Garlic

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Garlic is a member of the Lilies family, cousin of our favorite onions and leeks, extremely fragrant and healthy.

Garlic consists from a head called a bulb, which is composed of individual cloves. Both the individual cloves and the whole bulb are wrapped in paper-like shells, which can be white or pink. The cloves themselves are almost white in color and although they have a firm texture, they can be easily cut or crushed.

Originating in Central Asia, garlic is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, has been produced for over 5000 years. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to cultivate it and it plays an important role in their culture. Garlic was not only considered to have sacred qualities and was placed in the tombs of the pharaohs, but was also given for consumption to the people who built the pyramids to improve their endurance and health. Garlic was also revered by the ancient Greeks and Romans, whose athletes consumed garlic before sporting events and soldiers before they went to war. By the 6th century BC, garlic had become famous in China and India.

Over the millennia, garlic has been a favorite plant of many crops due to its culinary and medicinal properties. Today, China, South Korea, India, Spain and the United States are among the leading producers of garlic for commercial purposes.

Antimicrobials have long been discovered properties of garlic. As early as 1858, Louis Pasteur confirmed them, and in the 20th century, Albert Schweizer successfully used vegetables to treat dysentery in Africa.

Composition of garlic

Garlic is an excellent source of manganese, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, protein and thiamine (vitamin B1), as well as the minerals phosphorus, selenium, calcium, potassium, iron and copper. About 28 g of garlic clove contains 42 calories and 1.8 g of protein.

Recently in the composition of garlic the chemical element germanium, which is known for its antitumor properties, was discovered. Garlic contains over 200 bioactive ingredients, the most important of which are alliin and allicin.

Selection and storage of garlic

In order to preserve the maximum taste and nutrients, contained in garlic it is necessary to buy it fresh. It is also available dried, powdered or in paste form. When buying garlic, it is necessary to make sure that it has a strong skin, is not soft, wrinkled and that its leaves have not started to sprout. Fresh garlic is stored uncovered in containers in a cool, dark place.

Garlic in cooking

In cooking, garlic is often used as a spice and as a product - both fresh and cooked. In our country, garlic is often used crushed into a paste with salt, as a supplement to tarator, tripe soup, patchouli, fish sauces, as well as in the stuffing of meat dishes and stews. In addition, garlic is one of the main ingredients in pickles. It is often combined with parsley, which is believed to temporarily neutralize the heavy odor.

To make it easier to peel the cloves, place them on the cutting board and press them with the blunt side of the knife on top.

Preferably yes saute the garlic at a lower temperature for a short time. If it is cooked for too long at a high temperature, it darkens and becomes bitter.

When chopped, crushed or crushed in a suitable garlic press, more of the essential oils of garlic are released and the taste is sharper than if it is cut into slices.

If you want to make garlic bread, rub toasted bread with garlic and sprinkle with olive oil. To remove the pungent smell of garlic from your hands, first rub them with salt or lemon juice, then wash them thoroughly with soap.

Benefits of garlic

The chopping or crushing of garlic cloves stimulates an enzymatic process that converts the plant substance alliin into allicin, which is the cause of large health benefitswhich garlic has. In order to allow maximum production of allicin, you should wait a few minutes before eating or cooking already chopped or crushed garlic.

Numerous studies prove the potential benefits of regular consumption of garlic for blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride levels, and cholesterol levels. Regular consumption of garlic can also help stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the walls of blood vessels. The substances contained in garlic can also help prevent atherosclerosis and diabetes, as well as reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. One of the reasons garlic has so many beneficial effects is its ability to reduce the amount of free radicals in the blood.

Garlic, as well as onions, contain compounds that inhibit lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase - enzymes that generate inflammation. These anti-inflammatory compounds, along with the vitamin C contained in garlic, especially fresh garlic, help protect in some cases of asthma, as well as reduce the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, allicin, one of the sulfur compounds responsible for the characteristic smell of garlic, is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent. Thanks to him, garlic is a powerful antibiotic and even involved in many drugs.

Consumption of garlic and onions significantly reduces the risk of some cancers, namely cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, colorectal cancer, throat, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and reduces the risk of renal cell carcinoma.. Garlic also protects against asbestos, which is also carcinogenic.

The most powerful active ingredient in garlic, allicin, also prevents weight gain.

Folk medicine with garlic

Undoubtedly, garlic is one of the best natural antibiotics. It can help with a number of diseases and health problems. It is extremely effective in persistent sinusitis. Prepare garlic steam by crushing 3-5 cloves, then put in a bowl with boiling water. The head is covered with a towel and inhaled from the vapors. The procedure is performed in the evening to dilute the secretion.

Inhalations with garlic are also recommended. 4-5 raw cloves are soaked in half a glass of water, then grated finely to obtain a slurry. The paste is brought close to the nose and inhaled carefully. This unclogs the nose with a persistent runny nose.

Garlic in combination with turmeric is also a very effective folk remedy for unclogging the sinuses. Pour a glass of water into a saucepan and heat on the stove to medium heat. Add 5-6 cloves of garlic and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Then add 1/2 tsp. turmeric and mix well. The decoction is drunk while it is still warm.

Garlic is often used remedy in folk medicine and in respect of hemorrhoids. Garlic juice therapy is one of the most common. To do this, grind 2 cloves thoroughly to drain the juice from the side, then strain through cheesecloth. Mix with a teaspoon of salt and leave in the refrigerator for several hours. It is then applied to the hemorrhoids and the area is smeared with a little lard. The procedure is performed every night. However, if the hemorrhoids are bleeding, this method of treatment should not be used.

Harm from garlic

Garlic should not be consumed from people who have increased gastric secretion, diseases of the kidneys, bile and liver. Not recommended during breastfeeding and pregnancy. People with a known allergy to any of the ingredients of garlic should also refrain from consuming it.

Too frequent consumption of garlic can damage the gastrointestinal tract. It is possible to get side effects such as nausea, heartburn, gas.

Fresh garlic can be dangerous for people taking blood-thinning medications because it can increase bleeding and even lower blood pressure.

It is believed that garlic can cause botulism because botulinum toxin grows very well in raw garlic, especially if it is dipped in fat and left at room temperature. Therefore, its consumption should be avoided.