Benefits of eating garlic everyday

Garlic is a plant in the onion family that has been used for centuries for its medicinal and culinary properties. It has a strong smell and a pungent taste that can add flavor and aroma to any dish. But garlic is more than just a tasty ingredient. It also has many health benefits that can improve your well-being and prevent diseases. Here are some of the benefits of eating garlic and how to consume them.

Benefits of eating garlic everyday

• Boosts immunity: Garlic contains compounds with potent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties that can help fight infections and strengthen your immune system. A large study found that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of colds by 63% compared with a placebo. Another study found that eating garlic, fruits, and vegetables regularly lowered the risk of colon cancer by 35%.

• Works as an anti-inflammatory: Garlic also has anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce pain and swelling in joints and muscles. Garlic oil can be applied topically to soothe sore areas or taken orally to reduce inflammation in the body. The Arthritis Foundation recommends garlic to help prevent cartilage damage from arthritis.

• Improves heart health: Garlic can also benefit your heart by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, preventing blood clots, and improving blood flow. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that are converted into hydrogen sulfide gas by red blood cells. This gas relaxes and widens the blood vessels, making it easier for blood to circulate. Garlic also inhibits the enzymes that produce cholesterol in the liver and prevents platelets from sticking together.

• Clears up skin: If you have acne or other skin problems, garlic can help clear them up by killing the bacteria that cause them. Garlic has antioxidants that protect the skin from oxidative damage and aging. You can rub raw garlic on your pimples or make a garlic mask to apply on your face. However, be careful not to irritate your skin with too much garlic or if you have sensitive skin.

• Protects your food: Garlic can also help keep your food safe from harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning, such as Salmonella and E.coli. Garlic’s antibacterial properties can kill these bacteria and prevent them from growing in your food. However, this does not mean you can ignore proper food hygiene and handling practices. You still need to wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces before and after preparing food, cook your food thoroughly, and store it properly.

• Treats athlete’s foot: If you have athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that causes itching, burning, and cracking of the skin between your toes, garlic can help treat it. Garlic’s antifungal properties can kill the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and relieve the symptoms. You can soak your feet in garlic water or rub raw garlic on your affected areas.

How to consume garlic

To get the most out of garlic’s health benefits, you need to consume it in the right way. Here are some tips on how to consume garlic:

• Choose fresh garlic: Fresh garlic has more active ingredients than dried or powdered garlic. Look for garlic bulbs that are firm, plump, and have intact cloves. Avoid garlic that is soft, shriveled, sprouted, or moldy.

• Prepare it properly: To release the sulfur compounds that give garlic its health benefits, you need to chop, crush, or mince it before eating or cooking it. This activates an enzyme called alliinase that converts alliin into allicin, the main active compound in garlic. However, allicin is unstable and quickly breaks down into other compounds when exposed to heat or acid. Therefore, you need to let the chopped or crushed garlic sit for a few minutes before adding it to your food or heating it up.

• Eat it raw or cooked: You can eat raw or cooked garlic depending on your preference and purpose. Raw garlic has more allicin and other sulfur compounds than cooked garlic but also has a stronger smell and taste. Cooked garlic has less allicin but still retains some of its health benefits and has a milder flavor. You can eat raw garlic by adding it to salads, dips, dressings, or sauces. You can cook garlic by roasting it in olive oil, sautéing it with vegetables or meat, or adding it to soups, stews, or casseroles. You can also make garlic tea by steeping chopped garlic in hot water and adding honey or lemon juice for flavor .

• Moderate your intake: While garlic has many health benefits, eating too much of it can also have some side effects. Some people may experience digestive problems, such as gas, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea, from eating too much garlic. Garlic can also thin your blood and interact with some medications, such as blood thinners or anticoagulants. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking garlic supplements or eating large amounts of garlic if you have any medical conditions or are taking any medications. A general recommendation is to eat no more than 4 cloves of garlic per day .

Conclusion

Garlic is a versatile and nutritious food that can boost your health in many ways. It can help you fight infections, reduce inflammation, improve your heart health, clear up your skin, protect your food, and treat athlete’s foot. To get the most out of garlic’s health benefits, you need to choose fresh garlic, prepare it properly, eat it raw or cooked, and moderate your intake. By adding more garlic to your diet, you can enjoy its delicious taste and its amazing benefits.

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