What are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

2 Minutes Read.

A Few Facts About Garlic.

Historically, it is believed that Egyptian pharaohs fed their pyramid builders with garlic because they believed that it gave them more strength and endurance.

A combination of two Anglo-Saxon words “gar” (spear) and “lac” (plant) is believed to be the source of the plant’s name.

Cultivation of garlic started about 4,000 years ago and archaeological records show that it was used as food flavouring as early as 7,000 years ago!

Garlic is native to Central Asia and Northeastern Iran but China, currently produces 2/3 of the world’s garlic.

It is a member of the Lily family and over 3,000 varieties of garlic are grown throughout the world.

USA has National Garlic Day on 19th April and the name of the city of Chicago originates from “chicagaoua”- the native American word for wild garlic.

Garlic can be used to make glue!

A fear of garlic is known as, “alliumphobia”.

Garlic was used extensively on wounds by British soldiers during the First World War, believing they would heal faster.

Garlic is known to repel mosquitoes, aphids, mites and fleas but most importantly, it fights off evil spirits!

What are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

It is highly nutritious; rich in vitamins C and B6, manganese and contains trace amounts of various other nutrients but, it has very few calories.

Most of us are aware garlic can help with fighting off colds but it may also help with the following:-

• Reducing blood pressure with high doses.
• Improving cholesterol levels, which could lower the risk of heart disease.
• The antioxidants in garlic protecting against cell damage and ageing may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.
• Could help us live longer because of its beneficial effects on common causes of chronic diseases.
• At high dosages, the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity. In one study, garlic was shown to significantly reduce lead toxicity and related symptoms.
• Lowering the levels of osteoarthritis in women.
• Reducing the risk of prostate cancer.

Recent studies conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute, have shown that certain varieties of Australian garlic can kill COVID-19 and the common flu with an impressive 99.9% efficacy! Unfortunately, it needs to be further tested on human subjects.

I use garlic in many of the meals I like to cook. I love the smell of fresh garlic frying in a pan. It definitely gives food more flavour. And, I can honestly say that I’ve had no trouble with vampires since I’ve started cooking with it!

Feel free to take a supplement if you don’t like the smell or taste of garlic but want its health benefits.

Do you like garlic?

Thank-you for reading.

Rachel x

Sources: mentalfloss.com, garlicshaker.com, justfunfacts.com, healthline.com, bbcgoodfood.com, medicalnewstoday.com, webmd.com, whfoods.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com