You might have sat down to a delicious pasta dinner recently and eaten some simple garlic bread on the side, but you probably weren't aware of exactly how much your body might have benefited from that simple side dish.
Garlic is used as a natural antibiotic in many areas of the world, and it also has been proven to have a number of positive effects on your body when eaten.
Whether you are simply trying to boost the overall health and well-being of your cardiovascular system while eliminating plaque build-up in essential organs and arteries, or are attempting to find a natural means to combat an illness that has fallen upon you, please continue reading to learn some of the amazing characteristics of garlic and how it can be used to completely change your current physical and mental state.
The amino acids and other chemicals in garlic break down into many other forms as they are prepared and digested.
Some of these compounds are credited to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
Other compounds found in garlic as it breaks down and travels through the bloodstream are also known to diminish plaque build-up in the body.
There are also anti-oxidants found in garlic, and this amazing root vegetable has also proven to help fight cancer and assist in it's prevention.
This is only a portion of the amazing things that garlic can do for you, so you should truly consider trying as many of these dishes, as often as you can.
Garlic Bread: Simple yet effective, using raw garlic that you have minced or powdered yourself as a seasoning on toasted bread is a healthy alternative to the traditionally buttered and roasted garlic bread.
Since the garlic loses some of it's benefits when cooked, its best to try to add the garlic after heating.
Salad Dressings: Adding some raw garlic to any salad dressing is a great way to get your daily dose without having to bite down into a raw clove or rely on a garlic pill.
Dip: Hummus regularly includes a good amount of garlic, so preparing some hummus yourself or buying it from a local market is a great way to get your blood flowing.
You might also consider including some garlic in homemade salsa or bean dip.
Soups: Since garlic is such a delicious seasoning, most soups will be just as good, if not better, with a little bit of raw garlic in the mix.
Try adding it into any herb, chicken or rice soup for the best flavor.
Adding minced, mashed, powdered, or sliced garlic to just about any entree will boost it's flavor by quite a bit, and you can even bite into a raw clove of garlic on the side.
Considering the massive amount of health benefits that garlic provides to humans and animals alike, it's pretty hard to come up with a reason to avoid it.
If you are overly concerned about the odor that garlic might leave on your body or breath, consider looking for natural pill or oil alternatives that still provide health benefits, just without all the smell.