Garlic — A Tasty and Healthy Treat!
Besides giving a lovely flavor to food, our very own garlic, is very beneficial for health.
Garlic has shown many beneficial curative effects since ancient times. It has been popular for its disease prevention/treatment and has been used as a medicinal plant since last 5000 years. Its scientific name is Allium sativum. It is the bulbous of the garlic plant which is known for its healing properties. It is a perennial plant from the group of vegetables such as onions, leeks, shallots etc.
It has its own strong aroma and pungent taste and is used as a condiment in several cuisines globally. It gives food preparations a peculiar taste and hence is a favorite natural flavoring agents of many.
There are certain biologically active compounds present in garlic which are responsible for the various disease preventing and management functions. Allicin, S- Allyl Cysteine and other sulphur containing compounds are responsible for a number of good effects. However, for some of health promoting properties, the causal mechanism is still unknown.
So let me tell you now, the various ways by which garlic consumption helps in enhancing your wellbeing.
1. Hypertension
A study suggests that garlic reduced the blood pressure in 80% of the hypertensive patients who participated in it. In another trial, garlic significantly lowered the mean systolic blood pressure by 12 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure by 9 mmHg, as compared to the patients who didn’t consume garlic. There are several such studies on animals as well which depict that garlic may have a role to play in controlling blood pressure.
2. Heart Diseases
Intake of garlic and its preparations helps in reduction of total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and mild increase in HDL (good) cholesterol in blood. All of which are heart protective signs. A study states there was an 8% reduction in the total cholesterol after ingestion of garlic and its preparations to the participants having high blood cholesterol. 8 % reduction in total cholesterol can be responsible for 38% reduction in the risk of coronary effects in (on an average) 50 yrs. old participants. This reduction is of significance.
Garlic consumption also have anti-atherosclerotic effect i.e. anti-clot forming effect in the blood streams especially providing blood to the heart. This helps in preventing blocks in these blood vessels thus preventing heart disease.
3. Diabetes
Garlic helps decreasing the LDL cholesterol to a significant extent and slightly increasing the HDL cholesterol in diabetic individuals
Chronic feeding of garlic decreases blood glucose levels in diabetics. However some other trials showed no change in the blood glucose. Hence more research based evidence in this field is necessary.
It’s reported that garlic extracts are effective against insulin resistance. This may help in lowering the risk of conditions associated with insulin resistance in the body such as diabetes, poly cystic ovarian syndrome, metabolic syndrome etc.
4. Anti-Microbial Properties:
a. Antibacterial: The antibacterial activity of garlic is widely attributed to allicin. Garlic has antibacterial effect on a variety of bacteria harmfully affecting intestinal functioning.
b. Anti-Viral Properties: Few laboratory studies have reported that garlic extract showed some activity against certain viruses such as those responsible for influenza, rhinovirus, HIV, herpes, viral pneumonia, and rotavirus. But more research in this area is required to show its beneficial effects on humans.
Allicin, diallyl trisulfide and ajoene (active substances of garlic) have all been presented to have anti-viral activities according to some researches.
c. Antifungal: Garlic has a powerful antifungal activities against various fungi which are diseases causing. Also showed its antifungal effects on two air-borne pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Trichoderma harzianum. It has a beneficial role to play in denture stomatitis (a type of mouth infection).
d. Anti-Giardiasis: Giardiasis, also called beaver-fever, is an infectious disease caused by parasite Giardia lamblia. Symptoms being diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, weight loss etc. Garlic has shown to have positive effects against giardiasis and thus can support its treatment.
5. Hepato-protective (Liver-protective)
Studies have shown that consumption of garlic can protect liver from some toxic chemicals or overdoses of, medications etc. Thus helps prevent toxicity in liver and maintains its health.
Please Note
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