10 Benefits Of Eating Garlic On Empty Stomach
Many people have false perceptions about garlic. They believe that it will make you stink or that eating it will give you a bad taste in your mouth. Neither of these things are true!
In fact, garlic is one of the most important foods we can eat for health. It’s been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, improving immune function, and helping prevent heart disease.
Garlic has long been used as a medicine for centuries. Recent studies confirm its many potential benefits. Why not add some fresh minced garlic to your diet? You may be surprised by how well it tastes once it’s cooked down slightly.
Here are ten reasons why eating garlic on an empty stomach is worth it. Read on to learn more about each reason and then try incorporating some into your daily routine.
1. Boost your immunity
Your body uses antibodies to help defend yourself against infectious agents like bacteria and viruses. A healthy balance of antioxidants helps maintain a strong defense system.
However, research suggests that certain minerals such as zinc and selenium may become depleted after prolonged exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead. These toxins can damage cell membranes and micro-organisms, limiting the body’s ability to respond to external threats.
Certain vitamins like vitamin C and E may also reduce antioxidant levels. When this happens, other cells cannot function properly.
2.Reduces symptoms of certain diseases
Recent studies show that garlic can help keep you healthy by reducing the symptoms of various disease conditions.
It has been shown to reduce cholesterol, boost your immune system, prevent heart attacks and strokes, and even aid in weight loss.
Garlic may also play an important role in lowering blood pressure. Even though garlic is known for its strong odor, a recent study found that two small cloves of raw garlic consumed twice per week reduced hypertension (high blood pressure) in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Consuming one clove of cooked garlic every other day was likewise effective at improving blood glucose levels in individuals with pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Given all these health benefits, there are many ways to enjoy garlic. You can either eat it as a food item or use it in supplements or topical applications.
3.Protects your heart
Recent studies show that garlic can reduce cholesterol levels in blood, prevent atherosclerosis (the development of plaque in the arteries), and even keep more fat from being absorbed by the body.
A study conducted at the University of California found that eating one to two cloves of raw garlic per day may help lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol. The researchers also reported that participants’ total cholesterol was slightly reduced after eight weeks.
Another study conducted by Harvard Medical School showed that people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be able to avoid it by eating three servings of vegetables a day, including half a cup of cooked broccoli.
Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin K, which has been linked to better bone health. Vitamin K works with calcium to promote strong bones. Because most people are not consuming enough vitamin K, some experts believe that could put stress on our hearts.
4.Reduces bad cholesterol
Recent studies show that eating garlic can reduce both total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Consuming 2-4 cloves of raw garlic per week is enough to see benefits.
Garlic has been shown to lower blood lipids by altering how your body processes triglycerides in your fat cells. Triglyceride molecules come from food you eat, so lowering their number lowers circulating lipid levels.
A review of nine human trials found that an 8–12 month course of supplements containing 0.5–2 grams of aged or fresh garlic daily reduced total cholesterol by 5% and LDL cholesterol by 7%.
Another study conducted over 6 months investigated the effects of diets with and without 1–8 g/d of aged garlic extract on 80 adults with hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol).
Participants were matched into either a diet supplement group or a placebo control group, and those in the former had significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol as well as increases in HDL (good) cholesterol.
Given that garlic is relatively inexpensive and easily accessible, it may be a worthwhile addition to your health regime.
5.Boosts your memory
Recent studies have shown that eating garlic can boost your memory and recall. This is particularly helpful if you find yourself struggling to remember where you left your keys or what you were reading before you started to fall asleep.
A small amount of garlic administered one to two hours prior to testing has been shown to improve test performance, especially in older individuals. In one study, participants ate a meal containing eight raw cloves of fresh garlic three days before a memory test. They found that after ingesting garlic, it took them about twice as long to give up each item during the task than when they didn’t eat any.
Another study conducted several rounds of tests with twenty-four healthy adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Each participant ate a pre-determined dose of six grams (about half a clove) of aged garlic either an hour or day ahead of time. Participants then completed a series of tasks, including a word list learning test and a prose comprehension test. On both tests, those who had ingested the garlic performed better than their non-garlified counterparts.
By boosting your blood circulation, garlic may also help keep your brain healthier by increasing blood flow to areas such as the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for storing new information.
6.Boosts your skin health
Recent studies show that garlic can help improve your overall skin health by acting as an antimicrobial agent, protecting your skin from external pathogens.
It also helps prevent dry skin caused due to frequent use of alcohol-based products like cosmetics and shampoo.
By improving moisture levels in the skin, garlic can help reduce inflammation or even treat inflammatory conditions such as rosacea.
Furthermore, antioxidants found in garlic may boost the natural antioxidant defenses in your body. These include vitamin A, zinc, and selenium, all of which are important for healthy skin.
7.Reduces symptoms of depression
Recent studies show that eating garlic can help reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). People with MDD suffer from depressed moods or thoughts. They may also have impaired sleep, appetite, and interest in daily life.
A small study conducted at the University of Maryland found that individuals suffering from mild to moderate depression experienced some improvement in symptom severity after consuming 1–3 cloves of fresh garlic per day for four weeks.
Another study conducted by the same team determined that supplements containing aged dried garlic may be an effective treatment option for people with severe depression.
You should not use herbal remedies as a replacement for psychotherapy or medication unless advised to do so by your doctor. However, there are several reasons why adding garlic to your diet can be helpful.
8.Helps fight cancer
Recent studies show that garlic can help prevent, treat symptoms of, and even cure some types of cancers. It works in several ways to aid in this effort.
One way it helps is by boosting your body’s own natural defenses against infections and disease. In fact, research has shown that eating two tablespoons of raw fresh garlic every day may reduce infection risks like HIV and hepatitis C.
It also aids in lowering blood cholesterol levels. A recent study found that people who ate one or more servings of cooked pasta each week were less likely to suffer a heart attack than individuals who did not eat pastries at all.
That means if you love pasta, try to make it healthier by baking it instead of boiling it! Lastly, garlic has been linked to lower rates of certain types of cancer. -more-
Importance: While there are no scientific studies showing that eating enough garlic will cause death, researchers do warn about potential health problems when you limit it.
Consuming too much garlic could be harmful to your health. These include stomach pain, vomiting, and allergic reactions such as hives and trouble breathing. If you experience any of these symptoms after consuming garlic, stop doing so and see your doctor immediately.
Fortunately, most people don’t consume enough garlic to pose any risk. But still, we should keep an eye out for signs of overconsumption just in case.
9.Improves digestion
Having garlic or eating it before bed can help improve your digestive system in many ways. This includes helping you to digest food more efficiently, eliminating bad bacteria from the gut, and improving your appetite by enhancing flavor.
Garlic has been shown to increase intestinal function, decrease stomach acid, and enhance nutrient absorption. All of these effects work to strengthen your body’s ability to process foods.
You are more likely to eat less if you enjoy how delicious this powerful bulb is when cooked down into recipes and/or eaten raw.
10. Improves lung health
Garlic helps clear the airways. Regular consumption of garlic can combat dangerous lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and tuberculosis. It also helps in relieving congestion in the lungs and improves oxygen levels in the body. Add to that the fact that garlic has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it the perfect cold dish.