5 Benefits of Garlic for Health

HEALTHY WORLD-Garlic can not be separated from Indonesian cuisine. This kitchen seasoning is always a flavoring and complementary flavor in many foods.

Not just flavoring with a strong aroma, garlic also provides many benefits that are good for health.

Garlic has actually been used since ancient historical times in Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, and China. Instead of being a food ingredient, garlic's main uses are as medicine.

The efficacy of this garlic comes from sulfur compounds that appear when garlic is chopped, crushed or chewed. These compounds enter the body from the digestive tract and provide a strong biological effect.

Based on data from the Health Line, every one ounce of garlic contains 23 percent of the nutritional adequacy rate (RDA), vitamin B6 17 percent of RDA, vitamin C 15 percent of RDA, selenium 6 percent of RDA, and fiber 0.6 grams . In addition, garlic also contains calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B1.

High nutrition from garlic provides many benefits for the body. The following are the health benefits of garlic.

1. Increase immunity

Garlic can help improve the function of the immune system so that it can fight various types of diseases.

Research shows that consuming garlic supplements can reduce colds by 63 percent. Another study also found garlic can reduce the number of colds or flu days by 61 percent.

2. Reducing blood pressure

Studies show consumption of garlic also has a significant effect on reducing blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Garlic extract also has the same effectiveness as atenolol to reduce blood pressure for 24 weeks.

The amount needed to reduce blood pressure is equivalent to four cloves of garlic every day.

3. Reducing cholesterol

Garlic is also effective in reducing bad cholesterol by around 10-15 percent. Research found garlic can reduce the level of bad cholesterol or LDL but does not affect good cholesterol or HDL.

This makes garlic reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.

4. Prevent Alzheimer's

Garlic contains antioxidants that can fight free radicals that cause aging. Garlic has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and reduce the risk of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

5. Detoxing the body

Sulfur compounds in garlic are proven to protect body organs from heavy metal damage and poisoning. The study found garlic could reduce blood lead levels by 19 percent.

This can reduce headaches and high blood pressure.