Garlic Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Scientific Name: Allium sativum

Common Names: Garlic Clove

Properties: Anti-fungal, Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antihistamine, Blood thinner, Diuretic, Hypoglycemic, Anti-ageing, Anti-viral, Anti-flatulent, Antispasmodic, Antiparasitic, Anti-coagulant, Superfood

What is Garlic?

Garlic is a bulb-shaped plant species in the onion genus, Allium. It is closely related to onions, chives, leeks, and scallions, and it’s often used for flavor in cooking.¹ Other uses of garlic include for medicinal purposes since its many antioxidants and oganosulfur compounds are said to give those who eat garlic health benefits.² Garlic can be eaten raw or cooked as whole cloves or as dry powder on food or in capsules.³

Garlic Health Benefits

There are many garlic benefits that can improve your health. It’s considered a superfood, which means that it contains many beneficial compounds. This includes:

Vitamins like vitamin C and B6
Selenium
Manganese
Other antioxidants⁴

All of garlic’s wonderful nutrients and minerals help boost the immune system to prevent and treat certain diseases and conditions.²

Uses of Garlic

When you eat garlic regularly, you’re helping prevent illnesses such as:

Cancer - Garlic is said to help with many forms of cancer, but it’s most closely associated with preventing cancer of digestive system organs, such as the stomach. Stomach cancer is when cancerous cells--or cells that grow and divide at an unusual rate--begin growing in the stomach.
Heart disease - This means that your heart is not working properly, which can be due to a number of reasons. Garlic helps prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are issues that can impact heart health.
Toothache - Many people eat garlic for toothache issues. A toothache is any pain in the teeth or supporting structures and can be caused by tooth decay, dental trauma, inflammation, or abscesses. Garlic can help combat some of these issues.
Ringworm - Ringworm is a red rash on the skin that forms a ring. It’s caused by a fungus, and you can help combat this infection by applying garlic to the affected area.

If you’re looking to eat garlic for health, then you’ll find that some of the best remedies are garlic for colds and garlic for blood pressure.² Eating garlic for acne, garlic for hair growth, or garlic for ear infection problems are also common ways to use garlic to benefit your health.

Garlic Side Effects and Precautions

Garlic is recognized as a safe herb, but excessive consumption can lead to garlic side effects such as:

Strong breath and body odors¹
Upset stomach
Bloating
Stinging sensation on the skin when handling garlic
Headache
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Thin blood²

Garlic can also interact with other herbs and medications to cause other side effects. For example, eating too much garlic can impact the effectiveness of birth control pills. People with ulcers and thyroid problems or those taking any medications should first talk to their doctor if they plan to use garlic for medicinal purposes.²

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