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5 Reasons Why Garlic is a Superfood and How to Eat More of It

Garlicky pasta and pizza sauces, lemon and garlic fish dishes, a garlic-heavy curry paste… We all know and love garlic and the kick it adds to our dressings, sauces and meals. However, many people don’t realize the health benefits of this unassuming little bulb.

Garlic is so good for you, it’s actually considered a superfood. But what are superfoods anyway? They’re foods that pack a punch of nutrients in small quantities, much like raw garlic.

If you can’t handle raw garlic, you might want to try out this garlic confit recipe, or simply add some garlic paste to your pots and pans when you’re sautéing onions or meats for the base of your dishes.

Garlic adds great flavour to just about any dish, so consider adding it to your usual soups, stews, sauces, roasts and grills as a base of flavour and health.

 

It’s Immune Boosting

 

Garlic and garlic supplements are known for boosting the immune system and helping to protect against illnesses like colds and flu. Adding garlic to your diet can help you combat viruses and bacteria. As a bonus, if you feel a cold coming on, you can try supplementing with garlic to reduce your symptoms and get better faster.

 

It Can Reduce Blood Pressure

 

Unchecked high blood pressure can have dangerous effects on your body, and garlic is a great addition to your diet to help combat this. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the daily dosage of garlic needs to be quite high to have a positive effect on blood pressure, but that’s just a great excuse to add more delicious garlic flavour to your meals.

 

It’s a Natural Antibiotic

 

Believe it or not, garlic, along with some other ingredients, has natural antibiotic properties. It has been used for its health and medicinal properties throughout history by Greek, Roman, Chinese and any other cultures.

You’ll often find garlic as an ingredient in natural antibiotic medicines, but you can simply consume it in your food for these effects – just make sure it’s crushed or minced.

 

It’s Low Calorie But High in Nutrients

 

As a superfood, garlic offers a powerful punch of vitamins for next to no calories. Garlic contains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium and fibre too, making it a super healthy addition to whatever you’re cooking.

For all these benefits, a single clove of garlic only contains about 4 calories, which means you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Low-calorie diets are often the cause of malnutrition, so if you’re trying to lose weight, garlic will help make sure you’re getting in your vitamins.

 

It Can Detoxify Your Body

 

Finally, some studies have shown that garlic has some detoxifying properties. It can help protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity specifically, and can help reduce symptoms of toxins in the body – such as headaches.

All in all, garlic is a delicious and healthy addition to any diet, and it could even help you to live longer. 


Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bowl-with-whole-garlic-heads-on-table-4197438/

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