10 Garlic Health Benefits : The World’s Healthiest Herb

Garlic is one of the most common herbs that is used to not just flavour your food, but also used as a medicine to treat myriad health ailments. Garlic has been used since time immemorial in treating various illnesses and diseases. The consumption of garlic can protect you from viral illness like cold, fever, various allergies and infections that are in the atmosphere. Let’s see some important garlic health benefits!

Read this article you won’t believe the wonderful health benefits of ginger…

Garlic Health Benefits

Today we present to you a few of the many garlic health benefits, that you did not know before!

1. Garlic Helps Hair Growth

Did you know that a garlic massage to your scalp will prevent hair fall and leave you with thick beautiful hair? Well, it does! Studies to have proven that garlic can stimulate hair growth without any side effects. Add a few cloves of garlic to your hot oil head massage concoction two or times a week and you will be surprised with the results.

2. Garlic Helps in Weight Loss

Want to easily lose some pounds without a rigorous exercise regimen? It is garlic to the rescue again! Ready a concoction of lemon juice, garlic cloves and warm water and drink it up in one shot. Voila, there you go, a quick and healthy way to reduce fat!

3. It’s An Energy Booster

If you want to reap the benefits of magnesium, then include garlic in your meals today! Magnesium is a mineral that improves overall health and also boosts your energy levels. You can get as much as 25 mg of magnesium in just 100 grams of garlic!

4. Garlic Can Prevent Cancer

Although it is not totally proven, some research proves and back up claims of doctors, that consuming garlic can actually kill cancerous cells in the stomach, colon and rectal cancer. If you cannot chew a few cloves of garlic, simply add it to your cooking.

Don’t miss to read about another ‘wonder spice’  Fenugreek Seeds & its health benefits…

5. Garlic During Pregnancy

Now this is interesting, eating garlic while you are pregnant helps the baby gain some much-needed weight. This in turn helps in the development of the baby in your womb!

6. It Cures a Cold and Flu

Colds and coughs are generally caused by viruses, but latest studies suggest that a deficiency of vitamin D can be the underlying reason behind poor immunity. While doctors suggest that sunlight is the best source of this vitamin, you can also get a good amount of the many benefits of vitamin D, by consuming garlic on a daily basis.

7. Garlic Improves Artery Health

As you grow older, your arteries start to become weak and lose their strength. Consuming garlic helps improve artery health and functioning considerably.

8. It Can Reduce Cholesterol

In a recent research, it has been noted that people who consume garlic are able to regulate their cholesterol levels better than those who steer clear of this herb.

9. Thins Out Blood

Thick blood flow or blood clots are often the reasons or causes for sudden heart attacks and even untimely death. The benefit of eating raw garlic is that it thins out the blood and increases the blood flow throughout our body.

10 Strengthens the Joints

It is also believed that consuming garlic can help in having pain-free joints and also lessen other joint problems.

How to Eat Garlic?

Now we know that garlic health benefits are in plenty. But, do you know how to consume garlic? The best method to eat garlic is to simply smash it or just cut it into two and swallow it down before you go to sleep. If you cannot get yourself to eat them raw, you may swallow a few cloves with water or even milk. Just remember that consuming more than two cloves in a day is not good for you.

Raw or Cooked?

Eating garlic raw has more health benefits that to eat them cooked. When garlic is cooked it loses its healthy components and just becomes a taste, maker. Allicin which is the most important factor of garlic is what protects us from deadly diseases like cancer, is produced or activated only when garlic is crushed or cut. Also, once crushed garlic should be exposed to air before it is being consumed for a better outcome.

If you simply cannot chew garlic cloves, or have no time to cook your own meal  you still can reap the benefits of garlic. Wonder how? Pills and supplements! Yes, you heard that right, you can now consume garlic in the form of pills. What’s more? The benefits of garlic pills are the same as of raw garlic!

Black Garlic and Its Use

Black garlic, on the other hand, is nothing but just white garlic cloves fermented for many weeks. Some ferment it with tamarind to get that sour flavour. This type of garlic unlike the white one is on the sweeter side and has managed to work its way into some of the best Asian dinner recipes. Both have similar benefits, but just look and taste different.

Side Effects of Garlic

The above mentioned are all the pros of garlic. Let us now quickly take note of what the side effects of garlic are.

• As discussed earlier, garlic is a blood thinner. Now in a way it is good, but at the same time if blood gets too thin there are chances of excessive bleeding.
• Also, while pregnant, garlic consumption is good, but it should be kept in mind that garlic should only be consumed in minimal quantities that too not raw.
• Although garlic is used to reduce skin irritations and acne, sometimes it can even burn your skin if you are sensitive.

We have seen the garlic health benefits and benefits of eating raw garlic as well. Now it is time to add this wonderful herb into our daily diet! Add them in your stew, in your veggies and even on your pizza! Or simply reap the benefits of garlic supplements, that are easily available on the market!