Benefits Of Garlic Consumption
Consuming garlic has become a central topic in naturopathic recipes. And it is one of the foods with the most proven properties. We can also consume garlic in our meals, it gives us a strong and pleasant flavor. We show you some of the incredible benefits of consuming garlic. Don’t stop reading!
Garlic is used, in general, in many diseases related to the heart and blood system. These conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and arteriosclerosis. To learn a little more about garlic, we invite you to know all its benefits below.
1. Consume garlic for esophageal cancer
A study conducted in China showed that consuming raw garlic, two cloves per week, reduces the risk of esophageal cancer. This is because garlic contains sulfur compounds, which suppress nitrosamine formation, thus minimizing carcinogenic bioactivation.
However, there are many factors that determine the development of cancer. Genetics have a lot to do with this, so even paying attention to lifestyle habits, prevention is not always 100% effective.
2. Helps to modulate inflammation
This food could be understood as an anti-inflammatory, since it is responsible for eliminating the production of two components that help inflammation : nitric oxide and prostaglandin. Its properties in this regard are evidenced in a study published in Current Hypertension Reports.
Including it in the diet of people with rheumatoid arthritis can help reduce pain. However, this food should be part of the diet of almost everyone.
It must be taken into account that inflammation is associated with a state of chronic and permanent pain. As soon as it manifests itself, a series of general dietary changes should be implemented in order to solve the problem. Consuming garlic may be one of them, but not the only one.
3. Control cholesterol
It contains a compound called allicin, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Being a sulfur compound, allicin appears in garlic when it is crushed or cut.
It should be noted that the antioxidants in garlic can reduce the transformation of VLDL cholesterol to its oxidized version, the latter being a series of particles that generate a greater risk of suffering atherosclerosis. Therefore, experts say that this food has cardioprotective capabilities.
4. Ally against hypertension
Research has been commissioned to analyze the effects of garlic on the circulatory system to control blood pressure. Thus, a study published in 2015 by the journal Phytomedicine, concluded that garlic could work as a complementary treatment for hypertension.
However, when this problem emerges it is necessary to put on the table several different methods to deal with it. You have to control your diet, but it will be essential to increase physical activity. Also, pay attention to the consumption of water and reduce that of other liquids, especially alcohol.
How to consume garlic?
The best way to eat garlic is raw. When it is subjected to an aggressive thermal or physical process, a good part of its nutrients are lost, such as inulin. Some of its components are volatile compounds, very sensitive to oxidation. In this sense, it is best to eat it raw, as long as possible.
In any case, many of the antioxidants it contains are capable of resisting cooking, so that these methods will also produce benefits derived from their consumption.
Now, there is a widespread myth that the best time to eat garlic is on an empty stomach. There is no scientific basis to corroborate this theory. At any time it is a beneficial food for health in general.
Other foods that go well with garlic
Garlic can be combined with other different products to achieve a greater effect on the body. Thus, it is recommended to mix it with olive oil and vegetable spices. All these products are capable of helping to modulate inflammation and reduce the appearance of free radicals, associated with a worse state of health.
Include garlic frequently in the diet
In summary, garlic can be beneficial to avoid or reduce the incidence of the problems that we have discussed. We recommend that you include it in your diet if you have not already done so. Of course, there are different varieties of garlic, each with its own particularities. It is best to alternate them to enjoy a more complete supply of nutrients.
Likewise, we recommend that you pay attention to other lifestyle habits to improve your overall health. It is important to be physically active frequently and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Otherwise, inflammation, a mechanism underlying many complex pathologies, could be over-promoted.
