Do not underestimate the importance of garlic to humans.
Many of the beneficial properties of the plant were known in ancient times.
He is able to enrich our body with a large number of minerals, trace elements, vitamins.
With many properties, it is actively used in the treatment of diseases in both traditional and traditional medicine.
Garlic: composition, calories, how to apply
Garlic is a vegetable, herbaceous, perennial plant of the bulbous family. It has a specific, unusual smell and pungent taste, grown almost throughout the planet.
The calorie content of garlic is low: per 100gr there are about 46 kcal. Energy value of onion garlic: fats - 0.5g (5 kcal), proteins - 6.5g (26 kcal), carbohydrates - 30g (120 kcal).
It contains fats, proteins, fiber, ascorbic acid, carbohydrate, macro- and microelements, essential oils, vitamins of groups B, C, A, P, D, sulfur compounds, pectin, allicin, adenosine, disulfide, phytoncides.
It is the variety of components that makes garlic so popular in medicine. The substances contained in it help the body fight many diseases, since they have antispasmodic, diuretic, analgesic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial actions.
Due to all its useful properties, garlic is indicated for use in medicine with:
• high blood pressure;
• disturbances in the digestive tract;
• fungal, bacterial, helminthic lesions of the intestine;
• general lethargy and weakness;
• insomnia;
• nervous disorders;
• atherosclerosis;
• colds and viral diseases.
The specific taste and aroma allowed the plant to be used everywhere as a seasoning for many dishes. Without garlic it is impossible to imagine eastern, Mediterranean, Greek cuisine. It is added to many soups, fish and meat dishes, sauces, salads, snacks. Being a preservative of natural origin, not a single pickling, pickling vegetables, canning cold snacks is complete without it.
Garlic: what are the benefits to the body
It has been known for a long time and the benefits of garlic for the body have been confirmed more than once.
Benefits to the nervous system. The plant contains vitamin B1, which is indispensable in the functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin is involved in the processing of glucose, providing the brain with the necessary energy.
Garlic and Infectious Diseases. Its most famous property is the ability to fight viral infections and colds due to the special composition of the components: volatile, essential oils, various plant agents.
Garlic for the liver and joints. There is a lot of sulfur in the vegetable. Sulfur-containing substances help the body in the synthesis of methionine - a strong hepatoprotector that prevents pathological changes in the composition of cartilage.
Digestion effects. In cooking, the vegetable is used as an additive to all fatty and heavy dishes that are long and difficult to digest. It promotes the formation of bile, which is responsible for digestion.
The benefits of garlic as a general restorative. The plant contains copper, chromium, arsenic, magnesium, beta - carotene, vitamins. Such a “cocktail” is especially needed by a person in spring.
Heart attack and stroke prevention. The components of garlic can reduce the risk of thrombosis by lowering blood viscosity.
For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use no more than 2 cloves of garlic per day. For the treatment of diseases, the dosage of the plant is indicated by the doctor based on the available indications and characteristics of the body.
Garlic: what is the harm to the body
Most people, when asked about the dangers of garlic, usually call only the presence of an unpleasant odor from its use. But that's not all limitations:
1. It is toxic. The sulfides in it can cause a headache, slow down a person’s reaction to external stimuli, and reduce attention.
2. It is completely contraindicated for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.
3. Able to cause allergies.
4. It should be discarded in case of anemia.
5. May provoke an attack of epilepsy.
6. In its raw form, the plant has an antiplatelet property. On the one hand, this is a good quality. But if a person takes blood-thinning drugs, then the risk to his life with bleeding increases significantly.
7. If people have sensitive skin, garlic can cause irritation, pain, and redness.
For pregnant and lactating mothers: the benefits of garlic
During pregnancy and lactation, each mother monitors nutrition, refuses many of her favorite foods for the health of the child. For most women, garlic is banned. But studies show that you should not completely abandon it. The presence of a vegetable in food in small quantities will bring a woman and a child only health benefits.
The plant itself contains a large amount of folic acid, so necessary for the full development of the child.
Significant the content of vitamins of groups B, C, D, A helps the future mother resist the development of hypovitaminosis, potassium normalizes the activity of the urinary and cardiovascular systems. Magnesium is needed to relieve the tone of the uterus, and calcium will take care of the strength of the bone tissue of the future baby and mother.
A small amount of garlic helps maintain pressure within normal limits. This is especially important when signs of gestosis and hypertension are manifested. Garlic Cope With High Cholesterol.
In the last months of pregnancy and immediately after childbirth, many mothers are faced with varicose veins. Slowed blood flow in them contributes to the formation of blood clots. The substances present in garlic thin the blood, improve its coagulation properties, and prevent thrombosis.
Garlic is important during infectious and colds. It can not be justifiably called a natural antibiotic, since the phytoncides and allicin contained in it prevent the penetration of harmful microorganisms into the body and multiply, and prevent the development of complications after the flu.
Just a clove of garlic per day will bring mom and baby benefits for the body.
Garlic for children: useful or harmful
Many people remember how grandmothers at the first sign of a cold tried to feed us with garlic. And they were right, because the benefits of it are undeniable. The vitamins, organic compounds, minerals, essential oils contained in the composition have a beneficial effect on the children's body.
Preparations based on it have the following properties:
• bactericidal;
• expectorant;
• antimicrobial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• anthelmintic.
It also improves appetite, normalizes the digestion process, calms the intestines, and helps strengthen immunity.
But pediatricians warn - children can not give garlic up to a year, because it is hard to tolerate an immature ventricle. If the child has problems with the kidneys, stomach, epilepsy, then the use of garlic will only bring harm.
After a year, it can be added a little to soups and main dishes. Children from one year to 4 years old can eat no more than half a clove of garlic per day, but no more than 3 times a week. Parents need to remember that excessive use of it can cause dermatitis and adversely affect the work of the heart.
Garlic: benefits in gardening and traditional medicine
Recently, most gardeners in the fight against insects and weeds have completely abandoned chemicals and preferred natural methods of control. One of the popular "helpers" in the garden was garlic. If you plant it next to fruit trees, flowers, berries, vegetables, then he saves:
• from aphids, arachnoid red ticks, ants.
• Caterpillars will not feast on spinach, cabbage, broccoli.
• Snails and slugs will not appear on vegetables.
• Colorado beetles will disappear from the potato.
• Soil mite will disappear from strawberries and currants.
• No carrot fly appears on carrots.
Due to the presence in the garlic of mineral compounds, ascorbic acid and essential oils, which give it a special smell, a blow to annoying pests.
In the fight against garden pests, you can prepare preparations based on garlic:
• grind about 200g of garlic, add 1 liter of water, leave for 7 days, strain. This solution can be used to spray plants.
• Mix garlic infusion with water (60g of infusion per 10l of water), dissolve 50g of laundry soap. This solution gives a good result in the fight against tomato pests, but it is better to treat the plant with it in early July with an interval of 2 weeks.
• Insist during the day a solution of crushed onions and garlic (50 g of each plant is required), filled with 10 l of water. The solution will help destroy aphids, ticks.
Garlic gained popularity in alternative medicine. It is used in the preparation of compresses, wipes, therapeutic inhalations. Helps to get rid of warts, age spots, toothache, promotes the healing of ulcers, wounds. Assists in the treatment of intestines, stomach, colds, hypertension, skin diseases.
For treatment, you can try several folk tips:
• For tonsillitis and colds, grind 6 cloves of the plant, add 1 tablespoon of honey, mix. Take after meals 1 teaspoon up to 6 times a day.
• For diseases of the stomach and intestines, you can rub 10 cloves of garlic, put everything in a glass container, pour 0.5 l of vodka, infuse for 2 weeks. Then strain the infusion and take 30 drops along with 1 tablespoon of water.
• For joint pain, atherosclerosis, it is necessary to scroll a lemon, 5-6 cloves of garlic in a meat grinder. In the resulting slurry, add 1 tablespoon of honey, take 1 tablespoon.
When using garlic, it is important not to forget that it is not the main remedy for disease. It is only a help in a duel with many diseases.
