Nutrition News: Garlic
Start cooking a dish with garlic to get its distinct flavor and health benefits.
By Divine Enya Mesina
Garlic has a reputation since time immemorial. It’s touted as a miracle drug that can heal many ailments from the common cold to practically anything. And of course, as a reliable aromatic and base for many flavorful masterpieces.
Garlic is an antibiotic. It can protect you from infections—both fungal and bacterial. Age it for antioxidants that can help you fight cancer. Adesh Jain, MD, of the Clinical Research Center and Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans says that the versatile ingredient can reduce your total cholesterol levels, as well as your LDL, the “bad” cholesterol that you should avoid. It’s also a blood thinner and can aid in preventing blood clots. This one is particularly good for those who travel a lot since they’re sitting in one position for long periods of time. And speaking of blood, garlic also helps lower your blood pressure.
The nutrients that you get from the white stuff is a long list and is full of many things that you should look for in a meal. Garlic is an excellent source of manganese—a mineral that your body needs for a varied amount of processes. It also has a good amount of vitamin B1 (thiamin), B6, and C. You can get protein, iron, calcium, and phosphorus from it as well. All in all, garlic is a great nutrition source and the only reason you should shy away from it is if you’re a vampire.
Yummy Suggested Garlic Recipes:
Spicy Spinach and Garlic Pasta
Roast Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic