Eating crushed or crushed garlic provides incredible health benefits, since crushing the garlic cloves releases substances and compounds with important properties, such as allicin.
The garlic is probably one of the most amazing and wonderful food there, especially the various medicinal benefits preventive, curative and it provides when consumed regularly, and is included within a varied and balanced diet. As well know safe, it is a white fur bulb is formed by a split head to turn in different known under the name popularly teeth (teeth garlic, to be precise).
It is a very powerful food in terms of benefits and properties, and its great versatility leads it to be included in a wide variety of dishes and recipes, although it’s most common use in the kitchen is as a stir-fry. We can also mention garlic juice, which consumed on an empty stomach becomes an excellent natural option to reduce high levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides by reducing platelet aggregation and increasing fibrinolytic activity.
However, it is not the same to eat raw and whole garlic than to crush them. And, did you know that when crushed certain substances are released that are ultimately responsible for their great curative and preventive benefits?
Why is it so suitable to crush garlic before eating?
We must bear in mind that it is not the same to use garlic cloves in the kitchen and its use for the preparation of a great diversity of dishes and recipes, than its use from a more natural medicine point of view, or as a way to enjoy of its nutritional qualities (when it is provided regularly in our daily diet).
However, the fact of cooking garlic does not mean that its qualities are lost since two compounds with anticoagulant qualities and very beneficial for cholesterol are formed: ajoene and adenosine.
When garlic is crushed, allicin is released, a sulfur compound that is the result of the conversion of alliin. It is, in short, one of the most important active principles of this food, which is ultimately responsible for its different effects and medicinal benefits.
However, to enjoy these qualities it is advisable to consume it quickly once we have crushed the garlic cloves.
Discover the benefits of eating crushed or crushed garlic
- Improves blood circulation: allicin, like other compounds present in garlic, exerts a very beneficial anticoagulant effect for our blood circulation, preventing the formation of clots and in turn improving circulation.
- Reduces blood pressure: by improving blood circulation it helps to reduce high levels of blood pressure, so its consumption is interesting when there is high blood pressure.
- Lower high cholesterol levels: if you also have high cholesterol, eating crushed and raw garlic will help you reduce its high levels. In addition, it is an interesting traditional remedy when you also have high triglycerides.
- Excellent anti-inflammatory: garlic consumed regularly helps reduce inflammation of the joints and prostate.
- Strengthens the immune system: crushed garlic is an ideal food to strengthen the immune system, helping in a very positive way when it comes to naturally increasing defenses.
- Calms coughs: crushed garlic helps relieve coughs, especially when it comes to coughs of bacterial origin due to its expectorant effect.
- Ideal in case of colds and flu: due to its action to strengthen the immune system and its antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities, it becomes an excellent natural food in case of flu, colds and colds.
And what are the properties of eating garlic every day?
As we mentioned, garlic is a food as popular as it is known, since its use in the kitchen is very common every day in many houses around the world. In fact, its use in cooking dates back many centuries, in the same way that we can find different traditional and natural remedies in which garlic becomes the main ingredient, precisely because of the different medicinal qualities and therapeutic properties that it provides.
It is necessary to note that garlic already occupied a very prominent place in the diet of the Hebrews and Egyptians. To take just one example, the Egyptians actually elevated him even to the rank of divinity.
Helps reduce triglycerides and cholesterol
If you have recently had a blood test and have been diagnosed with high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (or any of these parameters individually), garlic is an ideal food that helps reduce and reduce high levels of fat in the blood. This quality is found in allicin, a sulfur compound that we find in garlic.
But for the garlic to release this compound it is necessary to crush or cut it. Precisely allicin is responsible for garlic being very effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Good for high blood pressure
Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure is above 140/90 mmHg. There is also what is medically known as prehypertension, which is when the blood pressure values are 120/80 mmHg or more, but it is below 140/90 mmHg.
The regular consumption of garlic is very interesting in case of arterial hypertension, since it is capable of reducing platelet aggregation while increasing fibrinolytic activity. That is, it helps improve blood circulation.
Wonderful natural antibiotic
Known are the properties of garlic for, for example, some home remedies for the flu, mainly for its very important benefits as it is a good lung antiseptic. Not surprisingly, it acts as a wonderful natural antibiotic so its regular consumption helps to eliminate bacteria from our body.
On the other hand, it is useful to strengthen the immune system, being very suitable when we need to increase the natural defenses of our body. For this reason, garlic is said to help prevent and prevent colds and flu, as well as fungal or bacterial infections.
Excellent intestinal disinfectant
Garlic acts as a natural antifungal, so it becomes a wonderful intestinal disinfectant, being useful when it comes to eliminating intestinal parasites.
Nutritional composition of garlic
On the other hand, it is extremely useful to know what the nutritional composition of garlic is. In this case, 100 grams of raw garlic provide:
Calories | 119 kcal. | ||
Protein | 4.30 g. | ||
Carbohydrates | 24.30 g. | ||
Total fat | 0.23 g. | ||
Vitamins | Minerals | ||
Vitamin A | 1 µg. | Sodium | 19 mg. |
Vitamin B1 | 0.16 mg. | Iodine | 4.70 mg. |
Vitamin B2 | 0.02 mg. | Calcium | 17.80 mg. |
Vitamin B3 | 1.02 mg. | Potassium | 446 mg. |
Vitamin B6 | 0.32 mg. | Magnesium | 24.10 mg. |
Vitamin B9 | 4.8 µg. | Iron | 1.20 mg. |
Vitamin C | 14 mg. | Zinc | 1.10 mg |
How to crush garlic to take advantage of all its benefits:
It is a very simple procedure. You only have to use 2 or 3 garlic cloves. First peel them by removing the white skin that covers them. Put them in a mortar and grind them well for a few minutes, until you notice that they have released some liquid.
In order to enjoy its qualities without losing them, it is necessary to consume it quickly. It is advisable to take it on an empty stomach, or during lunch before lunch. However, it can be taken fresh, cooked, or in capsules. In the latter sense, the total cryomilled garlic bulb powder is used.
Contraindications and side effects of garlic
Despite its powerful flavor and characteristic aroma, the reality is that garlic is not only a food widely used every day in the kitchen of many houses due to its versatility to be included in a wide variety of recipes.
It is common that, for many years, garlic has also become a home remedy that is already part of the set of basic ingredients that could not be missing in the grandmother’s pharmacy.
Its use is especially recommended in the coldest times of the year, during which it is common for us to get sick from the flu or colds.
The main healing benefits of garlic are mainly due to its allicin content, one of the most important active ingredients in this food, and which is responsible for its positive and medicinal effects.
However, like any food, plant and herb, garlic also has certain contraindications, which in turn can cause some side effects.
The consumption of garlic is not recommended in the following conditions or disorders:
- Bleeding problems
- Blood clotting problems
- Consumption of certain medications: anticoagulants, for the heart and certain contraceptive medications.
- Diabetes.
- Hyperthyroidism: due to its high iodine content.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Garlic side effects
There is no doubt that garlic is a food with a strong flavor, which in some sensitive people with a delicate stomach can feel bad, since it is difficult for their digestive system to digest it correctly.
Therefore, it can be common for garlic consumption to cause heartburn, flatulence or gas, belching, vomiting or diarrhea.