{"id":692,"date":"2017-06-13T05:05:23","date_gmt":"2017-06-13T05:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=692"},"modified":"2021-03-11T15:35:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T15:35:00","slug":"20-health-benefits-garlic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/20-health-benefits-garlic\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Health Benefits of Garlic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Garlic is famously able to help you ward away vampires. For the slightly superstitious\/prone to watching late night horror movies, that might be reason enough to keep them around the house!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But did you know that garlic is also one of the most nutritious and beneficial foods you can keep in your cupboard. This is not only because it is pretty much a powerhouse superfood in terms of the nutrients it contains but also because it has so many uses beyond the obvious. Garlic finds itself as a popular choice in a great many different home remedies and old wives tales but the good news here is that many of those tips and ideas actually work (which can\u2019t always be said to be the case!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garlic as we\u2019re about to see can also be used in a number of ways for athletes and bodybuilders and might be one of the most potent natural performance enhancers right behind beets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as though that wasn\u2019t enough, there\u2019s also the small fact that garlic is\u2026 well, delicious. Garlic is used in a ton of cooking and is found in a lot of different sauces and toppings. Add garlic to a bolognaise, moussaka<\/a> or lasagne to instantly make it tastier, or enjoy it in a little hummus. Not a fan of garlic? Not a problem: the sharp taste and strong smell can understandably put some people off in which case you can take it in capsule form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading then and we\u2019ll take a look at 20 of the most impressive health benefits of garlic and 20 reasons that you should really consider keeping this item around the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  Athletic Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the simple fact that garlic can help you to run farther and faster. It does this via a process called vasodilation, which essentially means that the blood vessels (veins and arteries) widen and thereby allow more blood to flow around the body more easily. That in turn means that you\u2019re going to get more oxygen where it is needed, not to mention more nutrients and glucose. The result is that you should see a performance boost in a number of sports and activities and this will likely be especially true for long-distance endurance exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>2.  Weight Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A recent study suggests that garlic might be a useful supplement for weight loss as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one study, researchers fed mice a fattening diet for eight weeks and then kept them on that diet while adding garlic into the mix. It was found that garlic slowed the body\u2019s ability to store fat and thereby reduced the weight gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This suggests that humans might also be able to benefit from garlic as a tool for losing weight<\/a>, although more studies need to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>3.  Energy Levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The fact that garlic helps supply the body and brain with more oxygen<\/a> and nutrients can also benefit \u2018non athletes\u2019 and help them to feel more awake and alert first thing in the morning and as the day stretches on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get the most benefits from garlic, you should try to cut it first and then let it sit at room temperature for around 10 minutes prior to cooking. This allows it to retain more of its nutritional benefits versus crushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course you can eat it raw, if you\u2019re hard core!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>4.  Brain Function<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Want to give yourself an edge in the boardroom or classroom?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garlic might be able to do just that, seeing as it can enhance blood flow not only to the muscles but also to the brain. More energy to the brain results in better brain function and in some studies this appears to even mean greater IQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you struggle with brain fog or feel mentally sluggish and slow, consuming a little garlic might just be the answer that you\u2019re looking for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>5.  Wakefulness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s another possible explanation as to how garlic could help you to boost brain performance, although this hasn\u2019t been specifically tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That possibility, is that garlic could help you to wake up and become more alert first thing in the morning. The reason this is possible is that it is the nitric oxide you get from garlic that gives it its vasodilatory properties. This nitric oxide also serves a role in the brain when we wake up and is produced in large quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic role of nitric oxide<\/a> is to encourage activity in nearby neurons. In this way, it appears to help wake up the brain in a kind of wave-like pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>6.  Antibacterial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now for one of the biggest and most-known benefits of garlic: its usefulness as an antibacterial agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, garlic is sometimes describes as being potent enough to be considered a \u2018natural antibiotic\u2019. This is thanks to the inclusion of a substance called allicin<\/a>, which has been shown in many studies to be able to combat bacteria including a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria \u2013 including some multidrug resistant strains, even MRSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this means that garlic can be taken to try and combat infections and might be a useful aid in driving out stomach infections and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>7.  Antiviral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The antibacterial benefits of garlic are impressive enough, but as it happens, it is also antiviral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means it could be helpful in driving out viruses such as influenza<\/a>, helping you to more quickly recover from colds and flus or just to prevent getting ill in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.  Antifungal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, garlic is also antifungal, meaning that it could be a useful tool for fighting the likes of yeast infections and parasites<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should always discuss use with your doctor however and be weary of instructions that involve using garlic topically in areas where garlic does not normally belong\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9.  Gum Infection and Tooth Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Garlic is often recommended as a tool for treating gum infections and tooth pain <\/a>and this is a scenario where topical application won\u2019t cause any harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply crush the garlic into a paste and add a little water to make a paste. Now take a small amount on your finger (having made sure to wash your hands thoroughly first) and then apply directly to the source of the discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This should be enough to kill off the bacteria that is causing the pain or the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>10.  Bad Breath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It may seem somewhat ironic to think that garlic could help to treat bad breath, seeing as it is also often the cause of bad breath, being really rather pungent (it is sometimes referred to as the \u2018stinking rose\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, while garlic might do nothing for your breath in the short term, in the long term it can kill off bacteria. This is good news, seeing as it is bacteria that will cause the problem in the first place. Halitosis <\/a>as it is known is caused by bacteria in the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So eat garlic regularly and you might just help to reduce the likelihood of your breath stinking in the future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>11.  Muscle Strength<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bodybuilders will often take garlic as part of a \u2018pre-workout\u2019 in order to benefit from the enhanced athletic performance we looked at earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially beneficial for bodybuilders because the feeling of enlarged blood vessels is what creates the \u2018pump\u2019 \u2013 the sensation of having the muscles <\/a>swollen with blood, which is considered very motivating and which can enhance strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pump ultimately leads to better workouts and therefore enhanced muscle mass. In the short term, the increased vascularity can also make you look particularly mean and intimidating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>12.  Muscle Recovery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Following a workout, the garlic continues to do its work by delivering more oxygen<\/a> and nutrients to the muscles in order to provide the necessary ingredients for recovery. Note that muscle growth does not happen in the gym but rather after the workout during the recovery stage. Garlic helps this process along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more though, is that recent studies have found that garlic also increases the number of satellite cells found around the muscles. These cells are essentially like spare materials that can be called upon to provide a range of different jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this scenario, satellite cells will be used to repair muscle and rebuild the torn muscle fibers, leading to greater strength and accelerated recovery in the short term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>13.  Garlic Can Prevent Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blockages in our circulatory system are responsible for a large number of different problems, ranging from heart attacks, heart disease and angina to strokes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garlic can reduce the likelihood of all these problems by widening the blood vessels and thereby widening the passage for the blood to flow around through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a very important benefit, given than heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>14.  Garlic Lowers Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More directly, garlic lowers blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes sense because pressure is simply measuring the density of a substance in a closed space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, the substance is the blood and the space is the blood vessels. When those blood vessels get larger and the amount of blood\/viscosity remains the same, this means that the pressure is lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>15.  Garlic Lowers Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Garlic can lower stress <\/a>in a number of ways. Firstly, by lowering blood pressure, garlic reduces how hard the heart has to work in order to pump blood around the body. This has obvious and immediate benefits as it means that the heart is less likely to suffer an attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the very same time though, this can also help to lower stress by reducing the resting heart rate. In other words, the heart can afford to beat less violently now that blood moves more easily around the body. Heart rate is linked directly to stress levels and the action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, thus this can immediately reduce stress and make you calmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, is that garlic is able to lower stress thanks to the content of magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that relaxes the muscles and that has also been shown to reduce brain activity. This makes it useful for helping us to get to sleep and also for combating anxiety and racing thoughts in general!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>16.  Garlic is an Antioxidant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Garlic is an antioxidant<\/a>, meaning that like so many other superfoods, it can help to protect the cells against free radical damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is important because free radicals are what not only lead to the visible signs of aging as they cause large amounts of damage to the surface of the skin cells, but also what lead to cancer as they can penetrate into the nucleus of the cell and there cause mutations that spread and cause the growth of cancerous tumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies looking at the direct link between cancer and garlic are limited but the general consensus is that it will \u2018probably\u2019 provide some defense against cancer. Certainly worth adding to your diet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>17.  Soothes Psoriasis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Garlic is already anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti just about everything else. Now it turns out that it can act as an anti-inflammatory agent as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that this makes it effective in combating psoriasis<\/a> (the skin condition) and some people recommend topical application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This also might make it effective at treating and managing other inflammation-based conditions such as arthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>18.  Vitamin B6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another reason that garlic is so useful for energy levels, for athletes and for weight loss is that it provides the body with vitamin B6<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin B6 has many important functions, helping with the production of some important neurotransmitters for example, but it is particularly useful for helping the body to make use of carbs for energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means less energy stored as fat yet again and it means greater feelings of vitality and energy throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>19.  Skin and Hair<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is not just your energy levels that may be vitalized though! Garlic can also improve your skin<\/a> and hair and make you look as good as you feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already seen how the anti-inflammatory properties will help to prevent inflammation that causes psoriasis. And we\u2019ve seen too how garlic helps to combat wrinkles via the antioxidant benefits. Consider too that better blood flow will result in a much more even skin tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But on top of all that, garlic can also help to treat fungal infections as you might expect and provide relief from eczema. It\u2019s also useful for combating hair loss according to some anecdotal reports, which makes sense considering that many people use onion for the very same reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>20.  Digestion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, one of the very most potent benefits of garlic is the way it can aid the digestive system<\/a>. This depends partly on the form of garlic you eat because once again, it\u2019s the allicin we\u2019re looking for here, which is lost when the garlic is crushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allicin is what makes garlic so pungent and when you consume it it can help to encourage healthy digestion and the production of important digestive enzymes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do note however that some people experience digestive problems when consuming garlic raw or only partially crushed \u2013 so the key to remember here is that we\u2019re all different and our diets should reflect this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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