of therapeutic use, has already achieved a global reputation, especially for its antibacterial and antimicrobial effects.
Nutritional Composition of Garlic
To note, the watery and nutrient content of garlic varies with the species used and the variety’s length. Garlic is well known as a good source of a variety of nutrients, particularly vitamins B6 and C, manganese, and selenium. The main substances responsible for the health benefits of garlic can be named, including all the basic agents for allicin, allicetin, thiosulfate, sulfur, and diallyl disulfide. As a sulfur-containing compound, alliin is present in the majority of the garlic cloves, and it is one of the main sources of the reported health benefits.
S-allyl-L-cysteine efficiently blocks the transition of AUG-1 into AOUT-1. It also makes garlic distinct from most herbs. Pyruvate, a large sulfur compound, is also present in garlic. In addition, sulfur plays a vital role in preserving red blood cells, maintaining the skin’s homogeneity and elasticity, and helping develop bones and protein synthesis as a component of many enzymes. Due to its interaction with hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides, these effects can help avoid fatal harm or catastrophic injury. It is not clear, however, how or how well this function is performed. Both the metabolism and action of the sulfuric compounds are active. Garlic also successfully reduces oxidative stress through catalysis. However, allicin is involved in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic, which are associated with many of the phytogenic and manmade health benefits. All in all, in supplementary form, persons consuming allicin regularly may benefit from the usual organosulfur compounds found in the naturally occurring garlic plant, provided that they eat well.
Antimicrobial Properties
The antimicrobial properties of garlic come from a compound called allicin. When garlic is chopped or crushed, alliin, an enzyme called alliinase, and the sulfur compound allithiamine come together to create this powerful combination. Allicin has the proven ability to slow and combat the growth of multiple strains of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, and Staphylococcus aureus. It can also inhibit Candida albicans, a yeast infection. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that allicin can kill Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, does not contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant species, and has the ability to inhibit the consumption of Staphylococcus aureus by Alternaria toxins. It will also destroy Nematospora, as well as contracting and destroying tonsillopharyngitis.
In conclusion, it has been confirmed that garlic has a wide spectrum antimicrobial effect and is widely known for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral action. Particularly, it can be useful in surgical infections, obstetric and gynecological infectious diseases, neonatal infections, infectious diseases that may cause child death, elderly infectious diseases, respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases, as well as infections caused by resistant bacteria that cause economic losses in the areas of food and water contamination.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. It is the number one cause of death for both men and women. Garlic may help reduce your risk of heart disease in several ways. First, it has anti-inflammatory effects; second, it helps relax blood vessels to help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke; third, it reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels; and last, it fights free radicals in the bloodstream.
Garlic’s strongest role is in the area of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries are hardened by the accumulation of fatty substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Garlic inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end products, which are closely related to the onset of atherosclerosis along with the increased inflammatory responses in the body. Garlic can also activate the enzyme that can work to break down the extracellular matrix, causing cells to malfunction. In many cases, eliminated autologous cells or muscle cells are replaced by fibroblasts that can further cause thickening of the walls of blood vessels with scar tissue and an increased immune system response led by white blood cells to clean up the mess and compromised structural integrity of the heart.
Immune-Boosting Effects
Garlic is definitely a powerful herb that has a long list of health benefits. That will not come as a surprise, and that is why it is so often recommended. Not only does it bring flavor into a dish, but it can also improve the health of any dish. What is great about garlic is that it does more than just alter the flavor of a dish; it also does much more. You are about to learn how to safely eat garlic and that doing so is beneficial for your health. The secret is out. This humble little cooking herb is capable of transforming your health completely.
The immune-boosting effects of garlic are something you need to know about. You need to take the steps to get the immune-boosting effects because your health is largely dependent on the strength of your immune system. It is one of the first lines of defense against viruses and other invaders that could make you sick, and if it is weakened, so is the rest of your being. That is why ensuring your immune system is strong is so important. You can easily do that with the help of garlic. The health benefits of garlic to your immune system are well known, and you need to know about them as well.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The potential of garlic in reducing inflammatory markers and its related symptoms should not be overlooked. It can be of good help in osteoarthritis and associated situations like increased blood triglycerides. The organosulfur compounds in garlic have been found to significantly reduce some important inflammatory markers in the body, with these markers being related to the progress of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammation-triggered skeletal diseases. The main use of garlic in reducing inflammatory diseases is also related to its wide range of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The reduction of ROS, prostaglandins, and differences in inflammatory markers could improve insulin resistance, being of great help to patients that are limited in physical function caused by knee osteoarthritis. It could also be used as a key superfood in treating symptoms in chronic diseases, particularly how IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα affect this symptom in patients with cardiovascular disease or kidney failure. Garlic helps to reduce prostaglandins; this action is useful in proper dosage in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Antioxidant Benefits
This remarkable food contains some 30 compounds helpful to the body. It can easily be eaten raw, though in conjunction with other root vegetables and leafy greens, it can leave a bit to be desired. Antioxidants are the body’s warrior chemicals, roaming through the body, reigning in and destroying the renegade free radicals and toxic invaders that act like mini Pac-Man, chewing up the insides of the body. This herb contains, at the very least, compounds able to fight off disease and cancer called polyphenols that lend a helping hand in the fight against cancer. Eye health and a dramatically reduced chance of age-related eye maladies are decidedly important. Recent research suggests that eating foods chock-full of antioxidants, specifically the compound quercetin found in garlic, which is particularly good at defending eyes from the damage that time and age can bring about. Even better news is what is happening at the center of your eye. Quercetin easily picks up and ushers out the free radicals that spend their worthless time attacking and damaging the assimilation of nutrients and other damages taking place in the retina at the eye’s center.
Digestive Health
Most people would never think of passing on garlic passed over their dinner plate, not only because it enhances the flavor of everything it touches, but also for its many health benefits. Just like tomatoes and cucumbers, consuming garlic regularly can have many helpful benefits for our digestive systems. Although a low concentration of garlic can promote good bacteria in the stomach, a high concentration of garlic has the opposite effect and can encourage an overgrowth of bad bacteria, which can ultimately lead to food poisoning. For those looking to keep their digestive tract healthy, they should also consider this amazing health benefit. If you are considering taking garlic as a supplement, we recommend only taking the real, fresh thing. Taking raw garlic in the form of a supplement, the consumer is more likely to experience true effects from the product. Fresh garlic can help cut through bad bacteria and can help tame stomach inflammation and other forms of irritation. The same beneficial nutrients that keep our digestive tract healthy are the very same nutrients that provide the many other health benefits of garlic that we have discussed. Minerals and vitamins such as B9 and B6 are essential in maintaining a healthy stomach and in being used by the body to convert amino acids into proteins, while zinc is crucial to the production of stomach acids. Compounds such as allicin and diallyl trisulfide act as natural anti-inflammatories that can help the body heal from a poor diet or other unhealthy habits. The powerful benefits of fresh garlic can help mend the stomach and digestive system quickly and promote a strong, healthy body.
Potential Anti-Cancer Effects
Antioxidants are compounds that help the body fight off free radicals. Free radicals are reactive molecules with unpaired electrons that can damage tissues. Chronic inflammation can also lead to free radicals, making chronic inflammatory health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, even worse. Different types of sulfur compounds have been shown to have both protective and potential anti-cancer effects. The colorectal tumors of people taking aged garlic extract are smaller, and it contains a higher number of cells that have undergone a type of programmed cell death called apoptosis. However, not all studies have been as promising, and the specific active compounds may still need to be isolated. It’s too soon to recommend consuming large amounts of garlic, particularly for reasons including cancer, but be sure to include it in what you eat, as a part of a balanced and varied diet.
Incorporating Garlic Into Your Diet
There are so many different ways to prepare garlic that you can use up a large amount quickly. Add it to sauces, marinades, dressings, soups, and spreads. You can make roasted garlic ahead of time and add that to your dishes too. Sautéed, grilled, or roasted with your meat and vegetables adds a softness and sweetness to the garlic and your recipe. Next time you are cooking, you can use the principles of garlicky flavor. If you have a food processor, take peeled cloves and pulse them in it to mince them for your dishes. Stir them quickly into your dish at the end of cooking to give them a more bitter flavor. You can make garlic butter and add that to your vegetables, broil, and bake them. Add a head of garlic to a roast chicken or turkey. They will flavor the juices, and your meal will be rich with deliciousness. Garlic soup is a part of many kitchens as well. However you add garlic to your meals, just enjoy it often. The best garlic to consume is fresh, raw, and organic.
We hope that we have inspired you to add garlic to more of your dishes. It truly is a fantastic addition to your meals. It is easy to freeze and refrigerate. It is widely available. Adding garlic to your dishes will benefit your body and your taste buds. In future posts, we hope to delve more into the beneficial health aspects. Now it is up to you. Let your creativity soar and enhance your meals with glorious garlic.
In conclusion, garlic remains one of the world’s strongest therapeutic treasures. While it may one day become a global panacea and have ranks of pharmaceutical companies vying for its extract, it is safe to use, and making fresh garlic the first line of defense for minor medical problems is much less expensive than over-the-counter alternatives. Its use as a natural antibiotic has a long and venerable record.
In no way is garlic a replacement for the attention and intervention of medical professionals. In combination with conventional healthcare, it has contributed to and can contribute to some of humanity’s greatest health achievements in dealing with what are often simple, everyday infections. Garlic can deliver the big one-two to the common cold infection.
