What are the Medicinal or Health Benefits of Garlic (Allium Sativum)

Discover 8 Top Health benefits of garlic

Before we begin our discussion on the Health benefits of garlic, I will like us to first of all have a brief and general overview of Garlic.

What is Garlic?

The botanical name for Garlic is Allium Sativum.  Garlic  is a plant with a very strong  flavor which has been used for both culinary uses and medical purposes for hundreds of years. 


What is the Key Medicinal Ingredient in Garlic?
The key medicinal ingredient in garlic is allicin, which is known to have wonderful anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties.

Why do we need to take or eat Garlic?

What are the Benefits of Garlic?

We need to take or eat garlic not just for eating sake but for its medicinal and health benefits.  Research has shown that Garlic can be used to treat health problems like

1. High Cholestrol
2. Parasites
3. Respiratory problems
4. Poor digestion
5. Low energy

Research and studies on the various medicinal and health benefits of garlic  have shown  that frequent eating garlic helps to reduce  blood pressure.  This is very helpful for people or individuals who suffer high blood pressure.  It has also been shown that eating garlic helps in the control of blood sugar.  This is of great benefits to individuals who suffer from Diabetes Melitus.   In addition to these, eating garlic also help to reduce blood cholesterol, and boosts the immune system. 


Garlic consumption has also been found to reduce the risk of esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer, etc


Should I take Garlic Raw or Cooked?
It is nor advisable to take garlic in its raw form; this is because the enzyme necessary to produce allicin may be destroyed in the stomach before having any  effect on the body. For this reason, dried  garlic tablets are more suitable to take.


Studies have shown that other forms of garlic such as cooked garlic, pickled garlic, and aged garlic are also beneficial.

Health or Medicinal Uses of Garlic

1. Garlic is used in the treatment of allergies.
2. Garlic is used in the treatment of Coughs and Other throat irritations; 
3. Garlic is used in reducing the severity of upper respiratory tract infections.  
4. It is used in the regulation of blood sugar in Diabetes patients by increasing the release of insulin. in upper.
5. It is used in the reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
6. Taking 600-900mg of garlic everyday lowers cholesterol level in the body and reduces the formation of arterial plaque by 5 - 18 %
7. Garlic can be used to cure toothaches
8. Garlic can be used to fight warts and a number of skin problems.

Side Effects of Garlic

Individuals  who are allergic to garlic  may suffer from stomach irritation, heartburn, or flatulence.

Health Benefits of Garlic  |  Culinary Uses of Garlic | What is Garlic

What is Garlic

What is Garlic?  Garlic is a plant a strong favour.  Over the years, this plant has been known for its culinary uses and its health benefits.  What is responsible for the immense health benefit of garlic?  If you are wondering what is responsible for this great health benefit the you should state tuned.  Garlic contains an ingredient called allicin.  Scientist have shown that this allicin is potent against bacteria.  It has great antibacterial action.  It also have antifungal effect and thus can be used in treatment of some fungal infections.

What is the Botanical name of Garlic?

The botanical name of garlic is Allium sativum.  It is a species in the onion genus, Allium.  Close relatives of Garlic include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo.

Description of Galic (Allium Sativum)

Garlic grows up to 0.5 m tall.   It is a hermaphrodite plant and pollination in it occurs by bees and insects.  Without bees and insects, pollination will not be possible in this plant.

How is Garlic (Allium Sativum) Cultivated?

Galic (Allium sativum) is cultivated just like any other plant.  Just like most plants, garlic is very easy to cultivate.  What kind of climate do you need to cultivate garlic (allium sativum)?  Garlic (Allium sativum) can be cultivated in mild climates.  Propagation of garlic (Allium sativum) can be sexually or asexually.  A great number of garlic cultivated is propagated sexually.  Sexual propagation of this plant involves plating of the individual cloves in the ground.  If you are in cold climates area, then it is advisable to plant your garlic in the fall, just about 6 wks before freezing of the soil.  Then you harvest your garlic in late spring.  One thing I like garlic for is that it is pest and disease resistant.  This is probably because of its hardness.  This does not mean that there is not pest of disease that attacks it.  Nematodes and white rot disease and know to unleash attack on garlic.

Pink root can also attack garlic.  This disease stunts the roots of garlic and turns them pink or red.

If you are cultivating or growing garlic plants, it is advisable to leave enough gap or space for the bulbs to mature.  You can grow your garlic in containers that have space and considerable depth.  Always select large cloves when planting your garlic.

When cultivating garlic, you should also consider your location.  Your location will largely determine the subspecies of garlic you will cultivate.  We have two major subspecies of garlic namely the Hardneck and the Softneck garlic.   If you are in cooler climates, you are advised to grow the Hardneck garlic.  It grows better in cooler climates.  If you are in areas closer to the equator, then you should grow or cultivate the softneck garlic. 

A Brief History of Garlic (Alliu Sativum)

Garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Garlic was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used throughout its history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Storage of Garlic - How to store your Garlic

You can store your garlic in a warm place that is above 18 C.  It can also be stored by by drying it.  The cloves of garlic can be store in wine in the refrigerator.

Garlic is usually stored in a dry and low humid environment.  

Health Benefits of Garlic  |  Culinary Uses of Garlic | What is Garlic

Culinary Uses of Garlic

Culinary Uses of Garlic

Aside the health benefits of garlic, garlic is also known for its culinary uses.  Globally, it is used for its pungent smell and flavor as a seasoning in food.  The bulb of the plant is the most widely used part of the plant.  Garlic cloves are also use in cooking.  It can be consumed raw or cooked.  Many people prefer cooked cloves of garlic while some others prefer to it the garlic cloves raw.  They pungent smell and spicy flavor are utilized in cooking.  The leaves and flowers on the head can also be eaten but they flavour is less than that of the cloves.

The skin and root clusters of garlic are inedible and are rarely eaten.  In culinary uses, the protective layers of skin are discarded.  In most countries like Asia, Middle East, Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Africa, etc this plant is a component of many dishes.

The head of garlic can ferment at high temperature and this is used in some places in the production of a product known as black garlic.  Black garlic is a sweet syrupy.  Sweet syrupy is sold in market in various part of Europe and Asia.

Dishes like garlic bread, bruschetta, canape, garlic toast are made from garlic.

The Garlic cloves can be dried and grind to produce garlic powder.  This powder has different taste from the fresh one.  The garlic powder can be used to substitute the fresh garlic.  

What are the Culinary uses of Garlic?

• Garlic being crushed using a garlic press

• Garlic is widely used in most part of  the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning.

• Garlic have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking.

• Other parts of the garlic plant are also edible.

•  The leaves and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are sometimes eaten.

• Garlic is a fundamental component in many or most dishes of various regions, including eastern Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, northern Africa, southern Europe, and parts of South and Central America.

• The flavour of Garlic varies in intensity and aroma with the different cooking methods.

•  It is often paired with onion, tomato, or ginger. The parchment-like skin is much like the skin of an onion, and is typically removed before using in raw or cooked form. An alternative is to cut the top off the bulb, coat the cloves by dribbling olive oil (or other oil-based seasoning) over them, and roast them in an oven. Garlic softens and can be extracted from the cloves by squeezing the (root) end of the bulb, or individually by squeezing one end of the clove. 

• In Korea, heads of garlic are fermented at high temperature; the resulting product, called black garlic, is sweet and syrupy, and is now being sold in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

Health Benefits of Garlic  |  Culinary Uses of Garlic | What is Garlic