Not a fan of garlic? You’re missing out. Sure, its strong, pungent scent and flavor can take some getting used to, but the sulfur compounds that give garlic its unpleasant characteristics are also responsible for its many health benefits.

The amazing health benefits of garlic

Here are 14 good reasons to add garlic to your diet:

• Garlic helps treat colds – Garlic can relieve symptoms of the common cold pretty quickly. It can also lower your risk of catching a cold in the first place. A 2014 study showed that people who took a garlic tablet every day for three months had fewer bouts of the cold than people who took a placebo.
• Garlic lowers blood pressure – Garlic helps blood flow more easily through your body. According to a 2014 report, aged garlic extract can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. Health experts recommend eating at least four cloves of garlic per day to enjoy this benefit.
• Garlic lowers cholesterol levels – Raw garlic is rich in a sulfur compound called allicin, which helps lower cholesterol levels and prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol. Oxidized LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
• Garlic can prevent neurodegenerative disease – Garlic contains a powerful antioxidant known as S-allyl cysteine (SAC), which can protect your brain cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. Chronic inflammation can raise your risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
• Garlic aids in detoxification – Eating foods contaminated with heavy metals like lead can damage filtering organs like your kidneys and liver. Luckily, garlic helps rid your body of lead and protects against organ toxicity.
• Garlic helps heal wounds – Natural healers use garlic to treat wounds and prevent them from getting infected. For fast healing, place a poultice made from crushed garlic cloves on your wound. Change it several times a day and continue applying the garlic poultice until your wound visibly improves.
• Garlic helps maintain strong bones – Garlic helps increase the levels of a hormone called estrogen. Menopausal women tend to have low estrogen levels that puts them at risk of osteoarthritis and bone loss.
• Garlic improves digestion – Eating raw garlic cloves every day as part of a healthy diet can help ease digestive problems like diarrhea, colitis and intestinal gas. Garlic can also dispel worms and destroy harmful bacteria lurking in your gut.
• Garlic strengthens the immune system – The phytonutrients in garlic can help boost your immunity and fight oxidative stress, which can damage your cells and trigger premature aging.
• Garlic helps control blood sugar levels – There is some evidence that eating raw garlic cloves may help lower your blood sugar levels. Diabetics can greatly benefit from eating garlic.
• Garlic helps prevent infections – Garlic can prevent the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a rod-shaped bacterium that causes urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney infections. Research indicates that garlic can also inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori and Candida albicans.
• Garlic promotes weight loss – Some animal studies have shown that garlic can stimulate the body to burn more fat. Garlic can also “turn off” the genes involved in the formation of fat cells.
• Garlic can relieve asthma – Boiled garlic cloves are a natural remedy for asthma. To ease your symptoms, drink a glass of milk with three boiled garlic cloves each night before bed.
• Garlic helps treat acne – Garlic’s antibacterial properties can help treat skin conditions like acne. To treat acne, rub a piece of freshly cut garlic on your pimples. If your skin is sensitive, you can coat the garlic first in a mild carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, to minimize garlic’s sting.

Recipe for garlic tea

Garlic is best eaten raw to maximize the health benefits of its sulfur compounds. But another way you can enjoy the benefits of this amazing bulb vegetable is by drinking hot garlic tea. Here’s a recipe you can try:

Ingredients for 3 servings:

• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup raw organic honey

Preparation:

1. Bring the water and garlic to a boil in a saucepan. Turn off the heat and stir in the honey and lemon juice.
2. Strain to remove the garlic cloves. Serve hot or warm.

Garlic is a well-known kitchen staple that boasts some wonderful health benefits. Experience the health benefits of garlic by incorporating it into your favorite dishes or by trying out the garlic tea recipe above.

Sources:

OrganicFacts.net

Food.com