Health Benefits of Garlic: Why You Should Add Garlic to Your Diet

Garlic is a herb-like vegetable that offers significant health benefits and has a pungent smell. the organic sulfur compound known as allicin makes it healthy for you to add to your diet. Garlic’s health benefit are numerous, keep reading  as we share some of the known and proven  health benefit of garlic

About Garlic

garlic is also known as stinking rose or Allium. these are just two of its several names. the herb is commonly used as a medicine and flavoring agent. the active ingredient of garlic is allicin. when used as a food it has little or no health benefits as well as side-effects while it the opposite when used as a medicine, meaning it presents both health benefits as well as side-effects. it has been used in the treatment of stomach ulcers caused by H.pylori, high cholesterol, circulation problems in the leg, common cold, and so on.

Nutritional facts of Garlic

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, The following nutrition facts for garlic are based on estimates of a 1-teaspoon serving:

• Calories: 4
• Protein: 0.18 grams (g)
• Fat: 0.01g
• Carbohydrates: 0.93g
• Fiber: 0.1g
• Natural sugars: 0.03g
• Calcium: 5 milligrams (mg)
• Iron: 0.05mg (0.03 percent daily value, or DV)
• Magnesium: 1mg
• Potassium: 11mg
• Vitamin C: 0.9mg (0.02 percent DV)

Garlic is also thought to be a source of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and enzymes, which can help your body build muscles and protect your gut health, respectively.

Health benefits of Garlic

Garlic reduces blood pressure

The main causes of cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attack are High blood pressure and hypertension. garlic has significant impact on reducing blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

Garlic improves cholesterol level
garlic helps reduce the total cholesterol level without affecting the HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Garlic helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

garlic helps to increase antioxidant enzymes in humans and also reduces oxidative stress in those with high blood pressure. it antioxidant content prevents cell damage and aging.

Detoxification of heavy metals
Another health benefit of garlic is detoxification which is a result of it Sulfur compounds. Garlic helps to detoxify heavy metals in the body. it protects the organ against damage from heavy metal toxicity. it also reduces clinical signs of toxicity including headaches and blood pressure in the body.

Improves bone health
Garlic helps to reduce bone loss by increasing estrogen in females, this is a great deal for your bone health after menopause. You may add a dose of garlic to help reduce your risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. You still need to include other healthy foods to make a real impact on bone density—dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fish, and nuts are all good choices. 

Treats athletes foot
Soaking your feet in garlic water or rubbing it on your feet helps get rids of fungus causing itching. Garlic is known to fight Fungi.

Garlic helps you live longer
Finally, garlic may help you live longer, this is because it has beneficial effects on chronic diseases like blood pressure. it fights against diseases that cause death.

Uses of garlic

Atherosclerosis.
This is the hardening of the arteries which affects aged people. Their arteries lose the ability to stretch and flex. Garlic seems to reduce this effect. Taking a specific garlic powder supplement twice daily for 24 months seems to reduce how much hardening of the arteries progresses. it seems to provide more benefits to women than men when taken over a four-year period.

Diabetes.
Garlic seems to modestly reduce pre-meal blood sugar levels in people with or without diabetes. It seems to work best in people with diabetes, especially if it is taken for at least 3 months. Garlic appears to work best if taken daily for more than 8 weeks. 

High blood pressure.
Taking garlic by mouth seems to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number) by about 7-9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by about 4-6 mmHg in people with high blood pressure.

The build-up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Taking garlic powder seems to help to improve liver health in people with NAFLD. People who eat more garlic also seem to be less likely to be diagnosed with NAFLD.

Also Read: Uncommon uses of Garlic

Side effects of garlic

The possible side effect of garlic are:

• when garlic is applied to the skin too often, it could cause redness, swelling or blisters.
• it could cause easy bruising or bleeding of the nose, gum etc.
• it could cause heartburn, burning in your mouth or throat.
• others are diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting’s.

Other drugs that affect garlic

Before taking garlic as a medicine, you may need to consult your doctor if you are using any medications at all, some are listed below:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol),chlorzoxazone, cyclosporine, theophylline;
• birth control pills;
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• HIV or AIDS medicines–delavirdine, efavirenz, nevirapine, saquinavir;
• medicine used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, and urokinase; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)–aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

also, see medical advice before taking garlic if you’re treating any of the following:

• anxiety or depression;
• asthma or allergies;
• cancer;
• erectile dysfunction;
• heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;
• migraine headaches;
• psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders;
• a psychiatric disorder; or
• seizures.

Conclusion

Garlic health benefits are plenty and it could be tempting but don’t be too quick to add too much to your diet. this is to avoid discomfort and its side-effect.