Garlic…This flavor packed veggie does a whole lot more than just ramp up your pasta sauce! It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. Vitamin C boosts immunity. Vitamin B6, better known as pyridoxine assists your body in using the energy stored from protein and carbs.  Manganese plays a role in activating enzymes in the body to help metabolize your food. This small, powerful vegetable is versatile and flavorful! Garlic’s health benefits have been recognized throughout centuries, going as far back as Ancient Greece where it was commonly used for its healing properties.  Let’s explore some of the many health benefits of Garlic.

5 health benefits of garlic:

1. Helps improve memory.
Garlic’s ability to maintain a healthy gut is closely linked to the maintenance it holds up in our gut. Scientist from the University of Louisville have tested this theory by feeding raw garlic to older lab mice. They found that older mice who were fed the garlic compound had proven a better long and short term memory, overall cognitive function, along with a healthier gut bacteria than their counterparts.

2. Assists with a better athletic performance.
Throughout Ancient history, garlic was commonly used to enhance the performance of people who performed physical labor. It was also used to help reduce the fatigue that came as a side effect of the workload. Eventually, athletic competitors in Ancient Greece began to consume it to enhance their performance and ability. Today, garlic still plays a role in building stamina so you’re able to go for longer without exerting yourself!

3. Improves your blood pressure.
Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties allow for better blood flow throughout the body. A study consisting of participants with high blood pressure taking garlic supplements had shown a decrease in blood pressure by 10%! These supplements, however, consisted of 600-1,500mg which equates to about 4 garlic gloves daily. Chop, chop!

4. High in nutrients, low in calories.
For the 4.5 calories consumed in a single clove of garlic, it’s pretty generous in what it gives back. With calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, fiber, selenium, protein, vitamin c + b6 + b1 and of course, manganese. It’s safe to say, Garlic’s got just about everything you need daily.

5. Lowers cholesterol + risk of heart disease.
For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplements appear to reduce LDL cholesterol by 10-15%. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol, while HDL is considered the “good”. Though garlic has proven to lower LDL, it has shown no effect on HDL levels.

Tips to Maximize the Health Benefits of Garlic!

• Crush or slice your garlic before consuming! This helps increase the allicin content which helps reduce inflammation and offer antioxidant benefits.
• When crushing the garlic, do so at room temperature; allowing it to sit for 15 mins. In doing so, you will trigger an enzyme reaction that boosts restorative properties found in garlic.
• The finer you chop, the more pungent the result. Though this is less about maximizing health, it definitely is a great tip for maximizing flavor all the while enjoying the benefits of this versatile veggie!

Bottom Line:

Garlic is delicious and easy to add to most savory recipes! Soups, sauces, dressings galore! We at All American Seasonings love to create special custom blends for our customer’s every day needs. We’re here to help you incorporate this powerful vegetable into your diet the tastiest way imaginable!