The Skinny:
People tend to have a love-hate relationship with garlic. It’s adored because of its ability to add flavor to foods in all sorts of ways. Another plus is its reputed ability to keep vampires at bay. Garlic, raw or otherwise, presents some personal problems. It can wreak havoc on a person’s breath, increasing the risk of these individuals becoming social pariahs. What’s less realized is that garlic has medicinal and wellness credentials, which date back to the time of pharaohs in Egyptian. It has been called on by Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians to help in a host of ways for millenniums. Today, backed up by research, garlic is viewed as a natural product to battle ailments and issues. WellWell is here to identify some of the tastiest garlic health benefits.
The Slate:
Low-Cal Food Enhancer
One 3-gram clove of raw garlic can enhance the taste of almost any meal without adding many calories. This clove holds just 4.5 calories, 0.2 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs. It also has a smattering of manganese at two percent of the Daily Value (DV), along with two percent of the DV of Vitamin B6, one percent of the DV of Vitamin C, one percent of the DV of Selenium and 0.06 grams of fiber.
Battle Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi
It has always been believed that garlic helps fight off colds. Well, recent research notes that garlic has antiviral and immune-boosting properties that help prevent viral infections. Beyond this, garlic’s organosulfur compounds have strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi and SARS-CoV-2- infected cell cultures.
Reduces Cardiovascular Risk
A chopped or crushed garlic clove forms allicin, which can reduce cardiovascular risk factors due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-platelet and anti-diabetic effects. All of this makes garlic heart healthy.
Fights Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Garlic changes as it ages—sometimes for the better. The odorous, sour and irritating compounds in fresh raw garlic are naturally converted into stable and safe compounds, having significantly greater therapeutic effects than fresh garlic because they’re less irritating. Specifically, aged garlic is an effective treatment for chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Supports Cognitive Health
Garlic’s antioxidant action is a potential boon in the battle against cognitive impairment and dementia-related neuropathology. Researchers report garlic can help prevent cell damage and aging, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Reduces Blood Pressure
Got high blood pressure? Garlic is likely to help. The allicin in garlic prevents the production of angiotensin II, a compound that causes blood vessels to constrict, which in turn helps prevent a rise in blood pressure. Doses of 600 to 900 mg a day of garlic powder can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is especially effective for individuals already fighting hypertension.
Eyes Up:
Do you love garlic? Tell us why at info@wellwellusa.com.
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