Garlic is more than just a flavorful spice to add to your favorite dishes. It’s also one of the most medicinal spices on the planet. It may not be the best food for your breath but it’s great for the rest of your body. Let’s take a look at the top 20 health benefits of garlic!
Top 20 Ways Garlic Can Improve Your Health
1. Fights Yeast Infections
The powerful anti-fungal properties in garlic make it the natural go-to medication for women with recurrent yeast infections. Simply peel a clove of garlic from the bulb, peel away its covering and insert into the vagina before retiring for the night. Leave in until morning. For severe or recurrent infections, cut the clove in half and place both pieces into the vagina.
2. Cures Athlete’s Foot
Garlic’s anti-viral properties also extend to athlete’s foot. To cure your foot infection, you’ll need a basin, rubbing alcohol and several cloves of organic garlic. Mince the garlic as fine as possible and mix into a basin filled with warm water. Add a splash of rubbing alcohol and soak for 30 minutes.
You can also make and use a homemade garlic oil remedy for athlete’s foot. To make the garlic oil, mince several cloves of organic garlic oil and put them in a mason jar. Add enough olive oil to completely cover the garlic. Allow to sit for 3 days, shaking the jar a few times per day. Dip a clean cotton ball into the garlic oil and rub directly onto your athlete’s foot. Repeat twice per day until infection clears up.
3. Wards off Colds and Flu
Garlic cloves can help ward off colds and flu due to a powerful chemical compound called allicin. Add minced garlic to your stir fry right before you remove it from the burner or sprinkle it on your salad. To lessen the taste of pure garlic, try mixing it in with honey and swallowing. This mixture is especially beneficial when you’re trying to beat a head or chest cold. When using garlic in cooking, never overheat it as this will weaken the effects of its anti-viral properties.
4. Prevents Cancer
Compounds called dialyl sultides have been shown to increase the activity of immune cells and help break down cancer-causing substances within the body. Studies have shown that garlic is especially beneficial at treating and preventing prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer.
5. Kills H. Pylori Infection
H. Pylori is a bacterial infection that is responsible for 90% of gastrointestinal ulcers. Garlic’s strong anti-viral properties have been shown to kill H. Pylori infection without depleting healthy intestinal flora.
6. Promotes Weight Loss
The benefits of garlic also extend to weight loss. Not only is garlic a strong appetite suppressant, it also stimulates the nervous system to release adrenalin, which helps boost your metabolism. A faster metabolism means a better calorie burn with every workout!
7. Lowers Cholesterol
If your cholesterol levels are higher than you’d like them to be but you want to avoid stain medications, turn to garlic. Garlic lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol without lowering HDL (good) cholesterol. The effects of garlic on cholesterol will only remain as long as you continue eating it so be sure to add it to regular meals.
8. Lowers Blood Pressure
According to a study, garlic can lower blood pressure naturally without the unwanted side effects of blood pressure-lowering medications.
9. Anti-Aging
Eating a few garlic cloves per day can help fight the free radicals that lead to premature aging.
10. Prevents Heart Disease and Stroke
Eating a few garlic cloves regularly can also help prevent heart disease and stroke because of the antioxidant ajoene. Garlic helps thin the blood naturally without the side effects of prescription drugs.
11. Elevates Testosterone Levels
According to an article published in the Journal of Nutrition, garlic helps increase testosterone levels, which can treat sexual dysfunction and prostate problems. Just 4 milligrams of testosterone per day can help you feel like a brand new man!
12. Treats Diabetes Naturally
Allicin, the active ingredient in garlic has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose levels and help stabilize blood sugar in those with type II diabetes.
13. Fights Acne
The benefits of garlic also extend to your skin. Used externally, garlic can help clear up stubborn acne that refuses to respond to over-the-counter treatments. For breakouts, use a garlic press to juice 2 cloves of garlic. Using a clean finger, rub the garlic juice directly on to each acne blemish. Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse off. Never leave the garlic juice on overnight as this could severely burn your skin.
14. Improves Digestion
If you have troubled digestion, garlic can help. Garlic encourages peristalsis, the natural wave-like movements of your intestines to help move food through your digestive tract and waste from your colon. However, some people with irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease may experience gas or bloating when eating garlic so start small and adjust your dosage accordingly.
15. Treats Allergies
Garlic is a natural anti-inflammatory that can help treat allergies by opening up your bronchial tubes and easing nasal congestion.
16. Promotes Healthy Eyes
Garlic contains sulfur, which is necessary for producing the antioxidant glutathione that keeps eyes healthy.
17. Prevents Osteoarthritis
Garlic contains an organic sulfur compound called diallyl disulphide, which limits the amount of cartilage-damaging enzymes in your body. It also helps ease the pain and inflammation associated with arthritic conditions.
18. Eases Toothache Pain
Sometimes you have a tooth infection but you can’t get to the dentist right away. For these times, there’s garlic. To make a garlic paste for your toothache, peel four cloves of garlic and mash them with a mortar and pestle. Add one teaspoon of olive oil and mix until you make a thick paste. Then, add ½ a teaspoon of the mixture to your infected tooth and gum. Massage gently into the area and leave on for 20 minutes. The garlic will ease inflammation, increase circulation, and treat any infection you may have.
19. Cures Warts
If you have an embarrassing wart on your hand, try garlic. Simply cut open a clove of garlic (organic) and rub it on the wart. To lessen some of its burning effects, put some virgin coconut oil on the wart first before rubbing on the garlic. Cover the mixture with a bandage and leave on for a few hours. Change the bandage often and watch for burning of the skin.
20. Treats Wounds
The benefits of garlic also extend to wound treatment. Garlic has natural antimicrobial and antiviral properties that can help stop an infection from forming in even deep cuts. To treat a wound with garlic, clean the wound first with warm, soapy water. Mash up about 4 cloves of garlic and mix with enough water to form a paste. Spread the mixture on a clean piece of gauze and apply to the wound. Keep the bandage on for up to 2 days.
As you can see, the health benefits of garlic are nearly endless. No matter what ails you, garlic can help ease pain, discomfort, and infection while preventing inflammation and improving circulation. Move over, banana. Garlic just might be the world’s perfect food!
Be the first to comment