The garlic, also referred to as stinking rose and rocambole, is used for both culinary and medicinal properties.
It is used as a spice which adds specific flavor to numerous dishes, and it also provides medicinal properties, in terms of treating diseases and maintaining proper health.
What gives the garlic its health benefits is the allicin, a natural component which is known to provide amazing benefits for the cardiovascular health. Apart from allicin, garlic is rich in vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, and nutrients.
Why You Should Eat Raw Garlic?
As mentioned above, allicin is a very important component of the garlic that improves various health benefits, such as cancer prevention. Allicin is produced once the allinase, a garlic enzyme, is cut or chewed. The cooking process prevents garlic from making allicin.
In order to let the compounds become fully activated, you are advised to expose the crushed or whole garlic to air for about 5-10 minutes, prior the consumption.
How to Add Garlic into Your Daily Diet?
You can use it as either an addition to your meals or as an addition to green juice or smoothies.
Health Benefits of Eating Raw Garlic Daily:
- Improve Bone Health
The current studies suggest that eating raw garlic does provide some benefits for the bone health, as a result to the increase of estrogen levels in females.
- Prevents Cancer
Garlic contains compounds which have the ability to prevent cancer cells from dividing and cause them to die. The regular consumption of raw garlic is shown to reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, such as colo-rectal, prostate, stomach, and uterine cancer.
- High Amount of Antioxidants
Garlic is very rich in antioxidant content. This is really important, as antioxidants kill off free radicals and reduce overall oxidative stress. Free radicals are the ones that cause damage to DNA and cell membranes, while high levels of oxidative stress are associated with various issues.
- Boosts the Immune System
Thanks to its potent antiviral properties, garlic has the ability to treat infections and to be very effective in both prevention and treatment of cold.
- Cardiovascular Health
As shown in many different studies, the regular consumption of garlic leads to a decrease in the bad cholesterol levels ( LDL) and total cholesterol.
The allicin and other compounds naturally found in the garlic act on the platelets and blood components which are involved in clot formation. This significantly reduces the risk of blood clots, one of the major causes of stroke.
