The top 8 health benefits of garlic
The majority of individuals consume garlic but have little knowledge of its health benefits
aside from using it for flavoring delicious dishes.
There
is more to the garlic plant than mare flavoring. This write-up will answer the
question: What are the health benefits of garlic? It will also inform you if
garlic has any side effects.
Garlic
scientifically known as Allium sativum is a species of bulbous flowering plant
in the genus Allium. It is related to onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion and it is native to South Asia, Central Asia as well as northeastern
Iran.
Garlic is used for flavoring food and for traditional medication. Let’s dive straight away into our topic of interest.
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1). Boosts immunity
The
number one health benefit of garlic is that it improves our immune system. It
does this by protecting our system against free radicals and equally hinders
damage to the DNA. All of this is possible thanks to the presence of Zinc in
garlic.
The vitamin c in garlic also aids to ward off infections. It is very beneficial against eye and ear infections as it has antimicrobial properties.
2). Good for Cardiac Health
Research
has it that the consumption of garlic helps in reducing possible heart attacks and
helps to manage cholesterol levels. This is thanks to the presence of an allicin
compound in garlic that helps to hinder the oxidizing of LDL (bad cholesterol).
It
is worth noting that the frequent consumption of garlic decreases the incidence
of blood clots and hence aids prevent thromboembolism.
Research has also proven that red blood cells turn the sulfur in garlic into hydrogen sulfide gas that in return expands our blood vessels, making it easier to regulate blood pressure. Are you suffering from hypertension? Just a clove of garlic a day could be of great help.
3). Improves Brain Functioning
Another interesting health benefit of garlic is that it helps to prevent specific cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. This is possible due to the presence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that garlic possesses thus, promoting brain health.
4). Improves Digestion
The inclusion of garlic in your diet may help remedy any digestive problem. The presence
of anti-inflammatory properties in garlic makes this possible. Also, have it in
mind that the consumption of raw garlic may help eradicate intestinal worms.
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5). Garlic helps to balance blood sugar
Those who suffer from diabetes observe their blood sugar levels regulating the consumption of raw garlic.
6). Improves Skin Health
Added
to the aforementioned health benefits of garlic is garlic is good for your
skin. Garlic has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help hamper
acne as well as lighten acne scars. Isn’t it interesting to know that cold
sores, rashes, blisters, and psoriasis can be treated only by applying garlic
juice?
As
quoted by Dr. Petersen "Garlic’s antibacterial and antifungal properties
can help acne, and its general anti-inflammatory benefits help improve overall
circulation, including bringing nutrients to your skin in a more efficient
manner."
He went ahead to say "Garlic is Mother Nature’s antibiotic and contains immune-boosting properties due to its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic aspects, all courtesy of the compound allicin that garlic is so rich in." He adds that allicin is also anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants, which is good for the skin.
7). Prevents Cancer and Peptic Ulcer
Furthermore, garlic protects the body against lung, prostate, bladder, stomach, liver, and colon cancer due to the presence of a high amount of antioxidants. It equally hampers peptic ulcers as it eliminates the contagion from the gut.
8).Garlic Can Improve Athletic Performance
Finally
yet importantly on the list of the top 8 health benefits of garlic is that
garlic can improve athletic performance. Did you know that back in the days
garlic was used to mitigate weariness and improve laborers’ working hours and
endurance? Well, now you know it isn’t something new again.
An instance to support this claim is the fact that Greek Olympic athletes were fed with garlic to boost their athletic performance.
Does garlic have side effects?
Yes, garlic has some side effects. The consumption of garlic especially when raw has some side effects.
a). Eating garlic can cause mild to moderate physical symptoms
As stated by Dr. Petersen there are some side effects to consider. Some individuals may experience heartburn, burning in the mouth, gas, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
b). Consuming raw garlic can cause burning or irritation
Have you ever tried eating raw garlic? It isn’t as easy and simple as it may sound. For me, it takes courage hahaha… For beginners, it can be super intense and even cause a burning sensation once you start chewing it. Another vital side effect includes gastrointestinal burning or irritation.
c).Garlic can have an effect on your body's scent
Another
side effect worth noting is garlic may have an effect on your body’s scent as
well as bad breath. This is because garlic has a powerful pungent scent.
Are
you scared already? Don’t be. The scent
is only possible when one consumes more than three or four cloves of raw garlic per
day.
Concluding Remark
“Food
is health and health is food” A clove of garlic a day
or flavoring a good number of yummy delicacies with it, is a milestone in safeguarding your health.
From
our discussion, we learned of some of the health benefits of garlic like;
garlic improves immunity, improves cardiovascular health, improves cognitive
health by protecting the brain against cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and
dementia, and boosts athletic performance
among others as discussed above.
For freshers, how did it feel chewing a clove of raw garlic? Have you equally experienced any of the above-mentioned side effects or anything different that is not on the list? Let us know in the comment section.
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