12 BENEFITS OF GARLIC WE BET YOU NEVER KNEW

This fragrant bulb does much more than add depth to the taste of your stews and kick to your meat marinade. Find out some of garlic's health benefits and other surprising uses.

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Each clove of garlic, 10 to 20 of them in a bulb, is packed with much more than flavour. It is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese.

When garlic is cut or chopped, there’s a chemical reaction that produces allicin, an antibiotic and anti-fungal which also spreads that garlic smell. Crushing and mincing releases more allicin than chopping.

Heating garlic right after chopping can destroy a heat-sensitive enzyme and then no allicin is created. To prevent this, leave sliced or crushed garlic for ten minutes before adding to the pot. That ensures more allicin is formed.

One of the other magical ingredients in garlic is a powerful antioxidant that shows promise in protecting your brain from damage by free radicals. It increases your brain’s blood flow, which helps it to stay sharper as you age.

GARLIC HEALTH 
High doses of garlic seem to help if you have high blood pressure (hypertension). You’ll need a supplement with the equivalent of about four cloves per day.

For a cold, boil minced cloves and drink it like tea. You'll find it easier to breathe and the itchy throat will be better. Add ginger and honey to make it taste better.

Treat acne and cold sores with half a clove of garlic. Allicin will kill bacteria that clog your pores. Slice a clove in half and press it against the breakout to speed up the healing. It will burn a bit on a cold sore, but it will help.

Use garlic for athlete’s foot: Add a few crushed garlic cloves to warm water and soak the affected area for 30 minutes. A little garlic oil can also relieve psoriasis outbreaks if you rub it onto the area.

Garlic won't make you lose weight, but it helps in the sense that it makes you feel full quicker, so you might eat less.

You can make a simple remedy for dandruff by mashing about six garlic cloves and leaving them for 10 to 15 minutes. Then mix in about seven tablespoons of honey. Apply to your hair and scalp and rub in thoroughly. Rinse off after 5 to 10 minutes, then wash with shampoo to get rid of the smell.

Discoloured toenails will look normal again in a week or so if you coat them with an earbud dipped in garlic oil.

GARLIC AND THE HOME 
If you’re out of surface cleaner, fill a spray bottle with plain white vinegar and add 5 or 6 finely chopped garlic cloves. Let this steep for about an hour, then spray to disinfect any surface. A few drops of any essential oil will improve the smell.

Your fingers get sticky when you chop garlic – a clue for another handy use. Use this natural adhesive to conceal scratches and fill hairline cracks on window panes. Crush some cloves and rub their juice on the crack, wiping away excess.

Mix garlic and water in a spray bottle for a natural pesticide that can be misted on plants to keep away insects.



Mosquitoes don’t seem to like garlic. One study in India found that people who rubbed a garlic mixture on their arms and legs weren’t bothered by them. Make a solution of garlic oil, petroleum jelly and beeswax for a natural repellant or place some garlic in a bowl near you when outside.

GROW YOUR OWN 
Garlic is expensive at the moment because of the demand. Everybody wants to boost their immune system with Covid around and flu season coming.

Growing your own isn't hard, except for one thing. It takes nine months before a garlic bulb is ready for harvesting. That’s right: you can become pregnant and have a baby before your garlic will be ready.



Garlic flakes won’t have the allicin of the fresh version, but are still good for the other benefits and the taste. If you want to try garlic supplements, though, talk to your doctor first. It might be a bad idea if you’re on blood thinners, for example.

Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com, https://experthometips.com, https://www.healthline.com, https://www.thehealthy.com, https://inhabitat.com, https://www.greenhouseecocleaning.com