All of us are likely familiar with garlic, particularly those who love to cook. Garlic belongs to the family of shallots, onions, and leeks and is popular for its delicious taste and distinct smell. But have you ever seen garlic as something more than just a kitchen ingredient?
You see, garlic has more uses than you may have thought possible—and not just in the kitchen!
Medical experts have identified many medical benefits from garlic, which is why pharmaceutical companies now have all kinds of garlic supplements for sale.
What then are the main medical benefits of garlic? Read on to know more about this amazing ingredient.
- Before garlic became famous in the kitchen, it was already famous among ancient doctors.
If you think that ancient people primarily used garlic because of its delicious taste, then you are far from the truth. Ancient people—including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and the Chinese, prized garlic for its medicinal properties. Garlic owes its distinct smell as well as its health and medicinal properties to the sulfur compounds that its cloves contain. Experts call the sulfur compound, allicin. Crushing, slicing or chewing a clove of garlic releases this potent compound. Once taken, allicin can work wonders for a person’s health.
- Garlic is a great way to boost your immune system.
Researchers have conducted several studies to test the potency of garlic. Their results show that garlic supplements are great for boosting the immune system. In fact, those who take garlic supplements demonstrate higher resistance to common illnesses such as colds and flu.
- Garlic is great for your cardiovascular health.
Did you know that aside from boosting your immune system, garlic can also help you regulate your body’s cholesterol levels? Individuals who have high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol are at a higher risk for experiencing a heart attack. Garlic can lower your body’s LDL level by as much as 15 percent! Also, garlic can considerably improve your blood pressure, minimizing the risk of strokes.
- Garlic is good for detoxifying heavy metals in your body.
A study shows that taking garlic can help lower the amount of lead in the body by as much as 19%. Clinical experiments also show that garlic can help reduce signs of toxicity as well. Its ability to detoxify heavy metals is largely due to its sulfur content that serves as a protection of the body against heavy metal toxicity.
- Garlic is a great way to improve muscle performance.
Did you know that athletes also take garlic to boost their muscle strength? Garlic’s use as an athletic performance booster dates as far back as the time of the ancient Greeks when Olympic athletes took garlic prior to their games. But garlic is not only good for Olympic players. In fact, history shows that ancient laborers also took garlic to reduce muscle fatigue and enhance their working capacity. Even if you are not an athlete, you can also consider taking garlic to help you with your exercise performance.
