Garlic is a member of the onion family. It grows in a bulb, which consists of 10-20 clove segments. It is also one of the oldest known foods used for its healing benefits. Here’s a look at garlic nutrition and its many medical properties.
Garlic Nutrition
Garlic is a perfect substitution for salt. Garlic contains a soothing component called allicin, which is responsible for garlic’s smell and many of garlic nutrition health benefits.
Garlic is mostly made up of water, carbohydrates, and protein. A good portion of the carbohydrates found in garlic are prebiotics, and only 1% comes from sugar. Garlic is about 17% prebiotics, which is a significant portion. Prebiotics will feed the probiotics (good bacteria) in your gut. This is important for proper gut health and nutrient absorption.
As a member of the onion family, garlic contains S-methyl cysteine (SMC). SMC has been shown to improve the body’s resistance to inflammation. Since inflammation is one of the major causes of most diseases, anti-inflammatory foods are key.
Garlic is tied to combating sickness including the common cold, and the flu. Not only is it great for preventing the common cold, but also is effective at reducing the duration and severity of sickness.
There is some controversy around garlic. Some diets, like The Bulletproof Diet by Dave Asprey, suggest staying clear of garlic. The reasoning is because they claim garlic has neurological effects. The science is still out on if this is true, but the science has been in for centuries to all of the wonderful healing abilities of this important food.
There are references to the healing benefits of garlic nutrition going back millennia. Hippocrates regularly used garlic in his treatments. Garlic was used in ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, China, and India. There is a reason garlic was used as a medicine across the globe, and that’s because it works.
That being said, garlic can be toxic in high quantities. Garlic toxicity could be experienced with as low a consumption rate as 25g a day, which is approximately 8 cloves of garlic. Besides not being good for your health, eating more than 8 cloves of raw garlic a day probably won’t make you popular with the people around you either.
While you can get too much garlic itself, it is interesting to note that garlic is powerful at removing dangerous toxins from the body. Heavy metals and other toxins are significantly reduced with a garlic-rich diet.
The health benefits from garlic nutrition seem endless.
Garlic has benefits for your heart. It lowers your LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduces blood pressure.
Garlic has also been shown to reduce your risk of cancer. The antibacterial properties block the cancer-causing substances, repairs DNA, and reduces cell death.
Garlic is also an anti-fatigue agent. It can help reduce physical fatigue, and fatigue from illness. It has also been used for thousands of years by athletes to prevent exercise fatigue. Most people can probably use a little bit of raw garlic nutrition in their life as a pick-me-up.
Garlic is an aphrodisiac. It boosts your sex drive and can even increase your fertility. One study showed garlic significantly increases sperm count.
Garlic also has many health benefits for postmenopausal women. Garlic increases estrogen levels in women and has shown to be beneficial for improving bone density.
Garlic gel has significant impacts on hair growth in alopecia patients. Alopecia is an autoimmune disease, marked by the loss of chunks of hair. Garlic helps to prevent this hair loss and promotes hair growth. While this may not affect a large portion of the population, it is a significant benefit for some.
The health benefits from garlic nutrition are truly impressive. Raw garlic can heal and restore. This is one awesome, tasty good whole food.
