Top 5 benefits of garlic you should know
Garlic was indescribably tasty and tart, and it has long pleased people's sense of taste with its bright aromatic flavor. This small root vegetable belongs to the onion genus Allium and adds depth and dimension to very many dishes. Garlic comes from an edible plant, usually we cook it using small cloves inside the bulb of the plant. Garlic is widely grown only in Central Asia, however, now it is cultivated all over the world. According to the world atlas, in 2015, the world production of garlic was estimated at about 25 million tons. China accounted for about 80% of this growth, with India coming in second. Its great flavor and versatility have made it a staple, both Raw and cooked, in most recipes around the world.
The health benefits of garlic
In addition to giving a distinctive and delicious taste to recipes of all kinds, garlic also offers some incredibly health benefits when consumed. "Garlic contains powerful phytocompounds (phytochemicals) that have been associated with many preventive health benefits when included in an overall healthy diet," says Amy satrazimis, a certified sports nutritionist, registered dietitian, and Nutrition Director at Trifecta nutrition. "Due to these compounds, garlic has also been used as a form of natural medicine throughout history in various cultures". "Certified personal trainer and nutritionist Josh Schlotman adds that garlic helps fight diseases, fight infections, and even heal wounds. "It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries as an antibiotic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent,"he says. Here's what you need to know about garlic and all its amazing nutritional properties.
Full of nutrients
Garlic offers great value for your money in terms of nutrition: it provides an amazing number and amount of nutrients compared to the low-calorie number . Which makes it a nutrient-rich ingredient. By consuming garlic, you will provide your body with some essential nutrients such as manganese, vitamin B6, zinc, sulfur, iron, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium and more.
Helps reduce the risk of heart disease
Many researches have found that garlic plays a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke . This is done by lowering high blood pressure and regulating cholesterol levels (including lowering the rate of LDL bad cholesterol). The aromatic substance in garlic contains allicin, for example, a sulfur-containing heart-protective compound that is released when chewing, chopping or crushing raw garlic . He is responsible for the smell of garlic and its characteristic flavor. Garlic also has noticeable effects in lowering blood pressure, which is considered beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Antioxidant properties
While we are talking about disease prevention, garlic also helps ward off free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and fight systemic infections.
Garlic has a high content of antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids, in fact it has been found that garlic contains more than 20 polyphenols.
Antioxidant-rich foods can help protect your cells from free radical damage, which in turn can reduce the risk of diseases associated with chronic stress and inflammation: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and more.
Antifungal and antibacterial
Modern scientific interest has revealed the antimicrobial abilities of garlic, its ability to protect against viruses, bacteria and fungi . This is largely thanks to allicin. The researchers hypothesized that some garlic compounds act to prevent harmful exogenous microorganisms from invading healthy cells as well, and also hinder their ability to grow.
Boosts your immune system
In addition to making it more difficult for pathogens to be controlled, garlic may also help strengthen your immune system to fight them, by boosting the response of white blood cells. It is known that the sulfur content contained in garlic – in particular – enhances our immune response. One of the scientific studies studying the effects of Aged Garlic Extract on the immune system, witnessed an increase in the activity of immune cells in participants who took a certain dose of aged garlic for 90 days . Compared to the group that took placebo. Studies have concluded that aged garlic extract may significantly enhance immunity.
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