This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.
Garlic is a vegetable and is a species of the onion genus. Garlic is often used to add flavor to recipes and dishes. However, garlic can also be used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of aliments and diseases.
Garlic cloves contain many vital nutrients including vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes. Garlic contains sulfur compounds from the amino acid allicin, which is most noted for producing garlic’s powerful odor.
Why you should eat garlic raw:
When the garlic is cooked this prohibits the garlic’s ability to make allicin. Allicin is one of the primary components of garlic that gives it its health benefits, including the ability to prevent cancer. Allicin is produced in garlic when the garlic enzyme alliinase is cut or chewed. However, when the garlic is cooked alliinase is then inactivated which causes allicin to not be produced.
Before consuming the garlic it is best to allow the cut or crushed garlic to be exposed to the air for at least 5 to 10 minutes in order for the compounds to become fully activated.
How do you incorporate garlic into your daily diet?
There’s two options:
1. Add the garlic to your meal or add it to a green juice or smoothie.
2. Cut a clove of garlic into small pieces and swallow the small pieces one at a time. (with a meal)
10 Reasons Why you should eat garlic daily:
1. Garlic Contains a High Amount of Antioxidants – The antioxidants destroy free radicals and reduce overall oxidative stress. Free radicals can damage DNA and cell membranes. High levels of oxidative stress have been associated with many diseases and conditions. Antioxidants are also beneficial for preventing types of cancer.
2. Garlic Lowers Your Cholesterol– A study found that the consumption of garlic reduced cholesterol by 9 to 12 percent. Reductions were noted in LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
3. Garlic is Antibacterial– Garlic acts as a natural antibiotic. It is able to eliminate harmful bacteria but does not kill off healthy bacteria as chemical antibiotics do.
4. Garlic is Anti-fungal– Garlic’s Allicin is also responsible for destroying fungi. Many use garlic as a means of eliminating fungal infections.
5. Garlic Thins the Blood– Garlic consumption has been shown to thin the blood which can aid in preventing heart disease, the formation of blood clots, heart attacks and stroke.
6. Garlic Boosts Your Immune System– Garlic has strong antiviral properties. To many in Russia, garlic was known as “Russian Penicillin” due to its abilities to effectively treat infections. A study found that garlic is effective at preventing and treating the common cold. It found that those who consumed garlic had significantly fewer colds and the length of their cold was shortened compared to those who did not eat garlic.
7. Garlic Lowers Risk of Atherosclerosis: Studies suggest that garlic may prevent blood clots and destroy plaque which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
8. Garlic Lowers Your Blood Pressure- Garlic has been used in China for many years as blood pressure medication. Additionally, the Japanese government officially recognized garlic as a blood-pressure depressor.
9. Garlic Helps Your Joints– A study found that those who eat high amounts of garlic were less likely to have osteoarthritis.
10.Garlic Prevents Cancer- Increased intake of garlic has been found to be associated with the reduced risk of certain cancers. This includes cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast.
Sources:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/garlic-and-cancer-prevention
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-garlic.html
Been consuming raw garlic since I was a teenage! Of course not a lot of people around me appreciate it, but it’s my health on the line. I’ve used to get over some pretty big health hurdles from yeast infections to parasites!
Big benefits I can asset to!
It is one of my favorite immune boosters!
Hi I always get infection but since I started adding garlic to my food I can see some improvement , it dose not improve my system but also help improve my blood pressure ,but dose it matter how much you take a day ?
That’s great it has helped!
Must you eat any food right after taking the garlic?bcus I have tried once and I felt diz zy.
I always eat it with food to help with digestion.
I crush and cut a clove of garlic in very small peaces and place it in a glass of water and drink it immediately, it goes down very easy reducing the taste of it in the mouth, and I can say it really does work for yeast infections 😀
That’s great! So glad to hear it really helps with yeast infections.
Please I need serious help. I am 59 years old and will be sixty by February 2018. I have constant stomach pain which they said is ulcer. I started taking lemon and ginger, with honey juice in empty stomach and it stopped completely. But after sometimes I could not maintain an erection. I used viagra to correct it but notice that it doesn’t correct it rather it is growling worst. I am looking for a natural remedy and I came across how to detox in other to have better blood circulation as that will improve my erection dysfunction. I was told to mix garlic, ginger, lemon, apple cider with honey in a certain proportion which I did. I have been taken it according to the recommended dosage but I notice that the stomach pain had returned now more severe. Should I stop taking this and go back to my lemon in empty stomach? How do I solve the erectile dysfunction? Could I take garlic also as many have said it helps to maintain erection together with the lemon therapy stated above. Thanks.
Hi Lori,
Can you please tell the benefits that you have got by eating them regularly?
Thanks,
Amit
It has really helped my immune system!
What happens if i chop it in half and toss it in my noodle soup? And eat it after 10 mins after it is soaked in my hot soup? WIll I still get the benefits?
Boiling it may reduce some of the nutrients. Still get many benefits though 🙂
I crush my garlic let it air for 5-10 min then mix it with a spoon of raw honey and just swallow it, the honey masks it a little and raw honey has good benefits if it’s own
That’s great!
Maybe some people can’t or don’t like cutting a clove of garlic into small pieces and swallow the small pieces one at a time. So i suggest eating it when it was in a glass jar with honey. That way is suitable for everyone.
Neat idea.
I love chewing Garlic raw before swallow because it very well for me though its very very very hot in the mouth but compared to its effectiveness the strong smell and hotness is nothing.And also i get to know if the garlic is fresh by chewing it, if its not very hot while chewing then its not fresh. Garlic is a very Strong Herb best time to take is the first thing in the morning before you even drink water and the last thing before you go to bed you sleep very well and wake very strong.
Great suggestions.
Make garlic the medicine we eat every day
pls l want to know is still good to swallow garlic with out chewing it any side effect thanks God bless u sir
I cut it up into tiny pieces and wash it down with water.
okay
I am taking 4 to 5 cloves (small), cut, before going to bed and drink a lot of water. I heard it is good for arthritis and joint pain. I learned it gives complete relief from joint pain. I have just started 2 days back. Is it true?
Hi I’ve been religiously taking wheat grass one lemon in a pint of warm water and one clove of garlic for 10 years every morning I don’t drink or smoke well the effects are i will 50 in April but everyone i meet always tell i look 30.
That’s awesome!
Hi I’m George & I have got bladder cancer. Could you please tell me if there’s any benefits of consuming raw garlic & how much must I take. Many Thanks.George
I started taking one garlic clove chopped with a glass of water before every meal about three weeks ago but lately I wake up at night with a high blood rush and find it very difficult to fall asleep again. Do you think I need to reduce the intake especially the last meal one?