Garlic, the wonder food
There are end numbers of natural food items through which we can be benefited enormously. If
we consider to intake all to keep ourselves fit and healthy, then it would be foolish act. Instead, we can choose some of these items that suit best individually.
Garlic is one of the most beneficial ingredients that can help us in many ways.
The old adage, ‘A clove of garlic a day keeps the cancer away’, is a proven one. Allicin, the chemical it has, is responsible for several health benefits. This chemical is not present inside the unbroken clove as it is, it is only released when the clove is crushed. Therefore it is necessary to use garlic, either for raw consumption or in cooking, after crushing it. The unbroken clove, though, can add flavor in the cooked dish, but health benefits are lost.
In a current study by a group of Isreali scientists, it is found that Allicin can kill cancer cells, and malignant tumors in mice. Crushed garlics when added to other food, it starts killing parasites, bacteria, and microbes before those are killed by hot temperature in cooking, or otherwise. The fear of getting food poisoning from outside food can be minimized by ordering strong garlic flavor dish. Garlic has the antiseptic properties making it effective to keep away infections, when taken regularly.
Food habits are different from country to country, we know. The pungent smell of garlic is not liked by one and all. Abundant use of garlic in food of Italians and Chinese has reduced the chances of getting high
cholesterol and heart ailments in their people. In spite of having plenty of flour (Maida), and cheese in pizzas and pastas, Italians are less likely to be associated with cholesterol, heart, and cancer problems, because of good quantity of garlic use in those dishes. The same is true for Chinese too.
How should you eat the garlic clove?
Health benefits of garlic are highest when eaten raw after crushing the clove. For cooked dishes, crushed good quantities must be mixed for adequate benefits. Garlic cloves should be peeled and kept aside for about 15 minutes before crushing and mixing with the food in cooking. To maintain Allicin’s health benefit, crushed garlic must not be left for hours as Allicin loses its beneficial properties by reacting with garlic’s other components. Numerous garlic supplements are available in the market. These supplements are ready to eat in tablet form, but are not really that beneficial as that of raw crushed garlic. As mentioned before, garlic gives maximum health benefit when consumed in raw crushed form. Garlic is composed of 100 biologically useful chemicals.
Benefits of Garlic
1. It helps pregnant women to carry their pregnancy smoothly, if taken regularly – research suggests.
2. It helps to increase the weight of the baby inside the womb.
3. It cuts the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. Eclampsia is a condition when protein quantity is increased in urine due to increase blood pressure.
4. it is proved beyond doubt that garlic reduces cholesterol, that too bad cholesterol.
5. It maintains the blood pressure and cholesterol level reducing the risk of
heart attack.
6. Its Allicin chemical is anti carcinogenic, hence helps preventing cancer.
7. It is very helpful in preventing blood clots, especially in legs. Regulation of blood sugar is maintained by garlic. It also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
8. Last but not the least, it acts as an aphrodisiac. It maintains a prolonged erection in sexual activities.
There is no specific time for garlic intake. It depends on individual with different reasons. To avoid the lingering smell throuout the day, it is better to consume garlic at night, followed by milk.