Garlic has a pungent smell, and is good in certain dishes, but is there more to it? Why is it so often considered a great, healthy herb? Well, for one, it has the vital chemical compound allicin, which is a wonderful therapeutic ingredient with many medicinal qualities. Allicin contains sulfur, which gives the herb its pungent savor and peculiar smell. The health benefits of garlic are innumerable.
Try garlic for these unexpected health benefits, who-knew beauty uses, and hidden home repairs.
1. Prevents and Treats Cold
Packed with antioxidants, a daily dose of garlic in your recipes could benefit your immune system.
If a cold does sneak by, try sipping garlic tea. Steep chopped or minced garlic in hot water for several minutes, then strain and drink. You can add a bit of honey or ginger to improve the taste.
2. Control Your Weight
Good news, garlic could help you control your weight. According to a research, who cites a study that showed mice eating a garlic-rich diet reduced their weight and fat stores. To take advantage of this benefit, try to cook with garlic daily.
3. Relieve Itchy Foot
With its anti-fungal properties, some people swear that a benefit of garlic is its ability to relieve itchy foot. Soak your feet in a bath of warm water and crushed garlic.
4. Grow Beautiful Hair
Garlic could end your hair loss problems because of its high levels of allicin, a sulfur compound similar to that found in onions, which were found to effectively treat hair loss.
Rub sliced cloves of garlic on your scalp, squeezing as you go for the most benefit. You can also infuse oil with garlic and massage it into your scalp. In addition to preventing hair loss, using garlic like this also acts as one of the most effective dandruff remedies out there.
5. Relieves Ear Aches
Garlic is commonly used for curing earaches, as it has several antiviral, antifungal, and antibiotic properties. Its oil can be made at home by squeezing the juice of its cloves and adding it to olive oil. The mixture should be kept at room temperature for a few days, but shouldn’t be saved indefinitely, if made at home.
6. Keep Away Mosquitoes
Scientists aren't sure why, but mosquitoes don't seem to like garlic. A doctor found that people who rubbed a garlicky concoction on their arms and legs weren't bothered by the pesky buggers.
Make a solution of garlic oil, petroleum jelly, and beeswax for a natural repellant or place cloves of garlic nearby.
7. Soothe psoriasis
One of the most surprising garlic benefits is that it can improve your skin. Since garlic has proven anti-inflammatory properties, it could be useful in relieving uncomfortable psoriasis outbreaks. Try rubbing a little garlic oil on the affected area for smooth, rash-free skin.
8. Protect Plants
Garden pests don't like garlic. So, make a natural pesticide using garlic, mineral oil, water, and liquid soap. Pour into a spray bottle and mist your plants to keep away destructive critters.
9. Clears Acne
It might not be a main ingredient in your drugstore acne medication, but garlic makes a great natural remedy to banish unsightly blemishes.
Its antioxidants kill bacteria, so rub a sliced clove of garlic on the pimple for an effective topical treatment.
10. Remove a Splinter
Placing a slice of garlic over the sliver and covering it with a bandage or duct tape has been a folk cure for years.