Nature always places in our hands the tools with which we can defend ourselves from many diseases. On this occasion, garlic is the protagonist of human health.
So small, but with potent medicinal properties, and also standing out in gastronomy and the preparation of home remedies for the benefit of human health.
Next, in the following article, we present the amazing health benefits of garlic to enjoy its therapeutic benefits.
What Is Garlic?
Garlic or Allium sativum is a bulbous, lively, and rustic plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family, subfam. The color of the layer that surrounds the garlic is its differentiating element. Different types can be distinguished: white or common garlic, purple or pink garlic, and young garlic or garlic.
Amazing Health Benefits Of Garlic
The amount of chemical and nutritional components give the various amazing health benefits of this garlic that give it many beneficial properties for various diseases in the body. We present some of them:
1. Reduces Bad Cholesterol Levels
Garlic contains antioxidants that have a powerful effect on low-density cholesterol, helping to reduce this type of lipid. The critical compound for this therapeutic action is allicin. Garlic as a Lipid-Lowering Agent concludes after a scientific, literary review that allicin appears to reduce total serum cholesterol significantly.
2. Improves Blood Circulation
Garlic has favorable properties and effects on cardiovascular risk factors, as it reduces hyperlipidemia and hypertension. It restricts the formation of atheromas in the walls of veins and arteries caused by lipids. It improves blood circulation and reducing blood pressure in hypertensive people.
3. Strengthens The Immune System
Thanks to its various antioxidant components such as vitamin C, vitamin E, S-allyl cysteine, or alliin, garlic helps the liver produce a substance called glutathione. In addition to allicin, it is a powerful ally against pathologies derived from oxidative damage to cells.
4. Neutralizes Free Radicals
A large amount of the compounds that make up garlic are considered important antioxidants whose primary function is to neutralize the action of free radicals on the body’s cells. Those free radicals will be promoting a lower risk of cellular aging. These compounds include vitamin C, vitamin E, polyphenol, and sulfur compounds, among others.
5. Fight Bacteria, Fungi, And Viruses
Natural medicine has considered garlic as a natural antibiotic effective against many microorganisms due to compounds such as allicin and ajoene. Research has shown that garlic stimulates the body’s immune cells, which kill pathogens and abnormal cells in the body.
6. Balances Glucose Levels
Another of the main benefits that garlic has is its anti-diabetic property. The compound S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide, an antioxidant compound in this bulb, is said to be responsible for this effect.
7. Promotes Digestion
There are numerous literary publications regarding the benefits of garlic on the digestive system. It is considered an antidiarrheal, sterile of the bacterium flora, cholagogue.
Garlic is also considered an anthelmintic. Alanine, an essential compound in this bulb, has the most significant participation in these properties.
8. Eliminates Toxins From The Body
The body has two organs whose primary function is to detoxify the body of metabolic waste and toxic substances that enter the body through different routes.
These organs are the liver and kidneys. Compounds such as s-allyl cysteine and s-allyl mercaptan cysteine with their antioxidant activity collaborate with these organs to eliminate toxins in the body, including free radicals.
9. Reduces Joint Pain
Garlic contains sulfurized organic compounds such as allicin, which positively affect the immune system and inflammatory processes. It contains the effect of thermochemical compounds of the genus Allium on the immune system and the inflammatory response.
10. Decreases The Risk Of Cancer
There has been a document that people who consume garlic daily have fewer cancer diseases. The evidence is more substantial for prostate and stomach cancer.
Cytotoxicity and effectiveness of elimination of cancer cells (HeLa) of the aqueous extract of garlic demonstrated the effectiveness of the aqueous extract of garlic on cervical carcinoma cells.
11. Reduces The Risk Of Preterm Birth
The literature agrees on this point, that the consumption of garlic. And the benefits of its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It prevents the attack of pathogens during the pregnancy period, which increases the risk of premature birth or, in situations of more severe abortion.
12. Combat Respiratory Diseases
Garlic has a robust antibiotic action (thanks to allicin), which eliminates microorganisms that can cause respiratory infections, preventing the appearance of common disorders such as flu and colds.
Garlic Properties
The nutritional compounds of garlic give this bulb a very peculiar characteristic. We mention its nutritional and chemical properties:
Vitamins
The cloves contained in the garlic bulb provide beneficial vitamins such as vitamin A (retinol), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin). Also, it contains vitamin B6 (adermin), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and vitamin E (tocopheryl).
Minerals
The minerals that stand out in garlic are sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and magnesium. All of them act in combination with vitamins and antioxidants to offer varied and effective therapeutic solutions.
Likewise, up to 17 amino acids have been isolated, among which are: aspartic acid, asparagine, alanine, arginine, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, leucine, serine, threonine, proline, tryptophan, and valine, essential for the production of proteins.
How To Consume Garlic?
Garlic is very versatile at this point, but mainly gastronomy directs the way of consuming this vegetable. Here are the most frequent ones:
Crude
When consuming raw garlic, it must be peeled and crushed to release its components and make its medicinal properties more effective. One garlic clove a day is enough, and consumed it is an excellent remedy.
In meals
Garlic is an excellent ally in meals, salads, and dressings. We must remember that when cooking garlic, it loses approximately 90% of its properties.
