The benefits of garlic for human health

Garlic has such famous and appreciated benefits that date back to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, who prescribed garlic to treat various medical conditions. Garlic is a plant from the onion family, so it is closely related to onions, shallots, and leeks. This great ingredient in cooking grows in many parts of the world and is popular due to its strong smell and delicious flavor.Today, modern science has confirmed many of these health benefits, often known as home remedies, but they are definitely health benefits of garlic that are backed by research in humans, such as those mentioned below.1. Garlic contains compounds with potent medicinal propertiesThroughout ancient history, many significant civilizations, including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese have primarily used garlic for its medicinal and health properties.Scientists now know that most of its health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds that form when a clove of garlic is chopped, crushed, or chewed. The most famous of these is known as allicin. Other compounds that may play a role in the health benefits of garlic include diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine.While the sulfur compounds in garlic enter the body from the digestive tract and travel throughout the body, where they exert their potent biological effects, it is important to note that allicin is an unstable compound that is only briefly present in fresh garlic after it has been cut or crushed.2. Garlic is highly nutritious and low in caloriesGarlic is incredibly nutritious, and just one raw clove of garlic (about 3 grams) contains:2% of the recommended daily value of manganese2% of the recommended daily value of vitamin B61% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C1% of the recommended daily value of selenium0.06 grams of fiberAll these nutrients amount to only 4.5 calories, but 0.2 grams of protein, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and decent amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B1.3. It may fight diseases like the common coldGarlic supplements are known to stimulate immune system function, but one study also found that a high dose of aged garlic extract (256 grams per day) reduced the number of sick days from cold or flu by 61 percent. However, there is still no solid evidence of its benefits against diseases, but it's worth adding garlic to your diet if you frequently suffer from colds.4. The active compounds in garlic can reduce blood pressureHigh blood pressure or hypertension is one of the leading drivers of cardiovascular disease, and garlic may have a significant impact on reducing blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, according to studies in humans. For example, one found that 600-1,500 mg of aged garlic extract was as effective as the medication Atenolol in reducing blood pressure over a period of 24 weeks.Supplement doses need to be quite high to have the desired effects, and the necessary amount is equivalent to about four cloves of garlic per day.5. Garlic improves cholesterol levels, which may reduce the risk of heart diseaseGarlic can reduce total and LDL cholesterol for those with high cholesterol, as garlic supplements seem to achieve this by about 10-15 percent.