Health Benefits of Garlic. A nature's blessing!
Garlic is used by many cuisines around the world to add flavour to food, but it's also been used as a natural medicinal ingredient for centuries, both in its fresh plant form and as a supplement.
It's not just the taste but also health!
Antioxidants:
Garlic is a great source of antioxidants, which we know play an important role for our health. The evidence is varied, but there is some research supporting garlic's potential benefits. One of those benefits might be beating bad skin. Those antioxidants can kill the bacteria that are sometimes a cause of acne. Next time you have a pimple, try rubbing on a sliced clove of raw garlic.
Healthy Heart:
Studies have shown that garlic can benefit the health of your respiratory and circulatory system in several different ways. It could help with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease and artery hardening. The research on each condition and how garlic can help is varied, but research into what it can do for atherosclerosis and blood pressure is promising. These benefits may come from the production of hydrogen sulfide gas, which is produced when red blood cells take the sulphuric compounds from garlic. The gas can help expand our blood vessels, which can help keep your blood pressure steady.
Boost your Immune System:
Garlic may be able to help you fight off a more modern-day ailment. This herb could help keep those cold-weather colds and flus at bay. The food's antioxidants can help your immune system run well; in addition to simply eating it, you could also try steeping garlic into a tea by steeping chopped garlic in hot water. Add a bit of natural honey to soothe your throat and cut some of the intense garlic taste.
Inflammation:
Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties — one study identified four sulphuric compounds in garlic that helpedcut inflammation. People who suffer from auto-immune diseases might be helped by including garlic in their diets.
Mosquitoe Repellent:
One study from India found that mosquitoes apparently hate garlic — great news for people who are fans of natural bug repellents and not fans of pesky nippers. You can either apply the garlic directly to your skin, or just keep some nearby to try to keep the bugs out of your general vicinity.
Food Poisoning Prevention:
Some research indicates that garlic's anti-bacterial properties might help to prevent food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Staphylococcs, aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis. That said, the addition of garlic to a dish is in no way a substitute for proper sanitation and safe cooking and food handling.
How to Cook Garlic: The best way to enjoy garlic's health benefits is to eat it raw, or close to raw. "A temperature above 140F destroys the allicin, If you wish to add it to a meal, try to add it at the very end of the cooking process after you’ve removed the dish from the source of heat." or you can simply heat little oil in a pan add garlic cloves and pour the same on your favorite Daal. Typically we in India call it "TADKAA"