8. Fights Inflammation, Colds, and Coughs
Garlic is one of the natural remedies to strengthen the immune system. The active compound allicin found in garlic is proven to be effective in killing various germs that cause common diseases, such as colds and flu, coughs, and sore throats.
If you are sick, eating garlic can reduce the severity of your symptoms and help you recover faster. Various studies also report that regularly eating raw garlic reduces the risk of falling ill from contracting the common diseases above.
9. Overcoming Hair Loss
Who would have thought that the benefits of eating raw garlic could overcome the problem of hair loss?
In alopecia or baldness which is caused by an autoimmune disease, raw garlic can strengthen and encourage hair growth on the scalp. Some people even apply garlic oil on the head to prevent baldness.
The Benefits of Garlic Are Better If Eaten Raw
You can reap all the benefits of garlic as easy as chewing the cloves raw. Because it is in the freshest condition, the nutrients in garlic can work optimally.
Maybe this way of eating garlic is not unusual for you, but processing garlic by cooking them will actually eliminate various important nutrients.
But if you don’t want to keep eating raw, it’s okay to add garlic to your daily diet.
How Much Raw Garlic Can You Eat in a Day?
If you are considered to be in good health and do not have serious health problems, the University of Maryland Medical Center allows you to eat 1-4 cloves of raw garlic daily.
Eating more than one clove of garlic per day may worsen the condition of people with severe indigestion. In addition, people who have allergies, low blood pressure, asthma, ulcers, or thyroid problems are also advised to first consult a doctor before eating garlic.
The same is true if you are currently taking the following drugs:
- Isoniazid (Nydrazid)
- Family planning pills
- Cyclosporine
- Medicine for HIV/AIDS
- NSAID pain medication
- Blood thinning medication (Warfarin)
If you are taking any of these medicines, limit the amount of garlic you consume to avoid adverse interactions. You should first ask your doctor whether it is safe to eat garlic while using medical drugs.
Tips To Get Rid of Bad Breath After Eating Garlic
Although potentially good for health, eating too much garlic is also not good. This kitchen spice can cause hot mouth, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, to bad breath and body odor if consumed too much.
To avoid bad breath from eating raw garlic, try these tips first.
- Wash raw garlic cloves with cold running water
- Consumption of raw garlic with celery or basil leaves so that the garlic aroma is not too sharp
- Drink a glass of low-fat milk or eat plain yogurt after eating raw garlic
- Brush your teeth and gargle with mouthwash until clean after eating raw garlic
How To Store Garlic
1. Store in the Refrigerator
Storing the garlic out in the open will keep it moist and eventually new shoots will appear. It’s best to store the peeled and washed garlic in an airtight container. Put it in the refrigerator or freezer.
If the garlic has sprouted, it’s a good idea to plant the garlic in a small pot filled with soil, and let it grow.
2. Puree Before Storage
You can grind a few cloves of garlic in a blender or food processor and store them in an airtight container. Then, store it in the refrigerator. Minced garlic can save you cooking time later.
Besides being more practical, mashed garlic is also more durable than whole garlic stored at room temperature.
3. Soak in Olive Oil
The next way is to soak the garlic in olive oil. First, peel the garlic and wash it, then store it in a container. Pour in olive oil and submerge the garlic in it. Close tightly and put the container in the refrigerator.
Since the garlic absorbs the olive oil, it can enrich the flavor of your cooking. In addition, the soaking oil that now leaves an garlic flavor can be used as a dressing or salad dressing.
Remember, store garlic and olive oil in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Garlic stored this way can usually last about 3 weeks. When it’s been more than 3 weeks, throw it away and replace it with fresh garlic and new olive oil.
Learn more about Healthy Eating here.
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