“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”
Those are famous words from the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the father of Western medicine. He actually used to prescribe garlic to treat a variety of medical conditions. Modern science has recently confirmed many of these beneficial health effects.
Here are the excellent health benefits of garlic that are supported by human research.
Roasted Garlic changes the profile and enhances the flavor. It still tastes like garlic but a little sweeter from the caramelization.
ROASTING INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Prep the Garlic
Roasting garlic is very simple. All you’ll need is a bulb of garlic, a touch of oil and a hot oven.
The first step is to remove any excess papery skin from your whole bulb of garlic. This will flake and burn in the oven, so it’s best to remove a good amount of it just to avoid the mess. Then slice off the very top of the bulb with a sharp knife.
Step 2: Roast
All that’s left to do is roast. Brush the top of the bulb with a bit of oil —a teaspoon or two should do it. You can use olive oil here, but grapeseed would also work. Then wrap in foil and pop in a 400ºF oven for about 40 minutes.
Step 3: Serve or Store
The garlic is done when you can prick the center clove with a knife or toothpick and it’s nice and soft. If you’re looking for an intense roasted flavor, you can continue to caramelize the garlic until golden. Just keep checking on it in 10-minute increments.
After you’ve roasted the garlic, let it cool slightly and then use in the recipe of your choice. If you’re not using it right away, pack it in a container and store it in the fridge. It’ll keep there for about two weeks. You can also freeze it for two to three months without issue.
Add to any of your favorite dishes, a few of mine are; Vegetable and Quinoa Stir-fry, Gluten-free Spaghetti Squash Pasta, Roast Chicken, Garlic and Ghee over any White Fish.
Garlic Contains Compounds with Potent Medicinal Properties
Scientists now know that most of its health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed. The sulfur compounds from garlic enter the body from the digestive tract and travel all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects.
Garlic Is Highly Nutritious But Has Very Few Calories
One clove (3 grams) of raw garlic contains 5 primary minerals:
- Manganese: 2% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin B6: 2% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 1% of the DV
- Selenium: 1% of the DV
- Fiber: 0.06 grams
- Decent amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1
In total, one clove is 4.5 calories, 0.2 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs.
Garlic also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients. In fact, it contains a little bit of almost everything you need.
Boosts Immunity
Who knew boosting your immunity can be as simple as eating more garlic? According to one study involving 41,000 middle-aged women, those who routinely ate garlic, fruits and vegetables had a 35% lower colon cancer risk. Keep in mind that benefits came from raw and cooked garlic – not supplements.
Works as an Anti-inflammatory
Research has shown that garlic oil works as an anti-inflammatory. If you have sore and inflamed joints or muscles, rub them with the oil. The Arthritis Foundation even recommends it to help prevent cartilage damage from arthritis.
Gives You Better Hair and Skin
Garlic’s antioxidants and antibacterial properties can clear up your skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. One study shows rubbing raw garlic over pimples can clear them away. Be aware, though, that it could cause a burning sensation on your skin. Consult with your dermatologist first before putting garlic on your skin if you are using any other products, too.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our post on The Health Benefits of Herbs.
