Garlic is a popular herb; we use it in a lot of things ranging from pizza toppings to bread. On the healthier side, it’s used as medicine. It is native to Central Asia and Iran and has been used for more than a thousand years. Ancient Egyptians used it for traditional medicine and China produces about ¾ of the world’s garlic supply.
It’s valuable for its flavor in seasonings or condiments. The cloves taken from the plant’s bulb are used either for consumption or medicine. When cooked, they give food a sweet or pungent aroma.
But did you know that:
- It can help protect your heart?
- That it can be a good idea when going for a low-calorie diet?
- That it also can help you fight diseases much better?
Wondering what else it can bring to the healthy table? Let’s find out.
Garlic Can Improve Your Heart Health
It helps you out by lowering your blood pressure. Having high blood pressure exposes you to the risk of cardiovascular diseases by overstretching the artery walls. It can also help out in the alleviation of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, and hypertension.
Though there are still many studies to be done on how garlic can help you out in other heart-related areas, it is best to take it in a combination of other foods; in other words, include it in your diet!
It has Antioxidants to Combat Oxidative Damage
Antioxidants combat oxidative damage or stress. This oxidative damage contributes to aging which may play a role in developing problematic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. To counter oxidative stress, our body produces its own antioxidants.
Garlic can assist in providing antioxidants to your body. It can also reduce oxidative stress in those with high blood pressure.
Garlic is Low-Calorie and Highly Nutritional
It has manganese and vitamins B6 and C, and Selenium.
- Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is important in the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein. It also takes part in the formation of red blood cells.
- Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, can help in healing wounds and containing infections. It’s used in making collagen that weaves connective tissue throughout the different systems of the body.
- Selenium has antioxidant properties that can protect our cells from damage.
- Manganese, like Selenium, also has antioxidant properties. This mineral can be used in improving your bone health and in blood sugar regulation.
Immunity-Boosting Properties
The mineral manganese in garlic helps prevent and lessen the damage done by strenuous activities and the aging process to our cells. In addition to this, it helps in energy production and immune response, making sure that your body responds much better in the face of diseases or harmful microorganisms that gets into your body.
Another immunity-boosting compound in garlic is allicin which, when crushed and chewed to be converted to other sulfur-containing compounds, can help you fight diseases by boosting the fighting response of your white blood cells.
Lastly, Garlic Can Boost Taste With its Flavor
As mentioned above, garlic has a lot of uses from pizza toppings to sauces. Garlic can be cooked or used in its powdered form. The texture is altered when cooked, giving it a creamier and softer flavor.
It finds its way into popular dishes, such as garlic bread, Agliata, garlic butter, garlic soup, and even garlic pizza. It has a strong pungent flavor, making it easy and safe to add to different dishes. It’s even a good dressing for salads and can be combined with pesto.
As you can see, it has benefits that can aid you in keeping a healthy lifestyle. It’s something that you can easily add to your diet since it’s low-calorie and high in nutrition. If you’re feeling sick, it’s something you can take, too!
Thanks for reading! If you’re interested in looking for some garlic-related products, there are some you can get on this site. Check out this 250ml of Garlic Olive Oil for an upgrade to your cooking needs. If you’re looking for some snack or bruschetta, you can check out these Garlic Bread Sticks and Pantosto Garlic and Parsley
