Garlic. Fried in olive oil, it melts in your mouth like butter. Sliced and raw, it has a sharp and pungent taste. In oil form, it can soothe sore muscles. You can also make tea with garlic. Regardless of how you use it, garlic has a lot of benefits – besides being delicious!
Nutritionist Laura Jeffers, MD, RD, LD, offers six great ways this herb-like vegetable can improve your health.
Is garlic good?
Yes, garlic has many health benefits. “Garlic gets its pungent aroma from an organosulfur compound called allicin,” says Jeffers. “This compound makes garlic a beneficial addition to your diet.”
Increases immunity
Who knew boosting your immune system could be as easy as eating lots of garlic? A study of 41,000 women aged 55-69 found that those who regularly ate garlic, fruits and vegetables had a 35% lower risk of colon cancer.
Anti-inflammatory
Studies have shown that garlic oil has anti-inflammatory properties. If your joints and muscles are sore or inflamed, rub them with garlic oil. The Arthritis Foundation recommends preventing cartilage damage from arthritis.
Improves heart health
Studies have shown that garlic has a positive effect on your arteries and blood pressure.
Researchers believe that red blood cells convert the sulfur in garlic into hydrogen sulfide. It dilates our blood vessels and makes it easier to regulate blood pressure.
However, before stopping your blood pressure medication, check with your doctor to see if adding garlic to your diet would be beneficial for you.
Purifies the skin
Garlic’s antibacterial properties and antioxidants will clear your skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. One study found that rubbing raw garlic on acne can help clear up acne.
However, be aware that garlic can sting your skin. Consult a dermatologist before using this method, especially if you are using other skin care products.
Protect your food
The same antibacterial properties of fresh garlic kill bacteria that cause food poisoning and kill salmonella and E. coli. However, garlic should not be used as a substitute for hygienic food handling.
Heals human feet
Garlic also fights fungus. If you have feet, soak your feet in garlic water or rub them with raw garlic to kill the itchy fungus.
Is garlic better raw or cooked?
Reaping the benefits of garlic can sometimes be a little complicated. For example, studies linking garlic to immune enhancement have found that raw and cooked garlic are more beneficial than supplements.
Heating garlic or adding it to a recipe changes the garlic’s pH balance. Allicin enzymes only take a few minutes to work, so plant them if they are chopped, crushed, or chopped.
“You’ll get the most out of raw garlic,” says Jeffers. “But if you decide to cook, don’t heat it above 140 degrees (above 60 degrees). Higher temperatures destroy allicin, so add garlic to your recipe after cooking.”
Should You Take Daily Garlic Supplements?
It is best to consult your doctor before starting any supplement, especially a daily supplement. This tip is especially true for garlic supplements
In rare cases, garlic preparations can cause allergic reactions such as headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, dizziness, asthma, and skin rashes.
If you are taking blood thinners, garlic supplements may increase the effectiveness of the medication and make blood clotting worse.
A few words of caution
Garlic can also irritate the skin. “If you process a lot of fresh and dried garlic, you can burn your skin,” says Jeffers. “Wear oven gloves to avoid damaging your skin with garlic.”
Despite the many health benefits of garlic, don’t add it to your diet too quickly. Excessive consumption can cause discomfort such as indigestion, bloating, diarrhea, body odor and bad breath. Spend the afternoon mints, please!
