Health benefits of Garlic: Garlic, one of the earliest known flavouring and seasoning plant has been a part of the culinary history of many civilisations.
You either love it or love to hate it, there is nothing else when it comes to garlic. Loved for its aroma, pungency, and zest, it is interestingly hated for the very same reasons.
Garlic, one of the earliest known flavouring and seasoning plant has been a part of the culinary history of many civilisations. Native to Asia, this plant was domesticated during the Neolithic times. Over time people became aware of its nutritional value and health benefits, making it an essential part of many cuisines.
It is believed that the garlic plant was identified by ancient Indians who domesticated it around 6000 years ago. Around 3000 BC garlic was introduced to Babylonian and Assyrian empires by Indian traders.
Garlic Benefits
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician prescribed garlic for many health conditions and illnesses. He suggested using garlic for respiratory problems, digestion, and fatigue shares Richard S. Rivlin.
Fresh garlic has a sulphur-containing compound, Allicin that is released when a garlic clove is crushed or chopped. This is responsible for the antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties, and beneficial for treating heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.
Rich in Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc, garlic does pack a punch.
How to Include Garlic in Everyday Meals?
Here are simple ways of including garlic in your meals. Apart from adding crushed garlic to dals, sabzis, soups, parathas you can also cook it in oil with red chilli powder like a seasoning and add to a plain khichadi, and dalia while eating. This oil can be applied to dhoklas and muthiyas.
Health Benefits of Garlic: How to Make it a Part of Your Diet
- A simple chutney that can be made every day by crushing a few cloves of garlic, green chillies and salt.
- Crush 4-5 garlic cloves add to melted butter with chilli flakes. Apply to parathas and toast.
- Roast garlic cloves on a griddle. Mash and add to season any dal or vegetable.
- Add garlic to wet and dry chutneys and masalas.
Garlic Greens
Garlic greens come to the market in winter. These are highly pungent but if cooked properly you get multiple health benefits. Using in small quantities takes care of its pungency and helps to relish the taste.
Garlic Greens Chutney
This post has originally been written for The Quint. You can read the rest of the post here
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