Garlic is nature’s gift which has it’s wondrous set of health benefits and therapeutic advantages. The medicinal properties of garlic are simply unmatched. Let’s explore the amazing health benefits of garlic.
In today’s fast paced life when everyone is in a rush, we have turned a blind eye towards the dark cloud of infections and diseases that’s gripping us each passing day. But, you don’t need to worry when garlic is to your rescue. Here, we will talk about 5 super benefits of garlic and also have a look at some of the medicinal properties of garlic.
Top 5 Garlic Benefits: Health Uses & Medicinal Advantages
Garlic Benefits in Common cold and flu
Garlic has shown promise as a treatment for preventing colds and the flu. Studies have shown that garlic can not only reduce the risk of becoming sick in the first place, but can also reduce the severity of symptoms.
In a study, 146 healthy volunteers were given a 3 months dosage of garlic supplements or a placebo. The group that took garlic group had a 63% lower risk of catching a common cold. Also the duration of their colds were 70% shorter. Regularly eating garlic may help prevent the common cold or the flu. If you do get sick, eating garlic can reduce the severity of your symptoms and help you recover faster.
Alliin is a compound found in garlic and it turns into allicin when garlic is crushed. This allicin converts to compounds that have medicinal properties. And such medicinal properties help in strengthening body’s immune system, which in turn helps fighting viruses that cause common cold and flu.
Garlic Benefits for Men: Hair Loss
Want beautiful hair with good growth? Then garlic is the right choice for you!
With garlic, you can say goodbye to your hair-loss problems as it contains a sulphur compound called allicin that has been found to be quite effective for treating hair loss.
You can use garlic with olive oil in following way:
Rub garlic clove on the hair-loss affected area and then massage that area with olive oil after about an hour. Do this before you sleep, so that you can cover your head with a cap after a massage and then take a sound sleep. Remember to wash your hair in the morning.
You can also make garlic oil at home. Making garlic oil is easy –
Take 2-3 garlic cloves. Peel and crush them properly. Now heat them over a medium flame with olive oil. Let it heat for about 10 minutes and reduce heat when garlic begins to brown. Now remove it from flame and let it cool for around 45 minutes to an hour.
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Life-Saving Uses of Garlic: Healing the Heart
Who doesn’t want a healthy heart? After all, healthy heart is the key to a happy life. Include garlic in your daily intake for a healthy heart.
The root cause of most heart diseases and strokes is high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Taking garlic helps reduce blood pressure and regulate high levels of cholesterol. It is also beneficial in improving blood circulation and purification.
Garlic is known to contain enzymes that aid in lipid synthesis and increase antioxidant status. Thus with a lower cholesterol, it is easier for the blood to circulate through hardened arteries, keeping the heart risk levels on the lower side.
Garlic Benefits for Men: Testosterone Booster
Talking about being a testosterone booster, a study saw increased levels of testosterone in rats after they had garlic cloves. Dietary supplementation with garlic may alter hormones associated with protein anabolism by increasing testicular testosterone.
Boosted testosterone levels can immensely help in increasing the performance level and exercise capacity before an athletic practice or a fitness workout or even a sports play.
Garlic was one of the earliest “performance enhancing” substances. Most garlic supplements are made from fresh or frozen-dried garlic. Garlic oil & aged garlic extracts too are used. A typical dosage depends on the form of the garlic you’re using.
Garlic can improve physical performance in lab animals and people with heart disease, but benefits in healthy people are not yet conclusive.
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Medicinal Benefits of Garlic: Anti-Bacterial
Garlic is a wonder herb with medicinal treasures of being an antibiotic. It helps treat bacterial and parasitic infections. Studies suggest diluted garlic extract can be really useful to treat tapeworm infections in children. Also garlic comes in very handy in the form of a component added in mouthwash where small quantity of garlic extracts can keep cavity-causing bacteria at bay. Garlic-based mouthwash may not sound a minty-fresh idea, but is certainly a cavity-free solution.
Garlic and Caution
Caution must be exercised, especially in following cases:
- Asthma patients should avoid garlic consumption due to possible side-effects.
- Avoid consuming garlic before surgeries.
- 2-3 garlic cloves a day should be the max consumption. Anything more than that should be either avoided or done after consulting a doctor.
So, though garlic is extremely beneficial in many ways, you must refrain from over-consumption of garlic. It is a great source of nutrition and has amazing therapeutic advantages when taken at the right time in the right amount.
