Live A Long And Healthy Life By Incorporating Garlic Into Your Diet
Nutritious foods offer the body all different kinds of health benefits. As a health conscious society, we are always looking for the next super food and health fad that will make us feel good and healthy. From kale to celery juice and coconut oil, people are always willing to buy into the newest craze. It just so happens that garlic is the next.
Studies have recently found that garlic is the generic food which might just be the answer to fighting disease, increasing life expectancy along with many other surprising perks.
Garlic can prevent acne
While acne is commonly found within teenagers going through puberty, people can suffer from it at any age. Doctors often prescribe pills packed with chemicals that can have a negative effect on other parts of the body.
Garlic has been found to be an effective herbal remedy for treating acne due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to acne, garlic can also be used as a skin cleanser solution for rashes, psoriasis, cold sores and blisters.
Alleviates flu symptoms
It’s inevitable that at some point during the winter months most people will be susceptible to catching the flu from someone at work, college or from kids. While there isn’t a full-proof method of stopping getting flu altogether, garlic contains properties which can alleviate the symptoms.
Garlic contains antibacterial and antiviral properties which have been known to successfully fight the virus. Whether you want to eat the herb or take pure pills of it, both ways tend to work.
Garlic can control asthma
Asthma sufferers may rely entirely on their prescribed inhalers to keep their condition at bay. However, there are certain homeopathic remedies that can reduce the symptoms, garlic being among the main ones.
It may not seem like the most ideal evening drink but it is claimed that drinking a glass of milk with three boiled cloves of garlic before bed can be a relief for asthma patients. In addition, asthma attacks can be controlled by consuming crushed cloves with malt vinegar.
Garlic aids weight loss
It has been discovered that garlic has the potential to aid weight loss and reduce obesity. Firstly, it is responsible for boosting energy levels which helps you to get moving, exercise and burn calories.
Secondly, garlic has been known to suppress appetites so consuming garlic with a meal or taking garlic pills on a daily basis will keep you fuller, longer and prevent any snacking later on. The herb also can increase thermogenesis which helps to burn fat.
Lower cholesterol levels with garlic
Garlic contains a number of sulphur compounds, one of which being allicin. Among the benefits of allicin is that it lowers the level of negative cholesterol. This cholesterol is called LDL and leads to the build up of arteries.
However, allicin isn’t affected by the good cholesterol HDL but rather promotes it. Lowering the bad levels of LDL can have a great effect on reducing the risk of heart disease. Lowering cholesterol is also important for obesity and weight loss.
Boost the immune system
Through containing phytonutrients which help decrease oxidative stress, garlic can strengthen your immune system. In addition, it can also reduce fatigue and increase energy.
After completing a study on rats, the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines concluded that the rats given a high concentration of garlic possessed a significant rise in white blood cells in comparison to the lower count given. Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs and keep you healthy.
Increases athleticism
Energy drinks and protein shakes are usually used to increase athletic performance, enhance stamina and increase energy levels. It might not be commonly known, but garlic is also a performance enhancing herb.
It first came about in ancient Greece where Olympic athletes were given the food to better their performance in the games and reduce fatigue. In general, taking garlic instead of sugar-filled energy drinks is a much healthier option but for professional athletes who are already at their peak fitness it won’t help much.
Better bone health
Garlic is an alkalizing vegetable and is packed with bone-healthy nutrients including zinc, manganese, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Manganese in particular contains enzymes and antioxidants which promotes connective tissues and stronger bones.
In addition, it can aid the bone metabolism and calcium absorption. Although not much human testing has been done, a study was conducted on female rats proving that garlic oil preserved their bones and increased estrogen levels and in turn, minimize bone loss and osteoporosis.
Garlic can heal wounds
As well as being able to cure flu like symptoms, garlic also has the ability to heal wounds. One of garlic’s most active components is allicin which used its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to heal wounds fast and prevent them from getting infected.
Rather than eating the herb, place two crushed garlic cloves on the open wound to feel quick relief. During World War I the British forces used garlic as an effective antibiotic for wounded soldiers in combat.
Helps the gut and digestion
Garlic can act as a prebiotic for healthy gut bacteria. It is high in natural inulin, a non-digestive carbohydrate, also known as a functional fiber which feeds good bacteria back into your digestive system.
Garlic promotes the growth of friendly bacteria and prevents bad bacteria from developing. However, those with gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome might need to steer clear of garlic as it could trigger further issues. Using fresh garlic in foods can be just enough to help your gut.
Could help mental disease
Alzheimers and dementia are two debilitating brain diseases which dramatically change the way people think, their behavior and their memory. So far, there isn’t a cure but there have been claims that there are certain ways to prevent it or keep any signs from progressing.
Studies have shown that garlic contains properties which may be integral in fighting neurodegenerative diseases through the antioxidants. The antioxidants protect cell damage, cell aging and the body’s mechanical functions.
Lowers blood pressure
Instead of taking blood thinners to lower blood pressure, garlic is one of the herbal remedies that can be used instead of putting artificial pills into the body. For those who suffer from hypertension, garlic’s component allicin is an active ingredient in lowering blood pressure.
It was found that the higher starting blood pressure, the greater reduction post garlic treatment. Researchers have been known to use the herb to test lowering blood pressure along with the common drug Atenolol.
Live longer with garlic
There might not be any conclusive proof that garlic does in fact increase your life line, but there are certainly components within the herb that promote our health and well-being which will in turn help you live a healthy life.
Through fighting disease, increasing energy levels, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and preventing brain diseases, our bodies should stay at peak health for a long time. Simply adding fresh garlic into different meals and recipes could be just enough to stay healthy.
Improve heart health
As a part of getting older, your heart health will never be what it used to when you were younger. There are so many cardiovascular diseases that can be detrimental to your health as well as strokes and heart attacks being the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
Consuming garlic will lower your blood pressure, increase the blood flow to arteries and protect against heart disease, thus keeping your heart healthy and alleviate any potential problems.
Treats hair loss
Hair loss is a real problem for so many men and women around the world. It can start from an early age leaving you almost bald in your 30s or 40s. As much as having a head of hair smelling like garlic doesn’t sound ideal, it might just be the secret to help your hair loss.
Garlic’s extremely high sulfur content contains levels of keratin, the same protein that hair is made of. Putting keratin back in your hair stimulates thickness and growth.
May prevent cancer
Of course there is no cure for cancer but there are certain ways you can improve your health to stop environmental cancers from developing. A report was published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology which detailed that garlic contains a compound called diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an effective component in preventing tumor progression.
In addition, garlic is said to reduce the production of carcinogenic compounds and the occurrence of tumors in breast cancer. While there is more research needed the health benefits are overt.
Aids eye care
Keeping your eyes healthy will stop you from having to up your prescription if you wear glasses and if you’re suffering from partial blindness you can slow down the effects of it progressing through consuming garlic.
Garlic is rich in nutrients including selenium, quercetin and vitamin C, all of which aid eye health, combat any issues and help to prevent eye infections and inflammation. The potent antibiotic components in garlic are integral for keeping eyes healthy and reducing infection.
Reduces kidney infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen responsible for urinary tract infections and kidney infections. The bacterium can be increasingly easy to pick up and is cured by taking antibiotics.
However, researchers have discovered that garlic could be essential in curing such diseases without the help of antibiotics which can potentially cause more harm. Fresh extract is also used to prevent the growth of candida and E. coli. Consuming more garlic in your diet can act as an excellent preventative measure for these infections.
Removes splinters
Splinters may be small but they can be some of the most painful things to extract from your skin, especially when they are deep. It might sound bizarre but garlic is a tried and tested method for successfully removing a splinter from the skin.
Simply place a cut piece of garlic clove over the splinter, bandage it and the splinter will eventually come out. This is due to garlic’s antibacterial properties that eliminate painful and foreign objects from the skin.
Alleviate bloating
Garlic contains many properties that stimulates the gastric system and helps to relieve both bloating and constipation. There are a number of ways you can do this quickly if you are suffering.
Eat warm garlic soup, warm water helps digest quicker which will help the garlic dispatch faster in your system. Mince garlic cloves and sautee them in olive oil on the stove. Avoid mixing garlic with other food that will make bloating worse like carbohydrates, sugars, and fatty foods.
Detoxifies Heavy Metals
Heavy metal toxicity can be a big problem for many and is a serious issue that can cause organ damage in the long run. People who have exposure to lead are some of the most at risk of having too much heavy metal toxicity.
Through consuming a few portions of garlic per day, you can reduce headaches and high blood pressure that is directly related to heavy metal poisoning. Either put it fresh in your food or consume it in tablets.
Reduces inflammation
When we feel pain or inflammation, we automatically reach for the ibuprofen to cure chronic pain, but there are much healthier ways of curing it instead of taking artificial chemicals that are not too good for our bodies.
Garlic is a proven ingredient in reducing inflammation in an all natural way. It has been shown to cure the pain that we can sometimes get between our joints Either consume it in your food regularly or take supplements to help get rid of this joint pain.
Helps treat eczema
There are many reasons why a person can develop eczema and other skin conditions. However, one of the main causes is immune dysfunction which can end up wreaking havoc on sensitive skin.
It can be in the form of abnormal white blood cell function and suppression, leading to increased infection. Eating garlic can reduce the frequency of rashes and eczema flare ups. It can also promote healing and minimize the histamine response which causes you to itch.
Highly nutritious, low in calories
While many foods containing fibers can be highly calorific and significantly increase your calorie intake for the day, garlic is one of the foods that is low in calories.
A 1-ounce serving contains Manganese: 23% of the RDA, vitamin B6: 17% of the RDA, vitamin C: 15% of the RDA, selenium: 6% of the RDA, fiber: 0.6 grams as well as significant amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1. All of these nutrients work out at 42 calories.
Easy to incorporate in your diet
There are some vitamins and superfoods that don’t taste too good and so are given in pill form. However, this is not the case with garlic and you are able to eat it fresh and get the best nutrients out of it.
Garlic can add a strong punch to a bland recipe, add it to a salad, saute it over meat or fish or even put it in soups for fresh and pungent flavor.
Prevents Tooth Decay and Treats Oral Infections
Despite it being known for giving bad breath, garlic can actually work wonders for your dental hygiene. It has antibacterial effects on dental plaque bacteria that cause tooth decay if left untreated.
In addition, infections like periodontitis, oral thrush, and sore mouth from denture can also be cured by garlic. It can be used in conjunction with antibiotics or to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Helps Treat Ulcers
Ulcers that are caused by H. pylori may be helped by consuming garlic. Raw garlic has antibacterial effects against H. pylori, the most common bacterial infection in the world and the main cause of ulcers.
The allicin that is one of the main compounds in garlic reacts with the protein and results in the reduction of pathways associated with inflammation. Many over-the-counter ulcer medications have been known to only alleviate pain and not get rid of the ulcer itself.
Protects the Skin from Ultraviolet Rays
While it is most important to use sunscreen at all times when exposed to the sun and UV rays, it turns out that garlic can act as a further deterrent. Garlic protects the skin from UV radiation by stimulating immune cells.
When exposed to the rays, the urocanic acid in the skin changes, which then causes suppression of the immune system. To combat this, aged garlic extract lessens the suppression of these immune cells and decreased the urocanic acid.
Improves memory
Garlic has been known to slow down the progression of dementia and alzheimers but an additional benefit is that it can improve your memory. Garlic increases the production of brain seratonin, a neurotransmitter that enhances cognitive performance.
By consuming garlic oil, it can improves memory function and cognitive performance. If you start consuming garlic from a younger age, you may be able to slow down the aging process of the functions of the brain and any future brain issues.
Blood purifier
You may not realize it, but having purified blood can clear up so many issues your body is having. Those small and irritating zits you may have woken up in the morning with can be tackled from the inside and clear up your skin on the outside.
Simply take two cloves of raw garlic with some warm water daily. To get some extra benefits from this, squeezing half a lemon in a glass of luke warm water and garlic will help you shed some extra pounds.
May help patients suffering with HIV
In one cell-based study, the diallyl disulfide compound in garlic inhibited cell growth and selectively killed HIV-infected immune cells. This same compound also prevents virus replication by decreasing the production of proteins involved in HIV replication.
In addition, the garlic extract ajoene prevents normal blood cells from fusing with HIV-infected cells and inhibits HIV replication in infected cells. The ajoene may prevent cell fusion by inactivating platelet integrins in the blood. More tests need to be conducted on the overall effectiveness.
Relieves ear infections
Applying garlic topically may help ease the pain of an earache, ear infection, and tinnitus. Purchase pure garlic oil or make your own, put two or three drops of warm garlic oil into the ear, place cotton wool over the opening of the ear to stop the oil from seeping out.
The person being treated should remain in the same position for 10 to 15 minutes. Another way of using it is by soaking a piece of cotton in the oil and rest it inside the ear so the oil seeps into the ear canal.
Curing toothache
Toothache is the aching pain in your tooth that is predominantly caused by decay. The decay is a result of sticky plaque that clings to and eats through the enamel of your teeth, causing pain and sometimes creating a cavity.
It has been suggested that you can relieve a toothache by applying garlic to the troubled tooth. Either chew on the garlic clove or rest it on the tooth. Garlic works by killing the bacteria in the mouth, which may be an underlying cause of the soreness.
Treat athlete’s foot with garlic
There are studies indicating that a garlic-derived compound known as ajoene can treat athlete’s foot. Studies also suggest that garlic is actually more effective at curing the infection than Lamisil, a popular anti-fungal ointment.
Just soak your feet for 30 minutes in a footbath consisting of water and crushed cloves. Alternatively, you can combine minced garlic and olive oil and apply it directly to the affected areas with a cotton swab. You should continue treatment for some time even after the visible effects are gone.
Keep away mosquitoes with garlic
Mosquito bites can be one of the most irritating and itchy reactions on your skin. People with certain blood types can have significantly worse reactions than others, with some countries much more affected due to the warm climate.
Studies have shown that people in India weren’t bitten by mosquitos after applying garlic solution directly to their skin. Just combine garlic oil, petroleum jelly, and beeswax for a natural repellant or place cloves of garlic nearby.
Gets rid of food poisoning
A new study has discovered that a compound found in garlic was 100 times more effective than antibiotics at killing Campylobacter, most common cause of food-borne bacterial illness in the United States.
Diallyl sulphide has the has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria which can in turn fight off the bad bacteria that is found in dangerous foods. It can also be used to clean cooking surfaces in the case that salmonella or other bacterial diseases are found in food traces.
Garlic for anxiety
Anxiety and depression medication can prove to be very difficult on the body and in many cases provide adverse side effects including nausea, shaking, headaches, fatigue and insomnia, among others.
While there is still plenty of research still needed on the subject, it is thought that garlic may contain compounds which are believed to improve mood and reduce fatigue and anxiety. It can enhance production of serotonin which is responsible for signal transmission and mood regulatio
Regulates blood sugar
Garlic has the potential to manage blood sugar which would significantly help those suffering with diabetes. It has been identified that garlic intake can lower fasting blood glucose, meaning your blood sugar level when you’re functioning on an empty stomach.
Individuals with type 2 diabetes have been told to eat a balanced and healthy diet with meals rich in garlic to keep the issue at bay and stop it from developing into a heart attack or a stroke.
Read more: Stay younger for longer with these secrets
