Garlic is a food many people think of as only having value as a seasoning to other foods.
It has been used throughout history to create flavorful dishes. While many do not like the pungent odor of this food, there is no denying its popularity.
What many people do not realize is that it can also have many health benefits. If you love garlic or simply want to convince someone you know to eat garlic, here are some benefits you should know.
The Nutritional Value of Garlic
Garlic is a food that is low in calories, yet high in nutritional value. There are several nutrients found in garlic that are worth noting. It is a great source of protein with 6.4 grams in only 100 grams of garlic.
Keep in mind that it is a little high in carbs though, which is something to be mindful of if keeping track of the carbs you consume.
Here are the 4 nutrients garlic is a good source of these nutrients. This picture gives you the amounts of these nutrients can be found in garlic.
1. Vitamin B6
This is a nutrient that serves many purposes in the body. It aids in metabolism, immune function, maintaining proper amino acid levels in the blood, and much more. Vitamin B6 is even used in the brain for cognitive purposes.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential to proper immune function which is why people take it when they are sick.
Garlic is a good source of this nutrient which is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in your body.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant which helps protect the body from free radicals.
3. Manganese
Though manganese is just a trace mineral, it plays an important role in the body.
It helps with formation and repair of connective tissue, is necessary for bone health, helps with regulating sex hormones, and much more. It is also an antioxidant which means it may be able to help with anti-aging as well as preventing certain cancers.
Nutrition FactsServing Size: 100gm & 60gm.
*Daily value not established.
| Amount Per Serving | Serving Size | |
| Protein | 6.4 gm | 100 gm |
| Calories | 149gm | 100 gm |
| Fat | 0.5gm | 100 gm |
| Carbohydrates | 33.1gm | 100 gm |
| Manganese | 23% | 28gm |
| Vitamin B6 | 17% | 28gm |
| Vitamin C | 15% | 28gm |
| Selenium | 6% | 28gm |
| Fiber | 1gm | 28gm |
4. Selenium
This is another trace mineral that has a big impact on the body. Selenium helps the body create certain proteins. It also helps with cardiovascular health, protecting the body from certain metal poisonings, and even protects against certain cancers.
5. Other Nutrients in Garlic
There are a few other nutrients that garlic offers, though not in abundance.
These include phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, and potassium. These are all important to a well functioning and healthy body. While you may not get a great source in garlic, it is helpful to know you are getting some from this food.
39 Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes since before there was recorded history. Many of these health benefits come from the properties of garlic which is in the family of alliums.
Other foods in this group include leeks, chives, and onions. Here are some of health benefits you will find from eating garlic on a regular basis.
1. Reduce Your Chance of Lung Cancer
Studies have shown that garlic can help to reduce your chances of getting lung cancer. In order to receive the benefit the garlic must be consumed raw. This decrease in lung cancer was even seen in smokers.
2. Kills Brain Cancer Cells
A study done by the Medical University of South Carolina in 2007 found that ingesting large amounts of garlic actually kills the cancer cells.
Keep in mind that this test was only done with glioblastoma, the fastest growing brain cancer. This means there is no proof it will work with other types of brain cancer.
3. Prevents Hip Osteoarthritis
There was a research study done on diet and hip osteoarthritis and it found a correlation between garlic consumption and lower rates of hip osteoarthritis. They attributed this to the diallyldisulphide found in garlic which keeps the bone from degrading.
4. Can be Used as an Antibiotic
Garlic has been used as an antibiotic for centuries. It is rumored that gravediggers in France during the 1700’s drank wine with raw garlic to keep them from getting the plague.
The benefits seem to be most prevalent with raw garlic. A study done in 2012 found garlic to be 100 more effective at treating intestinal infections than two popular antibiotic medications.
5. Helps Your Heart
Garlic has great cardiovascular benefits. This is because the red blood cells in the body convert the garlic into hydrogen sulfide gas, which helps to regulate blood pressure.
6. Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Another way garlic can help your heart is by lowering your cholesterol levels. Studies have found that eating just half a clove to one clove of garlic a day is enough to see results with this.
7. Helps Keep the Prostate Healthy
Garlic has been shown to help keep the prostate healthy.
It is recommended that men consume 10 grams of garlic raw a day, roughly 2 cloves. If this seems like too much work, keep in mind that other alliums, such as onions, provide the same benefit so you can mix it up to get the recommended amount.
8. Helps with Alcohol Induced Liver Damage
We all know alcohol damages the liver. For people who binge, the damage can be more severe. A study found that raw garlic can actually help to improve the liver function of people with this type of liver damage.
9. Reduces Chances of Preterm Labor
Preterm birth is a serious issue for infants and this is why reducing the chances of preterm labor is important. In a study 66,000 women were studied and found that garlic helps reduce the chances of preterm labor.
10. Get Over the Common Cold Faster
Even the National Library of Medicine recognizes the effects garlic has for the common cold. It found that garlic can help people get over the cold faster.
11. Boosts the Immune System
The antibacterial properties as well as the antioxidants in garlic are what give it the immune boosting effects.
12. Fights Inflammation
Inflammation is a serious problem that can affect any part of the body. The anti-inflammatory properties in garlic help it to be useful with inflammation in joints and even in the respiratory system.
13. Detoxifies the Body
Garlic has properties that allow it to help the body eliminate toxins. The good news is this isn’t the only food that can do this. This picture shows some of the other foods that can help you detoxify your body.
14. Aids in Healthy Hair
Who doesn’t want beautiful hair? Garlic is a great ingredient for hair masks as it helps to make your hair look great and can even help it to grow faster. Here is a video for making your own garlic oil hair mask.
15. Clears up Acne
Acne can be a frustrating struggle for teens and adults alike. Because of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic, it can help clear up acne. Here you will find a few recipes for garlic products for treating acne.
16. Prevents the Cold
On top of being able to help you recover from a cold, garlic can also help prevent you from getting sick in the first place. Below video gives you more information on how garlic can help with preventing and treating colds.
17. Weight Management
Rather than just jumping on the next diet fad, maybe try garlic. A study found that adding two to five percent garlic into one’s diet can help with weight loss.
18. Remove Splinters
Getting a splinter out is difficult, especially when it comes to children. The good news is that garlic can help get it out without all the pain and hassle of other methods.
To do this all you need to do is simply cut a clove of garlic in half and then secure it to the area overnight. You can use duct tape, a Band-Aid, or other adhesive product to keep the garlic in place.
19. Treat Athlete’s Foot
The antibiotic and antifungal properties in garlic means you can treat athlete’s foot. If you don’t like having to buy foot cream or use chemicals then this can be a great alternative. This video explains how you can treat athlete’s foot with garlic.
20. Repel Mosquitoes
In the summer mosquitoes are a huge issue people spends tons of money trying to avoid. It is unknown why garlic works as a mosquito repellent, but it does. Some say it is because of the allicin while others believe it is just due to the smell.
21. Treats a Cold Sore
Cold sores are ugly and can be embarrassing. If you want to treat yours fast one option is to use garlic. This video can help you see how this process works.
22. Helps with Fishing
If you want to catch more fish, then garlic is the way to go. Fish are attracted to the smell of garlic so you can use spare food with plenty of garlic in it to entice fish to your hook and then just reel them in.
23. Helps Treat Warts
Warts are not pretty and can last for long periods of time. If you want to treat your wart naturally, one option is to use garlic. One study found that garlic actually cured 100% of warts in the test subjects.
24. Earache Relief
Earaches are an issue for swimmers as well as small children. Rather than making a run to the doctor every time an earache starts, just keep some garlic on hand. This image shows the recipe for garlic oil drops for earaches.
25. Relieve Nasal Congestion
Whether you are dealing with seasonal nasal congestion or suffer from this all year, a garlic rinse can help to take care of the problem. If you are unsure how this works, below video can help you understand the best method.
26. Improve Your Physical Performance
The biggest obstacle in physical performance is heart rate. The lower a person can keep their heart rate during activity, the better performance they will have. An Indian study found that people who consumed garlic oil had lower heart rates after six weeks than those who did not.
27. Keep Bones Healthy
Garlic has many nutrients that are important for bone health. Also, it may help to reduce bone loss in women. The components in garlic help to build healthy, strong bones.
28. Prevents Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a huge concern for many people. However, studies have found that fresh garlic can help to combat this with E. Coli and other food borne bacteria.
29. Weight Gain for Fetuses
In order for a baby to survive after birth, they need to gain appropriate weight.
30. Can Treat Scurvy
Scurvy results from a deficiency in vitamin C. While there are supplements for people can take, getting vitamin from food is the best way. Garlic is a great source of Vitamin C.
31. Regulates Blood Sugar
If you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, or deal with insulin resistance, such as with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) then you know that regulating your blood sugar is important. The good news is that garlic can help! Below picture explains how.
32. Can Protect Your Memories
You don’t need to have Alzheimer’s to feel like your memory is not what it used to be. The good news is that there is a research study that found when people used fresh garlic repeatedly over time their memory retention improved.
33. Treats fungal infections
Fungal infections are no fun. It could be toenail fungus, a yeast infection, or any other type of fungus. Garlic can help to treat the infection quickly. Below video explains how garlic works as well as how to properly use it for fungal infections.
34. Fights Allergies
You may only think about allergies in spring, but the truth is these can be an issue year round. Fresh garlic with honey can be an easy way to deal with your issues using this guide.
35. Relieves toothache
Tooth pain is a serious problem that can leave you unable to go about your day to day activities. Garlic has been found to treat abscesses as well as other sources of tooth pain.
36. Respiratory System Relief
Not only does garlic help reduce the chance of lung cancer, this food even helps with respiratory problems, such as asthma.
This is due to the anti-inflammatory properties of garlic. Here is information on how to best use garlic for respiratory relief. However, keep in mind that you should discuss your respiratory issues with your doctor before just using garlic.
37. Reduces the Risk for Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Just as with memory retention works on people with normal brains, it can also help people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. While this does not mean that treatment is not necessary, it can be helpful to use along with treatment.
38. Helps Keep nails healthy
If you want strong and long nails that are healthy, then garlic is a must. By simply rubbing fresh garlic on your nails you will help to make them stronger and grow faster in no time.
39. Soothes Psoriasis
The inflammation repressing aspects of garlic along with the Vitamin C and anti-oxidants help make garlic a great option for soothing psoriasis flare ups.
We hope that you have enjoyed this list. We love garlic, not only for the taste, but for the many great benefits it can provide. If you have any thoughts or questions let us know in the comments.