This plant is known to almost every person on our planet. Its rich aroma is a stumbling block and divides people into two camps: some love it, others do not like it for a pungent smell. But hardly anyone doubts about the beneficial properties of garlic.
Indeed, in the composition of this plant, scientists found about 400 biologically active substances that act positively on the human body, struggling with various changes and ailments.
What is part of garlic?
As noted earlier, garlic is a real storehouse of nutrients. It contains vitamins B 1 , B 3 , C, D, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iodine and other mineral salts. Also in the composition are sulfuric, phosphoric and silicic acids.
The cloves of this vegetable contain such organic substances as inulin, phytosterols, lysine, folic acid, volatile, allicin, ajoen. The benefits of garlic for the human body are characterized not only by the content of all of these components in it, but by their unique proportion and complementary effect. Scientists have found that biological substances contained in natural sources are much more effective and harmless to the human body than their analogues obtained synthetically.
What diseases does garlic help with?
The benefits of garlic to humans have been known to our ancestors. There is mention of an ancient Tibetan recipe based on this vegetable, which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Our grandparents knew that this plant perfectly helps to strengthen the body, in the fight against colds and scurvy, it saves from pain and other ailments.
Scientists empirically confirm the effectiveness of the active components of garlic in the following diseases:
- viral and bacterial infections;
- heart and vascular disease;
- cancer and its prevention;
- hypertension;
- blockage of blood vessels and thrombosis;
- helminthic infestations;
- avitaminosis;
- weakened immunity;
- male sexual weakness;
- liver disease
- joint diseases.
This is an incomplete list of those ailments in which garlic is effective. The benefits of garlic to the human body are simply invaluable, and this is confirmed by the scientific world.
Garlic and heart work
American scientists have discovered an amazing fact: garlic has a beneficial effect on the heart, relieving tension in the arteries and veins. The object of the study was the blood vessels of rats, which were immersed in garlic juice.
As a result of this interaction, the wall stress level dropped by 70%. Scientists also noted that red blood cells respond to allicin (a biologically active substance in garlic) by the instant release of hydrogen sulfide. This gas, in turn, reduces vascular hypertension and improves blood flow activity. This effect helps to lower blood pressure, relieves the heart and improves the supply of oxygen to vital organs and tissues. As a result, many life processes in the human body come to their physiological norm. It is noted that in countries whose national cuisines actively use garlic, the level of heart disease is lower.
Garlic and male hormones
The real sensation was the result of a study of the effect of garlic allicin on the human hormonal background. An increase in testosterone levels and a decrease in the concentration of cortisol, which refers to catabolic hormones, were detected. The latter stands out as a stressful response when training in the gym and has a destructive effect on muscle mass. So, allicin is able to shift hormonal balance towards anabolism, accelerate muscle building and achieve impressive results in a shorter time. The benefits of garlic for men in this case comes down to its natural anabolic properties. For this, the athlete needs to eat 2 cloves of garlic twice a day no later than one hour before training.
The effects of garlic at the cellular level
Swedish and American scientists have been able to uncover the mechanism of action of biologically active substances of garlic at the cellular level. These plant components are able to dilate blood vessels by activating the TRPA1 channel on sensor neurons. Thus, garlic is effective in solving the problem of hypertension. In turn, TRPA1 is a kind of portal on the surface structure of the cell, which in the open state allows ions to penetrate inside.
In order to find out whether garlic allicin, which contains sulfur, is capable of revealing this portal, scientists studied its effect on rats. Researchers are inclined to believe that the human body is able to respond to allicin in the same way.
The active components of garlic interact with protein receptors in the nerve endings of the oral cavity. After this, the portal TRPA1 opens and calcium and sodium ions, for example, freely penetrate the nerve cell. At this time, an electrical impulse is sent to the spinal cord, and then to the brain, where it is processed. As a result, pain passes. The response of nervous matter is the release of substances that contribute to the expansion of blood vessels. A similar mechanism in the human body is also triggered by chili pepper and mustard. Thus, the benefits of garlic for the human body are manifested in its ability to reduce pain.
Garlic against viruses and bacteria
These properties of this plant are known to mankind for more than one millennium. The biologically active substances contained in garlic - phytoncides - are able to withstand a wide group of microorganisms. This effect is sometimes not inferior to antibiotics, while the microflora of the human intestine does not undergo large losses.
The active substances contained in garlic are able to significantly suppress the growth and reproduction of the pathogen dysentery, diphtheria, as well as yeast-like fungi.
During an exacerbation of respiratory diseases, the benefits of garlic to the human body are simply invaluable. Together with antibacterial and antiviral properties, this plant has the ability to increase the body's resistance. Specific proteins of garlic normalize the immune response of the human body , its ability to produce antibodies.
Garlic in the fight against cholesterol
It is scientifically proven that regular use of garlic reduces the content of "bad" cholesterol in the human body by at least 12%. It is known that cholesterol promotes the formation of peculiar growths of plaques on the inner walls of blood vessels. The clearance of the latter narrows, the blood flow worsens, a blockage forms. The benefit of garlic for the human body in this case is to cleanse the blood of harmful cholesterol and improve blood flow. This helps maintain the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
In addition, the ajoen contained in garlic helps to reduce blood viscosity and passivates platelet activity. This significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
What else is garlic good for?
Eating it quite often as a food, we don’t even think about what benefits of garlic for the human body are hidden inside it. But its positive impact on health is simply colossal.
Allicin contained in garlic has a pronounced antioxidant property and is able to neutralize free radicals in the human body. These substances are known to be formed in the process of metabolism and penetrate into human cells from adverse environmental factors.
Radicals contribute to premature aging, disrupt the normal functioning of organs and systems, and cause cancer. Thus, the benefits of garlic to humans are its anticancer properties. This vegetable not only prevents the development of cancer, but also inhibits the growth of an existing tumor.
The beneficial effects of garlic on the liver and joints are also known. The sulfur contained in it leads to the formation of methionine. This amino acid is necessary for the normal functioning of articular cartilage and has a hepatoprotective effect. For people with arthritis and hepatitis, this plant simply needs to be included in the diet. The benefits of garlic for the liver are also manifested in stimulating the passage of bile.
Based on the property of this miraculous plant to expand blood vessels, scientists say that the benefits of garlic for men is to solve the problems of sexual dysfunction. If sexual weakness is caused by a deterioration in the blood supply to the reproductive organ, then eating this fragrant plant can improve the situation.
Should I use garlic on an empty stomach?
Some traditional medicine recipes recommend garlic on an empty stomach. This method is effective in the presence of inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity of a microbial nature, for the purification of blood and lymph, for colds, with anemia and pyelonephritis. In the presence of such indications, it is recommended to dissolve garlic on an empty stomach. The benefits of this procedure are enormous.
Without getting into the stomach, the active substances penetrate directly into the blood and lymph and exert their therapeutic effect. For the purpose of delicate adaptation, you need to start with a thin plate and bring to a whole clove of garlic. Resorption should be continued for about half an hour, spit out the cake, then have breakfast and brush your teeth. To get rid of the pungent odor, you can chew coffee, parsley or drink milk.
Is garlic harmful?
Like any substance with a set of biologically active substances, this plant has a number of contraindications. Garlic abuse is dangerous in the following diseases and conditions:
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys and stomach. The pungent taste is annoying and can aggravate inflammatory processes.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Epilepsy. It is believed that this plant can provoke an attack.
- Pregnancy and lactation. Garlic can be an allergen. The pungent taste and smell pass into milk and the child may not like it.
- The presence of weakness and dizziness.
- The presence of excess weight. Although many tend to believe that garlic contributes to weight loss, nutritionists note an arousal of appetite after eating it. This can lead to overeating and adversely affect weight.
But all these contraindications are not so significant. The benefits of garlic to the human body are much more significant. Many people realize this, but do not eat this product because of the pungent odor. These persons can use pickled garlic. The benefits and harms of this product remain virtually unchanged, but the taste becomes softer and more refined.
Is pickled garlic healthy?
This peculiar and unpretentious appetizer is appreciated by lovers of spirits. And even those who do not drink alcohol at all, appreciate the pleasant taste of this product.
During the harvesting process, the valuable qualities of the vegetable are not lost, so the benefits of pickled garlic are similar to those that provide a fresh analog.
Marinate garlic with cloves and whole heads. For this, the raw materials are prepared, cleaned, washed, put in a sterile jar and poured with hot boiled marinade. To prepare the brine, you will need water, salt, sugar and vinegar in a proportion: per 1 liter of water for a tablespoon of all the ingredients. Then the blanks are pasteurized for 10 minutes and rolled up with lids. All the benefits of pickled garlic are preserved as a result of a short heat treatment.
Such home conservation will come in handy in the winter. You can use this marinade as a snack or use in cooking. Pickled garlic, especially young ones, will serve as an excellent source of vitamins and other biologically active substances, which are clearly deficient in the cold season.
By the way, those who are afraid of the pungent smell of this vegetable, including pregnant and lactating women, will like this venture. But do not lean too hard on pickled garlic, the benefits and harms of which do not undergo changes in the harvesting process. Remember that there are contraindications to the use of this vegetable.
Why is garlic husk needed?
It turns out that not only the cloves of garlic, but also its husks have healing properties. This component contains a large number of pectin substances, which remove heavy metals, cholesterol and radionuclides from the human body.
In addition, the husk of garlic, whose benefits are great, protects the mucous structure of the digestive tract, acts as an anabolic and anti-inflammatory agent. From it you can make powder and take a teaspoon three times a day. It is also recommended to take a water decoction from the husk, which will help with heart and kidney ailments, cleanse the body and restore youth to the skin. The broth should be drunk cold. At the first symptoms of a cold, you can breathe over dry husk fried in a pan. The condition improves quite quickly.
Having complete information about this miracle vegetable, we can safely say: he deserves to be called a natural doctor. The combination of numerous beneficial properties and great accessibility of garlic makes it very popular in every family. Do not detract from the merits of this product and be sure to include it in your daily diet. Of course, we must not forget about contraindications, so as not to cause irreparable harm to your body.