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For centuries, several herbs and spices have been recognized for their medicinal value and have been widely used for alternative healing. Ginger, turmeric, basil, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, and clove are just a few of them. Besides these, garlic is one herb that is acclaimed for its miraculous healing properties. It is high in a potent chemical called allicin which has a healing effect. The health benefits of this herb are many in number and it serves as a useful remedy for a wide array of conditions. Moreover, its strong, pungent odor adds flavor to food and makes it a healthy seasoning. Let us know about the various reasons that make garlic a miracle herb.
1. A nutritious but low-calorie herb
A highly nutritious herb, garlic serves minerals such as manganese, selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper and vitamin B1. It is also high in fiber content. At the same time, it is low in calories. This makes garlic a low-fat yet nutrition-dense food seasoning.
2. Effective for boosting immunity
Garlic is known to be an effective immunity booster that enables you to combat sicknesses such as common cold and flu. It not only reduces the possibility of these conditions but also alleviates their symptoms faster. You can include the herb in your daily diet or take it as a supplement for boosting your immunity.
3. Reduces blood pressure
Another reason that garlic earns the status of a miracle herb is its ability to reduce blood pressure. Studies have shown that hypertension patients have experienced significant benefits by consuming a few cloves of raw garlic with water every morning. Supplements have even found to be equally effective. By reducing high blood pressure, garlic also gives cardiovascular benefits to the patients.
4. Lowers cholesterol levels
Another amazing health benefit of garlic is that it can lower the levels of total and LDL cholesterol, both of which are detrimental for health. Lower levels of “bad” cholesterol bring down the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke to a significant extent. Just adding a few cloves of this magic to your daily diet herb can protect you from such major health concerns.
5. Increases longevity
Garlic can even help you live longer as it brings down the risk of several life-threatening conditions. From strengthening your immunity to warding off common infections and alleviating the risks of fatal health conditions, there is a lot that this tiny herb can do for you.
6. Aids detoxification
The presence of poisonous toxins and chemicals within your system is the key reason for disease. The best way to prevent them is to flush out these toxics by detoxification. Garlic, being high in sulfur compounds, serves as a natural detoxifying agent that effectively eliminates toxins, particularly heavy metals, from your body.
7. Protects against age-related cognitive conditions
Age-related memory loss and cognitive conditions are attributed to oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Being high in antioxidants, garlic offers dependable protection against oxidative stress. This enables your body to fight against cell damage related to aging and consequently, lowers the risk of cognitive conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
8. Effective against allergies
Another reason that garlic is revered for its medicinal properties is its anti-inflammatory action that makes it capable of combating allergies. The herb has been proven as an effective remedy for treating allergic airway inflammation. Raw garlic juice can also relieve the itching caused by skin rashes and insect bites.
9. Offers weight loss benefits
Amazingly, this small herb brings some big benefits when it comes to weight loss. Researchers have linked obesity with inflammation. Garlic, being a natural anti-inflammatory agent, can prevent weight gain induced by inflammation. It also curbs the formation of fat cells in the body.
10. Alleviates toothache
Garlic is a natural analgesic and anti-bacterial, which makes it an effective natural substitute of medicines for toothache. Applying a crushed clove of raw garlic on the affected area can relieve pain without any side effects that are associated with strong painkillers.
Considering these benefits of garlic, it can be said that it definitely deserves to be called a miracle herb. Since herbal remedies are natural, they seldom have any side effects. These are the herbs with proven medicinal benefits and can be taken safely, without having to worry about contradictions and side effects. Moreover, their efficacy for treating various health conditions cannot be denied as several scientific studies have proved their potency for healing such health conditions.
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