Garlic benefits and uses
Garlic has long been considered as a medicinal plant, mainly because of its strong antibacterial properties. Today we see garlic benefits and disadvantage here. In fact, garlic was even included in ancient Greek medicine for treating various ailments. But did you know that the health benefits of garlic go beyond its medicinal value?
Garlic is a bulb vegetable belonging to the Liliaceae family. Its leaves contain a compound called Allicin, which is responsible for garlic’s pungent smell and flavor. This chemical is also found in onions, leeks, chives, shallots, and other members of the onion family.
Garlic contains a number of compounds that can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. It also helps fight off infections caused by bacteria and viruses. In addition, garlic is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.
Garlic has been around since ancient times, and its use was recommended for many purposes including treatment of infections & disease, and a preventative measure against certain types of cancer. Garlic has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and today it's still widely used throughout China as well as in many other parts of Asia.
The following are some benefits of garlic.
- Prevents cardiovascular diseases
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Helps maintain blood pressure at normal level
- Promotes good digestion
- Boosts immunity
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- Can help treat high blood pressure
- Increases bone density
- Reduces arthritis pain
- Helps control diabetes
- Stops bleeding
GARLIC DISADVANTAGE
Garlic's health benefits are endless, including its use as an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent, and garlic supplements have been proven to reduce cholesterol levels.
However, some people may experience negative side effects if they eat too much garlic, especially those who are already susceptible to high blood pressure. Garlic has also been shown to cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure
If you're prone to high blood pressure, eating garlic might increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. People who ate at least two cloves of raw garlic per day had a 25 percent higher chance of having hypertension than non-consumers.
In addition, consuming garlic increased the average systolic blood pressure (the highest measurement) by 2.8 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the lowest reading) by 1.7 mmHg.
Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Changes
People who consumed more than six cloves of garlic daily experienced significant increases in their heart rates and blood pressures after just three days. Eating garlic also caused spikes in adrenaline and cortisol levels, hormones known to raise blood pressure.
Other Side Effects
In addition to these cardiovascular dangers, eating lots of garlic could lead to gastric problems. The chemical composition of garlic makes it difficult to digest and the digestive system cannot break down the bulb until it's cooked. This causes garlic to stick around in our stomachs, where bacteria produce gas and create bloating.
There are ways to enjoy garlic without overdoing it, though. Try sprinkling chopped garlic on salads, baking bread with it, adding it to dishes like spaghetti sauce, sauerkraut, and chili con carne, and even putting it on pizza crust. You can also try cooking it in oil to make garlic fried rice or pasta, roasting it to make delicious roasted garlic, and using it as a flavoring for popcorn!
The good news is that many of the health risks associated with garlic are reversible. If you want to get rid of any bad habits, try starting today. Start slowly and work your way up to healthy portions as your appetite naturally adjusts.
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