Garlic, the benefits and harms of which are still being studied, is popular and loved in many countries of the world. You can meet him in any garden. What kind of positive epithets people do not reward this amazing, healthy vegetable! "King of all seasonings!" "A panacea for all diseases!" "The cure for a thousand ailments!" Let's look at what garlic contains in its composition, what benefits our health can have, and how and to whom it can harm. The taste of garlic makes it one of the most popular and affordable seasonings, and the healing properties are universally used in official and traditional medicine.
Garlic, photo:
What is in garlic? In addition to a wide range of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, E, C, PP) and mineral components (copper, selenium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, iodine, manganese, cobalt, bromine ), it contains organic acids, monosaccharides, disaccharides. Provitamin A has a positive effect on vision, and Selenium, which is an antioxidant, has a pronounced anti-cancer effect. Chinese scientists believe that regular consumption of garlic can reduce the risk of cancer by 44%.
Ergosterol and sitosterol force the body to produce resources that help cope with various inflammations. The plant antibiotic allicin strengthens the immune system, has a detrimental effect on bacteria, viruses and fungi. In addition, it favorably affects the work of the heart muscle, improves brain function, and lowers blood cholesterol. Also in its composition are mineral salts, alkaline compounds and essential oils.
Garlic - Health Benefits
Of course, the positive effect that this vegetable is capable of exerting on the human body, on its health, is undeniably more than harm. Negative effects and warnings will be discussed later. In the meantime, we list the most famous useful properties of this amazing representative of the onion family.
What is garlic good for:
- Positive effect on the circulatory system. It kind of “dilutes” the blood, thereby minimizing the risk of blood clots and prevents clogging of blood vessels. The effect of its regular use is similar to the action of the well-known drug Aspirin. It is scientifically proven that the daily use of two to three garlic cloves per day gradually dissolves blood clots, dissolves plaques in blood vessels.
- As we know, stress is detrimental not only to the emotional background, but also to the work of the heart. This can lead to the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system. The use of garlic activates the production of serotonin, which has an effect on the body similar to the action of tranquilizers. It normalizes emotional state and sleep, removes anxiety, helps to overcome depression and generally counteracts stress.
- Improves liver function, suppresses cholesterol synthesis, with regular use reduces its level in the body. In general, the benefits of garlic are a powerful antioxidant effect.
- Normalizes blood pressure. Those who have suffered a heart attack, garlic in the diet is simply necessary. Its regular use can prevent the risk of a repeated heart attack. Scientifically proven its positive effect on the main arteries and veins of a large circle of blood circulation, as well as peripheral (lower and upper limbs). It has the ability to “clean” them, which is why its use is especially recommended for people of advanced age.
- Rejuvenates the body and strengthens the immune system. The fact that garlic is considered a symbol of longevity is based on real research.
- The benefits of garlic in the fight against viral diseases have been known to us since early childhood - this is the strongest preventive and therapeutic agent for seasonal epidemics of SARS and Influenza.
- To improve the digestive tract, increase intestinal motility, suppress the fermentation processes in the body, it is also recommended to eat it.
- From ancient times to this day, helminthic invasions and other parasites were expelled by the use of garlic. Also, enemas with garlic broth give a good effect in this matter.
- This vegetable is also beneficial for men's health, its regular use extremely positively affects potency, prevents the development of a common disease - prostate cancer.
In addition to all of the above, the benefits of garlic are also undeniable for external use. Problematic skin, hair loss, the presence of corns or warts, scratches from animal claws, cuts - here it will also help.
Can pregnant women eat garlic
There are a huge number of completely opposite opinions on this score. Starting from “it is possible, because it is so useful” to the categorical “it is impossible, because its use can provoke a miscarriage”. What is right? How not to harm yourself and your unborn baby?
No, eating garlic can not cause a miscarriage. This opinion is erroneous. Yes, it increases the overall tone of the body, but this has nothing to do with an increase in the tone of uterine activity. Therefore, if you want, eat it on health, in reasonable quantities, naturally.
If you feel heartburn, an unpleasant burning sensation or pain in the stomach, then garlic is simply contraindicated for you because of the general state of health, this is not connected with pregnancy in any way. Pay attention to the health of your internal organs.
But when you become a mother, it is reasonable to stop its use for the period of feeding the baby. Garlic will give a not very pleasant taste to mother's milk and the baby may refuse to breast.
The harm of garlic to the body
The benefits and harms of garlic to the same extent have always been of interest to people, because, as you know, any useful plant has a reverse side of the coin. This vegetable also has contraindications for use.
Harm and contraindications:
- You should not eat garlic for those who have serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach or duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis or pancreatitis. It is quite burning in itself, so even its excessive use can cause significant harm to the mucous membranes of the digestive tract.
- Patients with epilepsy should not use it, since it can provoke an attack.
- This vegetable is able to increase appetite, if a person is obese and has problems with excess weight, then garlic is better to exclude from the diet.
- Since it is capable of thinning the blood, garlic should be used very carefully with low blood coagulation and frequent nosebleeds.
- An individual allergic reaction is also often found, therefore, at the first suspicion of an allergy, you need to stop using garlic and consult a doctor for advice.
As you know, everything needs a measure. If you really like the garlic taste and simply can’t do without adding it to any dish, try reducing its amount to a minimum (for example, half a clove) so as not to exacerbate chronic diseases. Naturally, consult your doctor before doing so. In theory, such a dose will not bring the body much harm, as well as benefits, but then you can temporarily satisfy your taste preferences.
What is useful for young garlic
How delicious and aromatic the young garlic is! In spring and summer, we especially want vitamins, fresh herbs, new vegetables and fruits. Young garlic, especially one that has not yet had time to split into teeth, is rich in all the useful ingredients, which, in fact, the vegetable itself is famous for. Long narrow arrows and green leaves are also useful and tasty. The young vegetable and its terrestrial part contain vitamins, sugar, vegetable protein, mineral compounds, fats and a loading dose of volatile. All the substances in the composition of garlic, listed at the beginning of this article, are also present in the young representative of the onion family.
Young garlic, photo:
Benefit:
- It optimizes the work of the digestive tract.
- It has beneficial effects on the respiratory system.
- Able to lower blood sugar. Especially recommended for type 2 diabetes (lowers sugar levels up to 27%).
- Reduces the risk of cancer.
- Damaging to viruses, helps fight intestinal parasites.
- Improves blood supply to the brain, lowers blood pressure.
In a word, almost all the beneficial qualities of ripe garlic are present in its young representative. Its use is also an excellent prevention of vitamin deficiency, atherosclerosis, reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Contraindications to the use of young garlic do not particularly differ from the warnings regarding its mature "brother." Excessive fascination with young garlic can lead to diarrhea and bloating. In especially severe cases, even internal bleeding is possible. If a person has chronic problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to refuse this vegetable. Garlic (both young and mature) is not recommended for breastfeeding women, because it spoils the taste of breast milk, and babies react very indignantly to this - a fact. In the presence of such a rare disease as acute glomerulonephritis, the use of garlic is strictly prohibited.
Arrows of garlic, whether they are useful
Almost all parts of this plant are tasty, fragrant and healthy. Garlic shooters and green leaves taste as good as cloves. The use of arrows is a positive effect on the work of the heart and the cardiovascular system as a whole. They can be eaten raw, they are quickly and easily cooked (just fried in a pan in butter). Arrows pickle, insist on vodka, make garlic oil, drink with lemon or honey to strengthen immunity. Garlic shooters carry the same useful potential as the teeth, just their effect on the body is delicate, and the taste is softer.
Garlic arrows, photo:
They perfectly help the body cope with the spring lack of vitamins, suppress putrefactive flora and fermentation in the intestines (antibacterial effect), and stimulate appetite. The benefits of garlic shooters for thrombosis, low blood pressure, high blood cholesterol are known. Also, their use is recommended for exhaustion, general lethargy, with headaches and sleep disturbances. You should know that for cooking and marinades, two or three week arrows are considered the best. They combine perfectly with almost any dish, emphasize the taste of the main product, and are also good on their own.
Garlic maximally reveals its healing qualities when used in its raw form. But the prospect of having halitosis often stops people and makes them refuse to use it. Here you can only advise eating it at night or before the weekend. You can also try to kill the garlic amber by eating leaves of parsley, basil, mint. A glass of milk drunk after a meal also blocks this characteristic smell quite well.
Garlic - the benefits and harms of this vegetable also apply to medicines made on its basis, do not forget about it!