Garlic: 5 Other Super Benefits

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By TheListLady

More Benefits of Garlic

As a food and medicine, the benefits of garlic have been known and used for thousands of years. Garlic has antioxidant benefits which help destroy free radicals - those particles that are known to damage cell membranes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Further, garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, improve the immune system and it may also help protect against cancer (see number 5).

Also known as allium sativum, garlic is a species of the onion family, Alliaceae. Its close relatives are the onion, chive, leeks and shallot.

Listed below are 5 more reasons to add garlic to your life:

5 More Benefits of Garlic:

1) In the garden - garlic can be used as a natural pest repellent in the garden. Plant some garlic next to your rose bushes and it will naturally repel insects.

2) Athlete's foot - if you have tried everything, with no positive results or just want to avoid toxic medications, then garlic may be the solution. Garlic may help because it is a very powerful antifungal herb. Boil about 5 cloves for about 10 minutes in at least a quart of water and cool down to a temperature that is comfortable for you. Soak your feet in a large pan. As long as you do not crush the garlic it will not leave an odor.

3) For the Common Cold - garlic has sulfur compounds that help to boost the immune system. While I can swallow a small raw clove, you may want to cook it first. Take 2 unpeeled cloves and microwave for 30 seconds. Cool, peel and eat. This will reduce the raw garlic taste but give you the benefits of the sulfur compounds.

4) Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) - the natural antimicrobial properties of garlic will help fight a UTI as well as cranberry juice. Prepared any way you like, but eaten regularly, garlic offers this benefit.

5) Cancer - it is now believed that garlic's sulfur compounds are beneficial in preventing cancer. Add minced garlic to your dishes. Allow the minced garlic to sit for at least 10 minutes before cooking. It will help the garlic retain at least a third more of its cancer fighting properties.

Fresh garlic is always better than supplements in pill form.

See links below for more healthy lists:

Garlic

a garlic bulb
a garlic bulb

Comments

sord87 profile image

sord87 Level 1 Commenter 22 months ago

A great explanation on garlic.Garlic is almost everything in some meal and yet the best spice choice to ingredients!

lotuslove19 profile image

lotuslove19 22 months ago

DO YOU KNOW THAT GARLIC IF COOKED WITH TOMATOES LOOSE THEIR PROPERTIES ,SO WHEN EVER ONE PUT GARLIC IN YOUR PREPARATION DO NOT USE TOMATOES .

One more thing is if you have boils and the puss is not coming out or it does not have a mouth ,just crush garlic cloves enough to cover the boil and tie it over night ,by morning it will bust and will throw the puss out of it .for pimples you may appy garlic paste and they will go .

theherbivorehippi profile image

theherbivorehippi Level 2 Commenter 22 months ago

Very interesting! I love that it is a pest repellent. Maybe I should put a bowl full of garlic as a centerpiece on my table outside! lol

GreenThumbLady profile image

GreenThumbLady 22 months ago

You know...if your dogs eat a VERY small amount every day....it also makes their blood less appealing to mosquitoes and other bugs. I know "they" say dogs are not suppose to have garlic but it is a key ingredient in a lot of Hollistic and vegetarian dog food. Everything in moderation! Fabulous hub! Rated up for sure! Oh....and I'm with theherbivorehippi....I think I shall put some on my patio to scare bugs away! lol

BkCreative profile image

BkCreative Level 6 Commenter 22 months ago

Gosh, I love love love garlic - and must put it on my shopping list again. This hub is a great reminder of all the additional benefits. What a miracle plant.

Thanks so much - I will surely keep it in mind to plant some near my future rose bushes. And thanks for the pet tip GreenThumbLady! Everything in moderation!

Rated up!

Veronica Allen profile image

Veronica Allen Level 1 Commenter 22 months ago

I love garlic! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE It!!!. I cook with it just about every night. Maybe that is why I haven't had a uriniary tract infection for years? :)

LivingFood profile image

LivingFood Level 2 Commenter 22 months ago

I love raw garlic in my raw wraps...but still can't eat a clove. Great Hub!

eventsyoudesign profile image

eventsyoudesign 20 months ago

I use garlic daily. I try to eat a clove of garlic a day. It is great for circulation and I love the way it tastes. Great article. Thanks for reading my article.

Neil Sperling profile image

Neil Sperling Level 5 Commenter 20 months ago

Garlic is awesome - well done sharing hub

vocalcoach profile image

vocalcoach Level 7 Commenter 9 months ago

Another awesome hub to be bookmarked. Had to rate up, useful, awesome and interesting!

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