Garlic is renowned for its remarkable flavor and aroma, but also for its numerous health benefits. To take advantage of all that garlic has to offer, pickling it in vinegar is an easy way to incorporate this vegetable into your diet and improve your overall wellbeing. Here we will go over the advantages of consuming pickled garlic, how to make it yourself at home, and some ways that it can promote good health.
Health Benefits of Garlic and Pickled Garlic
For centuries, garlic has been used as a holistic remedy to help treat many different health issues. It is packed with amino acids, sulfur compounds and more that can provide valuable benefits for the body. Both fresh garlic and pickled garlic have been revealed to offer tremendous advantages such as improving high blood pressure levels, encouraging wound recovery and much more! Listed below are a few of the countless potential health perks from eating both types of garlic:
Blood Pressure
- Garlic is renowned for its ability to lower blood pressure, a major factor in preventing cardiovascular disease. Research has demonstrated that pickled garlic can significantly reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. Moreover, aged garlic extract contained in pickling reduces the symptoms of heart ailments like cholesterol concentrations.
Immune System
- Garlic is known to support a healthy immune system and protect against respiratory difficulties, such as common colds. Moreover, it can be applied on the skin to avert infection while boosting wound healing.
Heavy Metal Toxicity
- Garlic boasts a multitude of benefits, one being its ability to minimize oxidative damage and heavy metal toxicity the body. This aids sustaining better health while lessening risk of developing long- illnesses.
Aging Process
- Garlic not only perks up flavor, but it also aids in slowing down the aging process. The pungent sulfur compounds found in fresh garlic aid to protect your body from any oxidative damage that could lead to organ failure and other ailments. Moreover, garlic is rich with antioxidant enzymes which help reduce free radical production and keep you younger for longer!
Cholesterol Levels
- Savoring the robust flavor of pickled garlic can do more than tantalize your taste buds – it can also lower cholesterol levels, thereby greatly reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Making Pickled Garlic at Home
Home pickling garlic is an easy and straightforward process that calls for only a few ingredients. To craft your own pickled garlic, you’ll need:
- Garlic cloves
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Revitalize your meals with aromatic, flavorful herbs! (Optional)
To Make Pickled Garlic:
- Carefully peel the garlic cloves and nestle them snugly inside a sanitized jar.
- Submerge the garlic cloves in vinegar for optimal coverage.
- To add flavor, weave in a pinch of salt and your favorite herbs.
- Tightly seal the jar and let it rest at room temperature for a few days.
For an intensified flavor, leave the garlic to soak in vinegar for as long as your palate desires. After achieving a pickled taste you savor, store it in the refrigerator to enjoy over several weeks.
Using Pickled Garlic as a Natural Remedy
Pickled garlic is not only an incredible ingredient to boost the flavor of food – it also serves as a natural remedy for many health issues. Here are some specific uses of pickled garlic that can help promote optimal wellbeing:
- Struggling with respiratory issues? Adding a few cloves of pickled garlic to warm water and drinking it can help alleviate inflammation in the respiratory tract, leading to noticeably easier breathing.
- Applying garlic oil topically can accelerate the healing process of wounds and reduce their chances of becoming infected.
- Garlic supplementation has been scientifically shown to be a powerful tool for athletes, helping them enhance their exercise capacity and push through fatigue. Daily consumption of garlic can help optimize athletic performance.
Pickled garlic can be a beneficial health supplement, but it is important to remember that these remedies cannot take the place of professional medical attention. Before trying pickled garlic or any other alternative treatments for your condition, please talk to your physician first.
Other Health Benefits of Garlic
Eating garlic offers a range of health advantages, and that’s not all! Here are some additional potential benefits:
- Heart health is paramount, and garlic has been demonstrated to drastically reduce the hazards of heart disease. It does this by decreasing blood pressure levels, lessening cholesterol amounts, and aiding in circulation.
- Strengthening your immunity: Garlic is known to have immune-strengthening qualities that can help the body protect itself from germs and illnesses.
- Nature has gifted us with countless cancer-fighting foods, and garlic stands as a shining example. Several studies have demonstrated how garlic may attenuate the risk of developing certain types of cancers such as stomach and colorectal cancer. Therefore, incorporating more garlic in our diets is an easy way to make sure we are doing what we can to protect ourselves from this deadly disease.
- Garlic can help to bolster digestion and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues, from diarrhea to constipation-related woes.
- Don’t let garlic’s reputation for causing bad breath deter you – it can actually be a great ally in the fight against halitosis! Garlic is packed full of antibacterial properties that help reduce bacteria associated with unpleasant odors.
Side Effects and Precautions
While garlic is generally safe for most people to consume, there are some potential side effects and precautions to keep in mind.
- Bleeding disorders: Garlic can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding, so it should be avoided by people with bleeding disorders or those taking blood thinners.
- Burning sensation: Consuming high doses of raw garlic or garlic supplements can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, throat, and stomach.
- Organ damage: Consuming high doses of garlic supplements over a long period of time can cause organ damage, particularly to the liver.
- Drug interactions: Garlic supplements can interact with certain medications, such as the blood pressure drug d penicillamine.
It is important to talk to a healthcare professional before consuming garlic supplements, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medication.
Conclusion
Adding garlic to your diet is an amazing way to improve overall health! Whether you are pickling it or enjoying the raw flavor, this potent little ingredient is packed with nutrients and benefits. From boosting immunity and improving heart health, to aiding digestion and helping protect against certain cancers; making use of garlic can be a wonderful addition for wellbeing. As with any natural remedy though, please take caution when using it as part of your self-care routine – consulting a healthcare professional if necessary before continuing usage.