Many international cuisines base their delicious and flavored dishes on spices, herbs, and ingredients such as chili peppers, onions, garlic, oregano or rosemary. However, few people know that these herbs and veggies also have curative effects, help reduce pain, swelling, improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure or help you sleep better.
Out of all, garlic is probably the most powerful ingredient. With a unique taste and smell, this plant is part of the onion family and its curative effects have been known for thousands of years. So, unless you are a vampire, here are some of the most popular (and tested) health effects of this powerful plant.
It is highly nutritious but low in calories
Garlic is rich in vitamins and minerals that your body requires for proper development and functioning. It contains vitamin C and B6, as well as manganese, selenium, calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B1, and iron. One clove of garlic (3 grams or 0.1 ounces) is known to have only 4.5 calories and 1 gram of carbs.
This powerful ingredient won’t only make your food taste delicious but will also provide a reliable source of vitamins and minerals.
It fights common colds and the flu
Since the flu season has already started, you should know that garlic is a powerful and natural remedy that will boost your immune system and help you stay protected. Studies conducted have concluded that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of common colds by 63%.
The average length of cold symptoms was also reduced from approximately 5 days to 1.5 days in people who ate garlic regularly or who took garlic supplements during the cold season.
It can reduce blood pressure
Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in American society. High blood pressure or hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes in people of all ages and races.
If you want to keep your heart healthy and even reduce blood pressure, garlic could prove a good solution.
Human studies have found that garlic supplements will reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. According to these studies, 600-1,500 mg of garlic extract has the same positive effect as drugs in reducing blood pressure over an eight-month period.
However, in order to benefit from these effects, the supplement dose should be the equivalent of four cloves of garlic daily, which is more than people would normally eat.
It can help prevent Alzheimer’s and improve symptoms of dementia
Damage from free radicals is one of the main causes of the aging process which spares no one. Several studies conducted concluded that the antioxidants contained by garlic will support the body’s protective mechanisms against damage caused by free radicals.
In other words, by including garlic in your daily diet, you can postpone signs of neural damage that can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, further research must be conducted in the field of neurological disorders in order to better understand the causes of dementia and how to reverse or postpone its devastating effects.
It may improve bone health
Although no human studies were conducted, research on rodents has shown that garlic supplements can minimize bone loss in females.
One study conducted on menopausal women revealed that a daily dose of dry garlic extract can significantly decrease estrogen deficiency, which is known to cause bone problems in women over the age of 50. Therefore, simple ingredients like garlic and onions may have beneficial effects on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
It keeps pests away
Finally, growing garlic in your backyard won’t only help you cook more delicious dishes but can also keep pests (and vampires) away. Chipmunks, raccoons, and rats are the most common house and garden pests that can damage or completely compromise your crops.
They are also disease carriers, meaning you should avoid getting in contact with them. By reading this article, you will find a series of raccoon traps that can help solve your problem once and for all.
On the other hand, chipmunks, some species of ants, and other
insects can be removed from your property by simply planting garlic in your
backyard or using garlic extracts to spray the porch, windows, and doors in
your house.