Although garlic has a pungent aroma, there are many health benefits of garlic. Not only as a culinary delicacy, but garlic has also long been used to prevent and treat various diseases. This is due to the nutritional content in it.
Garlic is a type of onion that can be found all over the world. The pungent smell of garlic comes from the organic sulfur content, which is also beneficial for maintaining a healthy body.
Garlic is also often used to treat medical conditions related to the heart and circulatory system, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardening of the arteries ( atherosclerosis ), even as a food to treat COVID-19.
Garlic Nutrient Contents
The following is the nutritional content in 100 grams of raw garlic:
1. 6.3 grams of protein
2. 0.5 grams of fat
2. 33 grams of carbohydrates
3. 2.1 grams of fiber
4. 181 milligrams of calcium
5. 1.7 milligrams of iron
6. 25 milligrams of magnesium
7. 153 milligrams of phosphorus
8. 401 milligrams of potassium
In addition, garlic also contains compounds that function as antioxidants, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory.
Some Benefits of Garlic for Health
Thanks to its nutritional content, garlic has a variety of benefits. Some of the well-known health benefits of garlic are:
1. Maintain heart health
A study shows that supplements containing garlic extract can lower cholesterol and hypertension, thereby maintaining a healthy heart.
In addition, red blood cells can convert the sulfur content in garlic into hydrogen sulfide gas, which serves to dilate blood vessels.
2. Maintain digestive tract health
Not only good for the heart, garlic is also good for maintaining a healthy digestive tract. Studies show that garlic can be used to reduce H. pylori infection in the stomach.
3. Prevent cancer
Garlic is known to contain the compound allicin which is rich in antioxidants and has anti-cancer properties.
A study shows that consuming garlic can reduce the risk of stomach cancer and relieve symptoms of various types of cancer, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
However, further research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness of garlic in preventing cancer.
4. Prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Garlic contains antioxidants that can fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals themselves can increase the risk of developing diseases in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
A study shows that garlic supplements can increase antioxidants in the body and treat high blood pressure.
5. Prevent colds
Garlic is able to increase immunity, so it is believed to prevent colds. Studies show that those who are used to consuming garlic, have fewer colds and recover faster when they catch a cold than those who don’t eat it.
However, the benefits of garlic to prevent colds still require further research.
In addition, garlic is also believed to be useful for the natural treatment of bronchial asthma, maintaining healthy hair and skin, traditional cavities medicine, improving bone health, thinning blood naturally, and treating water fleas.
The efficacy and benefits of garlic can be obtained to the fullest if consumed raw. Do not cook it above 60 degrees Celsius, because it can remove the allicin content that is beneficial to the body.
If you want to use garlic supplements to prevent or treat a disease, you should first consult a doctor, especially if you are taking other drugs or supplements. The goal is to avoid the effects of interactions between drugs or reduce the effectiveness of treatment.