Apart from traveling, I find cooking therapeutic. I have tried hundreds of recipes, and I can gladly endorse cooking if you are looking for a hobby. It is quite adventurous, and the more recipes you try out, the more intense you get the urge to try more. Working from home has given me more time to explore this craft, which provides me with immense joy.

In this article, I will discuss one of the simplest ingredients that I use while cooking-garlic. Food tastes different and better when you use garlic. Therefore, if you are keen on making good meals, this is the right place.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARLIC

Garlic is a basic ingredient that you should never lack in your kitchen. It has several benefits that you should experience. Here are some:

Medicinal Properties

It has been proven over and over again that garlic contains compounds with medicinal properties. Garlic belongs to the onion family and occurs in cloves. A closer look at ancient history reveals that, for the longest time, garlic was used for medicinal reasons. This cooking ingredient contains sulfur compounds that are ignited when it is chopped, crushed, or chewed.

Some of these include allicin, diallyl disulfide, and s-allyl cysteine. These compounds release their biological effects once they enter the body.

It Is Highly Nutritious

Your body needs nutrients for its proper functioning and protection against diseases. Garlic has a big deal of nutrients and super low amounts of calories. 3g of raw garlic contains manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium, Fiber, and other nutrients such as calcium, copper, and potassium. The fact that it is low in calories also means that you will not be feeding your body large amounts of fats.

It Can Reduce Blood Pressure

Garlic contains active compounds that can combat blood pressure. Remember, this is a condition that leads to certain cardiovascular diseases that claim several lives worldwide. Garlic supplements play a significant role in reducing blood pressure for people with hypertension. If you are suffering from HBP, you can take high doses of garlic or garlic supplements.

Garlic Contains Antioxidants

Antioxidants play an essential role in the human boy. They protect the body against oxidative agents. If you take garlic often, you will increase the antioxidant agents in your body, which will reduce oxidative stress. These antioxidants are also useful for people with chronic conditions such as hypertension.

Longevity

This may sound far-fetched, but trust me, garlic can help you live longer. While this is impossible to prove, the overall benefits of garlic point to this. It helps reduce certain risk factors such as high blood pressure, which are known to cut lives short. Garlic can also help the body fight infectious diseases, which are common causes of death.

It Is A Sickness Reliever

Garlic is known to combat some rampant illnesses such as the common cold. This ingredient boosts the immune system, effectively fighting given diseases. You have definitely seen flu patients being advised to take some garlic as a home remedy. If you would like to reduce your chances of getting the flu, consider adding some garlic in your diet.

It Can Act As A Detoxifier

Including garlic in your food can help get rid of heavy metals in your body. Keep in mind that these heavy metals are often toxic and can cause severe organ damage. Some of these include lead, whose accumulation poses a danger to the body. Research has also shown that garlic reduces several signs of toxicity, such as headaches and blood pressure. Therefore, to be safe, add some garlic to your meals.

SIDE EFFECTS OF GARLIC

While garlic is mostly safe when ingested or used in food, it also has its fair share of side effects. Therefore, even as you prepare your meals, beware of the following:

Digestion Problems – Garlic might indeed cause digestion problems due to the gastrointestinal tract’s irritation. Therefore, before using it in your meals, make sure that you do not have any stomach or digestion problem.

Bleeding Disorder – While this is not common, garlic can increase the risk of bleeding. This is mostly seen with fresh garlic. Therefore, you can consider yourself safe when using it for cooking your meals. When this happens, bleeding will be prolonged, interfering with your overall blood pressure. Therefore, if you are awaiting surgery, taking garlic tow weeks prior may be disastrous.

Diabetes – Taking garlic is a reasonable means of reducing blood pressure, but too much can also be detrimental for people with diabetes. There are two types of diabetes caused by varying sugar concentrations in the body. Garlic can lower the level of sugar in the blood, which will heavily impact those with diabetes.

Low Blood Pressure – By now, you definitely know that garlic lowers blood pressure for those with hypertension. However, if you have low blood pressure and take a lot of garlic, this might worsen, taking your blood pressure lower than before.

KINDS OF GARLIC

There are different types of garlic, depending on their hardness and softness.

Hardneck Garlic

This is usually the main type of garlic used for cooking. It appears in large cloves and has a stiff woody stalk. This type of garlic comes in several colors. They have a strong flavor and are easy to peel. Some of the examples of hard neck garlic are Asiatic, creole, glaze purpled stripe, Middle Eastern, Porcelain, among others.

Softneck Garlic

This second type is the most dominant. It grows faster than hard neck garlic, making it more suited for commercial purposes. Softneck garlic has more cloves than the other counterpart and is mostly creamy in color. You can easily grab and pull this type of garlic since their necks are not as stiff. Some of the common examples include Artichoke softneck and Silverskin.

Certain ingredients should not miss in your meals, and garlic is one of them. It has several health benefits that you need to reap from. However, even as you spice up your meals with garlic, beware of the side effects.