Garlic is widely not just for food but also for its medicinal properties, due to the formation of sulfur compounds
Garlic is among the most popular Indian vegetables, which is used in most dishes. Apart from enhancing flavours, garlic—a diverse plant with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties—has immense health benefits. According to studies, since ancient times, people widely used garlic not just for food but also for its medicinal properties - due to the formation of sulfur compounds when you chop, crush, or chew a clove. Perhaps the most well-known compound is allicin – which is only briefly present in fresh garlic after you cut or crush it.
When you incorporate garlic into your daily meals, this is what will happen to your body.
Strengthen your immunity
Studies say garlic is packed with antiviral activity against viruses that lead to flu and respiratory infections, HIV, genital herpes, neurological infections, gastrointestinal infections including rotavirus, and a few other deadly diseases like dengue, hepatitis A virus, and vaccinia virus.
The organosulfur compounds in garlic produce antiviral activity in the pods.
Lowers cancer risk
The anticancer properties of garlic due to the presence of antioxidants reduce various cancers like bone cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and stomach cancer. According to doctors, eating a garlic pod daily also helps repair DNA damage, stop cancer cell growth, and reduce inflammation.
Lowers blood pressure
According to the World Health Organisation, garlic is instrumental in naturally reducing cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes by lowering blood pressure levels.
Studies say that decreased blood pressure is associated with a 16-40 per cent reduction in cardiovascular event risk. The research found evidence that vitamin B12 status plays an important role in how responsive someone is to the effects of garlic on blood pressure.
Improves liver health
Garlic is also a great help when it comes to improving your liver health. According to doctors, those who have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease must add garlic daily to their diet, as it can improve more than 50 per cent of their condition.
Also, consuming raw garlic reduces the risk of liver cancer.
Elevates kidney function
Doctors say garlic – packed with allicin – plays an important role in reducing the risk of kidney disease, as it helps lower blood pressure and oxidative stress, which improves your kidney function.
The effects of garlic are similar to those of Cozaar, a prescription drug commonly used as a first-line therapy for high blood pressure.
When should you eat garlic?
Doctors say to reap the maximum benefits of garlic, you can either eat it raw when you wake up, incorporate it into a meal, or even use it as a supplement at night. The best way to take garlic is how you like it because experts believe it is more likely to be consistently incorporated into your diet.
Who should avoid eating garlic?
Even though garlic is safe for most people to eat daily, some should avoid it or use care. Limit or avoid it if you:
Have an allergy
Avoid garlic in all forms if you have an allergy.
Have heartburn
Since a side effect of garlic is heartburn, you must avoid it
Take medications
Always consult with your doctor before ingesting garlic since it may interfere with a few medications.
Have surgery planned
Let your surgeon know that you are taking garlic because it increases the risk of bleeding.
