20 Benefits of Garlic for Physical and Mental Health

 20 Benefits of Garlic for Physical and Mental Health

The benefits of garlic for health are many; help you lose weight, improve circulation, lower blood pressure, prevent Azlheimer and cancer, improve bone health, treat vaginal infections, treat colds, and others that I will describe below.

Garlic ( Allium saivum ) is a type of plant in the yellow group, which also includes onions, chives or leeks. It is believed to originate in western Asia and that, through the Mediterranean, its expansion began more than 7000 years ago.

Civilizations such as the Chinese, Babylonians, Hindus, Romans, Greeks or Egyptians already used this bulb to heal wounds or blood pressure problems and drive away evil spirits.

Onions are made up of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, fiber and, to a lesser extent, calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, or vitamin B1.

It is a bulb widely adopted in culinary use, being frequent in gastronomic culture around the world for its taste and aroma.

Types of onions are very wide, and can be divided according to neck or color. Inchellium Red, New York White, Susanville, German Red, Asian Storm, Spanish Roja Rocamboie or Merrifield Rocambole is one of the most widespread on the market.

Benefits of garlic for the body

1- It helps to lose weight

A clove of garlic contains only 4 calories and contains antioxidants that can help you lose weight. The main reason is that garlic creates a feeling of fullness and therefore suppresses appetite, so the chances of gaining weight are reduced.

Some studies show that onions stimulate the nervous system and release the hormone adrenaline, which increases metabolism. The higher the metabolism, the easier it is to burn fat.

In fact, like any food, moderate in its use and always within a healthy diet and physical exercise.

2- It is a natural antibiotic

Allicin, one of the active ingredients in garlic, has a wide range of antimicrobial activities.

This is because of its ability to inhibit the activity of two groups of enzymes: cysteine ​​proteases and alcohol dehydrogenases. Both are involved in the metabolism of amoebic parasites, bacteria, fungi, and other viruses.

In its pure form, allicin has the ability to inhibit bacteria. That is, in order for it to work, the onion must be taken raw. Following this rule, we will use a very effective healing agent to treat diseases such as toothache, diabetes or allergies.

3- Oral benefits

Onions have antimicrobial properties. This is shown by a study in which he replaced chlorhexidine (an antiseptic substance used in mouthwash) with garlic as a toothbrush disinfectant. The results were similar, making garlic a powerful alternative to chlorhexidine.

In addition, garlic supplements accelerate the wound healing process. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, pain and swelling are greatly reduced.

4- They improve circulation

Several studies have been done over the years that show the beneficial properties of garlic in blood circulation.

The reason is the ability of allicin to increase the increase in circulation agents that relax blood vessels, increase blood flow and prevent the formation of clots.

5- Reduce blood pressure

Garlic is a good natural remedy for cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure. This is because of allicin and its vasodilator ability, which helps lower blood pressure.

The best way to take garlic to have an effect against this disease is to take it on an empty stomach when you wake up with a glass of water.

6- They improve cholesterol levels

Onions, being hypocholesterolemic, help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This has been confirmed by more than 25 studies or the Spanish Heart Institute (FEC) itself, which emphasizes the importance of including garlic in the diet.

On the other hand, it has recently been discovered that garlic also has the ability to fight against atherosclerosis, a disease that places plaques containing fat and cholesterol inside the arteries.

7- Preventing Alzheimer's

According to researchers at the University of Missouri (USA), onions prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.

This is because onions produce antioxidants that provide protective and healing benefits to brain cells. These are more resistant to stress or inflammation, the main causes of the appearance of neurological diseases.

8- Strengthens our bones

Garlic has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that are very beneficial to reduce joint pain. Also, because it is rich in antioxidants, garlic helps strengthen immunity.

Therefore, it is used as a natural medicine to prevent or treat problems such as blood disease, bone disease or osteopenia.

Foundations dedicated to working on bone problems, such as Save Our Bones , include garlic as a natural supplement for building healthy, strong bones.

9- They take care of our skin

Thanks to the fact that it is a powerful antioxidant and contains carbohydrates and mucilaginous substances, garlic becomes a natural medicine for the face, making the skin young, soft and healthy.

Skin disease, acne, boils, dry skin, fungus, acne, irritated or sensitive skin or blemishes can be beaten thanks to garlic.

In order for garlic to have an effect on our face, it is best to take crushed garlic, mixing it with a little olive oil.

10- Supports sports performance

There is a tendency among athletes to use raw garlic before exercise in the belief that it improves performance and promotes muscle growth.

The fact is that, thanks to the benefits of garlic in the blood circulation, the nutrients reach the tissues in a better way and therefore the muscles benefit.

In any case, it has not been proven that taking garlic before playing sports helps improve muscle growth. Simply put, onions should be used as a supplement in a healthy diet.

11- Help us to be elders

One study shows that aged garlic extract prevents physiological aging without affecting memory problems.

The study was carried out in mice with accelerated aging (aging) and the results revealed a surprising improvement in learning deficits and survival of two additional months.

12- Reduce the cold

Garlic supplements help boost the immune system and prevent common illnesses like colds or flu.

Some studies reveal that a person who uses garlic is 63% less likely to catch a cold compared to a person who does not.

13- It provides many benefits to the digestive system

Although garlic can cause gas in some people, eating garlic helps to process the food we consume better in our digestive system.

In addition, garlic helps remove waste from the body such as bacteria and thus prevent inflammation of the intestines and stomach.

14- Great ally of the liver

Along with allicin, garlic includes arginine and selenium, substances that help prevent toxic substances filtered by the liver from reaching other parts of the body.

One of these substances is low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which can damage the liver if we do not have a healthy diet. To solve this problem, we can use garlic, as it reduces the levels of lipoproteins.

15- Treatment against vaginal infections

A team from Xi'an Jiaotong University (China) suggested in a study that pure garlic extract has preventive properties against fungi such as Candida Albicans, which cause problems such as vaginitis.

This report also makes it clear that garlic has a greater ability to fight these fungi than other antibiotics that are on the market, such as fluconazole or itraconazole.

16- Helps improve mood

Apathy or irritability, triggering mood swings, is sometimes related to diet.

Adding vitamin B6 to our diet has been shown to significantly improve mood. And which product contains this vitamin? Okay! Onions contain an average of 1.2 mg of vitamin B6 per 100 grams.

17- Prevents impotence

About 70-80% of erectile dysfunction cases are due to psychological reasons. This shows that medicine can act to fight it, and nutrition being a good partner to overcome the problem.

Although Viagra is the most commonly used method, garlic has been shown to help improve blood flow and therefore relief. Once again, allicin is largely responsible for improving our health.

18- Helps overcome anemia

One of the main causes of anemia is the body's inability to create enough red blood cells. Poor diet or deficiency of iron or several vitamins is usually the cause of this condition.

Home remedy is to take raw garlic. Not only does it have the ability to help create red blood cells, but it also helps keep them strong thanks to its properties.

19- It has anti-cancer properties

It is one of the most controversial arguments about the properties of onions. There are many studies that show that garlic has the ability to reduce the risk of contracting cancer of the stomach, bladder, intestine or pancreas, among others, but there are also opponents who question its anti-cancer properties. We gather several recent surveys to set us up:

According to the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China), people who consume raw garlic at least twice a week have a 44% lower chance of developing lung cancer.

In a study by the Department of Experimental Medicine of the University of Perugia (Italy), they question the connection of a reduced risk of colon cancer with garlic consumption.

20- Good for bladder

A study conducted with mice shows that onions have the ability to protect against the biochemical changes of malignant prostate glands caused by Cadmium (Cd).

Garlic precautions

Although garlic can be considered as a 'super food', moderation in its use is important so that it is not harmful.

People with stomach problems or who are receiving anticoagulant treatment should refrain from their intake to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

Garlic curiosity

- San Pedro de Zamora Fair is dedicated exclusively to onions.

- Although not scientifically proven, there is a belief that applying garlic to the skin repels mosquitoes.

- Spain produced 175,000 tons of onions in the 2015 campaign. About 10,000 corresponded to the region of Castilla-La Mancha, the region of the European Union (EU) that produces the most.

- Cherokee Indians use onions to relieve horses from trouble.

- Popular culture has associated onions with magic, spells, hexes or symbols of protection and good luck.

- "Men who eat garlic are more attractive to women" concluded the University of Stirling (Scotland) and Charles University (Czech Republic) in a joint study.

- To fight bad breath and garlic, you should chew parsley or mint leaves.

Bibliography

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