The addition of garlic to meals, salads, and dips makes everything much tastier. Yet, despite the amazing flavor, unique aroma, and finger-licking taste it adds to food, garlic is also one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
Namely, the delicious garlic is the most powerful natural antibiotic created by Nature, and it improves health is so many different ways.
The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy published a study conducted by Washington State University, which concentrated on one of the most common bacteria, called Campylobacter.
These bacteria are the main cause of numerous terrible food-borne illnesses leading to diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.
The findings showed that garlic is able to destroy it 100 times more effectively than common antibiotics like erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. Moreover, scientists found that it works in a fraction of the time.
Despite its impressive antibiotic powers, garlic also offers numerous other health benefits:
- Garlic strengthens the immune system by stimulating the cells and improving their efficacy
- It cleanses the blood from toxic heavy metals and relieves the side-effects of toxicity
- Garlic contains beneficial compounds that lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases
- The consumption of garlic lowers the risk of cancer
- Garlic can help you recover sooner if you suffer from a cold or the flu
- It is a natural way to lower blood pressure and is as effective as Atenolol
Garlic is best to be consumed raw for its microbial properties, even though cooked garlic is still highly beneficial. The antioxidant value is equal when cooked, unlike most foods in which cooking tends to reduce nutritional content.
Yet, to boost its effects, chop or crush it and let it sit before eating it or heating it for a recipe. Scientists recommend waiting for 10 minutes before cooking it. This will activate the alliinase enzymes in the garlic’s cells, and allows them to convert some of the garlic’s allin into allicin. Allicin quickly breaks down to form a variety of organosulfur compounds.
Therefore, keep adding garlic to your daily meals and you will naturally protect your body from ailments and diseases! What’s more, you will enjoy your food!
Sources and References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4417560/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22280901
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24035939
https://news.wsu.edu/2012/05/01/garlic-compound-fights-source-of-food-borne-illness/