Garlic, or scientifically known as Allium sativum, is a plant that is cultivated in all regions of the world. It is one of the oldest plants known throughout the ages. It has been known in many ancient civilizations for its preventive and curative qualities. Used in ancient Arabic, Indian and Chinese medicine to treat many diseases. There are many kinds of garlic such as fresh garlic, garlic powder, garlic granules and dehydrated garlic.
The garlic is composed mainly of compounds containing sulfur and amino acid S - allele cysteine, and contains garlic, non - mashed Alilin, which is converted to Allycin when crushed and the interaction of Allyn with the enzyme Alainiz, gives Allycin distinctive smell of garlic, and then produces Alicin many other compounds, Garlic activity is measured by its alicine content and garlic is also characterized by its jet smell. Dried garlic, garlic powder, and garlic granules are less effective than normal.
The benefits of garlic of all kinds such as dehydrated garlic, garlic powder, garlic granules, and fresh garlic:
Lower cholesterol level and blood pressure:
This is the most common use of garlic, where many studies found that eating garlic reduces the level of total cholesterol in the blood, and the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), also eating garlic regularly contributes to lower blood pressure from the way it affects the relaxation of the muscles of the blood vessels and by raising the production of nitric oxide, which works to expand and relax the blood vessels.
Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases:
As it fights atherosclerosis and the accumulation of clots and clots in addition to its effect in reducing triglyceride contributes to its protective and therapeutic effect in cardiovascular disease
Control of infectious diseases:
Garlic has been used for centuries to treat many infectious diseases, including many types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and in recent research has found that the effects of garlic effective in the fight against many types of positive bacteria and gram negative, as the alicine resist bacteria enzymes, and found many studies effects Effective for garlic in the fight against protozoa.
Prevention and treatment of cancer:
Research has found that garlic contains many compounds fighting cancer, specially substances prepared with oil extracts such as Diallyl, which has an effective role in fighting breast cancer cells, and include the mechanisms that fight the various compounds in garlic it activate enzymes that neutralize substances Carcinogenicity, and collisions with the formation of nucleic acids (DNA) . It eliminates the free radicals that contribute to the formation of cancer cells, prevent proliferation and growth of cells, and inhibit the growth of blood vessels in cancer, and found that the growth rate of cancer cells The garlic is the highest nutrient containing anti-cancer substances.
Garlic and Diabetes:
Several studies of laboratory animals have found an effective effect of garlic on lowering the level of glucose in the blood. It also found an effect of lowering cholesterol and blood lipids in the experimental animals. However, the effect of the results of studies on humans is still mixed in its effect on blood sugar, but it has shown an effective effect in the fight against cholesterol and lipids in people with diabetes.
Garlic and fight baldness:
There is some scientific evidence of the benefit of garlic in improving hair growth by using it as a topical preparation with other preparations; it helps in the fight against alopecia.
Garlic and skin fungus:
Some use garlic oil on the skin to treat fungal infections.
Fighting Aging:
Garlic has a stabilized role as an antioxidant that protects cells and fights their early age.
Lose weight:
Some studies suggest an effect of garlic in fighting obesity and obesity.
Precaution and effects of garlic and its interaction with drugs
In general, eating garlic in average quantities with food is safe and does not result in toxicity or negative effects, but there are some cases that result in adverse effects in the case of large quantities of it or garlic extract pills, notably:
- Eating five or more cloves of garlic a day may cause heartburn or a feeling of bloating, and may cause allergies, rashes and other symptoms of the digestive system. Because of the effective effect of garlic on the reduction of thrombosis, care should be taken when taking aspirin or anticoagulants such as warfarin and others, or when using other dietary supplements that help in the healing of blood, such as Ginkgo biloba herb or omega 3 fatty acids. For the effective effect of garlic in lowering cholesterol, pressure and blood lipids, so we recommend using garlic granules, garlic powder, and dehydrated garlic. Because using dehydrated garlic, garlic powder, and garlic granules have the same effect as fresh garlic
- Care should be taken when taking therapeutic amounts of it by people who take the drugs of pressure, cholesterol or other supplements that reduce the pressure or cholesterol.
- The study showed that the use of garlic extract with a concentration of 4.64 mg of alesin in the capsule, equivalent to the amount contained in two cloves of garlic, reduces the level of this drug in the blood by 51%.
- Lactating women should not take garlic in large quantities. It is better not to take garlic in large quantities if you take any of the drugs you interact with and you should consult your doctor beforehand.
And to get rid of the smell of garlic, despite the many benefits and variety, but a large segment of people avoid eating because of the smell of unpopular and annoying, and to get rid of the smell after eating there are many ways that can contribute to removing the smell, such as after eating an apple or garlic chewing fresh mint, Can also drink cloves.
