Here’s why you should be eating more garlic

Photograph by Danny O/Flickr

Besides being a favourite seasoning ingredient, garlic has several health benefits that make it one of the most recommended ingredients for all kinds of diets. Here are some reasons why you should eat more garlic

Garlic helps fights ailments such as the common cold since it builds immunity. Some people even eat pods of garlic raw to increase their immunity against all kinds of respiratory infections.

It is prescribed to patients suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension. Garlic is known to reduce and control blood pressure levels and thereby prevent diseases that affect the heart by increasing blood platelets and serving as an anticoagulant.

Exercise-induced fatigue can be decreased with garlic intake. A study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology indicated that garlic oil significantly reduced the heart rate and improved the endurance and performance of people with heart disease.

Garlic contains allicin, an organic compound that fights acne and blemishes and garlic has been used in topical treatments to treat skin ailments and allergies.

It also has keratin, which is a protein that the hair contains and garlic gels have been used to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Garlic’s high sulphur content attributes to its keratin levels.

Garlic is also being studied for its cancer-fighting potential. The herb contains compounds that decrease DNA replication by blocking tumours.