Health Benefits of Garlic

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Adding garlic (Allium sativum) to your diet is not only a great way to enhance the flavor of your meals, as it also has excellent health benefits too. As part of a heart healthy diet, allicin rich garlic plays quite a significant role, helping to reduce blood pressure, decreasing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. These combined benefits help prevent atherosclerosis  and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Garlic also has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that are reported to help in the fight against various ailments and diseases from asthma to stomach and colon cancer and even the common cold and candida.

In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of garlic have also been reported as beneficial in reducing the pain associated with osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is even reported to help prevent weight gain.

The list of vitamins, minerals and addition phytonutrients is comprehensive, including Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C. Garlic is also high in minerals, especially  Calcium, Manganese and Selenium.

All of these beneficial properties are best enjoyed by consuming crushed or finely chopped garlic, either incorporated raw into such foods as guacamole, or cooked for no more than fifteen minutes.

To enjoy the full potential of garlic it is best prepared ten minutes before use and allowed to stand. In general, eating the fresh garlic is preferable to taking some form of garlic supplements.

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