Garlic is a savory vegetable that serves as an excellent addition to a multitude of meals. Not only is it nutritious, but it also boasts numerous health advantages.
Ideally, you should eat garlic daily. While you can eat garlic any time of the day, timing it perfectly can help you reap maximum benefits.
But, what time is best to eat garlic? And should you eat cooked or raw garlic? This article makes suggestions on time to eat garlic with reasons.
Nutritional Value of Garlic
Garlic has a lot to offer in terms of nutrients. But that can be enhanced or diminished depending on whether you eat it raw or cooked. Here is a comparison between the nutritional profile of raw and cooked garlic:
1. Raw Garlic
Raw garlic contains all the original nutrients, including vitamin B, vitamin B6, B2, thiamine, niacin, and pantothenic acid. Vitamin B is a critical coenzyme that helps you get the most from your food. That’s why eating raw garlic on an empty stomach in the morning is advisable. Besides, raw garlic contains zinc, iron, potassium, copper, phosphorus, and manganese.
2. Cooked Garlic
Cooking garlic makes it tenderer and less pungent. However, cooked garlic has fewer vitamins since heat evaporates the nutrients before you get an opportunity to consume it. The only nutrient that remains intact is vitamin K.
Besides, boiled garlic has fewer minerals than fresh garlic. Therefore, you should consider cooking your food first before adding garlic.
What Time Should You Eat Garlic?
The time you eat raw garlic determines whether or not you reap maximum benefits from it. You could eat it in the morning, during the day, or in the evening. Your decision should be based on the benefits you will likely reap.
Here is a description of the best time to eat garlic based on the benefits you can reap:
1. Eating Garlic in the Morning on an Empty Stomach
Did you know that eating raw garlic in the morning on an empty stomach can result in maximum benefits to your health? It is possible to get most of the known garlic benefits by eating garlic first thing in the morning.
Whether you choose to chew on a clove or garlic or have it in the form of crushed garlic, the following are some of the ways it will benefit you:
Powerful Antibiotic
Raw garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic. But it works well when consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. Raw garlic releases a high concentration of chemicals, which target gut bacteria, preventing stomach infections.
Raw garlic has high amounts of antibiotic sulfur compounds ajoene, allin, and allicin. Incidentally, these also act as antifungal sulfur compounds that destroy harmful fungi, curing certain infections.
Lowering Bad Cholesterol
One of the major garlic health benefits is its ability to regulate blood cholesterol levels. Evidence suggests that the sulfurous compounds in garlic, such as allicin, can help reduce cholesterol.
It works by blocking the liver from blocking bad cholesterol. Allicin binds to the protein in liver cells (LDL receptors), thus reducing the production of LDL cholesterol. The good thing is that garlic has no effect on good cholesterol.
Lowering Blood Pressure
For those living with high blood pressure, garlic helps relieve some symptoms, helping you feel better. Besides, garlic supplements are effective in preventing the onset of hypertension.
The good thing about raw garlic is that it regulates blood pressure without the unpleasant side effects of conventional medication.
It helps if you eat raw garlic on an empty stomach in the morning. The healing compounds start working before you become active for the day.
Good for the Gut
When consumed raw on an empty stomach, garlic promotes the proper functioning of the bladder and liver. Besides, it can help you overcome diarrhea and other stomach problems. Regular consumption of garlic also controls stress, preventing excessive stomach acid production.
Besides, eating raw garlic in the morning helps stimulate appetite, digestion, and metabolism. Therefore, it helps you to get maximum benefits from the food you eat throughout the day. It also makes it possible to lose weight.
Body Detoxification
Alternative medicine practitioners recommend garlic as a perfect remedy for detoxifying the body. Even though not scientifically proven, the proponents of this type of medicine can get rid of worms and other parasites.
The detox function of garlic is linked to preventing conditions like diabetes, depression, typhus, and some cancers. These health benefits are more likely if you eat raw garlic on an empty stomach in the morning.
Supporting Heart Health
Research suggests that raw garlic can regulate cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure. It contains substantial amounts of antioxidants, which reduce oxidative stress due to free radicals.
Regular consumption of garlic also lowers blood pressure, preventing the development of heart disease due to overstretching of arteries.
Strengthening the Immune System
Garlic strengthens the immune system by boosting the number of T-cells in the bloodstream, thus helping your body fight pathogens. If you eat garlic in the morning, you will likely have less stress and fatigue due to the effects of the healing compounds.
Raw garlic also contains zinc and high concentrations of sulfurous compounds that fight the common cold and flu effectively. Where garlic is recommended as a treatment, it has fewer side effects.
2. Eating Garlic in the Evening Just before You Go to Sleep
Did you know that eating garlic before bed can help you sleep better and enjoy other health benefits? The following are the reasons why you should eat garlic in the evening just before you go to bed:
Remedy for Insomnia
Eating one or two garlic cloves before bed can help you fall asleep faster. So, if you’ve been suffering from insomnia, why don’t you take advantage of one of the most consequential garlic benefits?
One clove of garlic contains high amounts of allicin, a sulfurous compound that naturally keeps the mind relaxed. Another key compound is magnesium, which reduces activity in the nervous system, relaxing the mind and allowing you to fall asleep faster.
Besides, those who struggle with irregular sleep patterns due to a blocked nose can also benefit from garlic. People who consume garlic regularly are unlikely to have issues with a blocked nasal cavity. Hence, they sleep better, free from snoring.
Good for Men
The male body can reap maximum benefits from consuming garlic regularly. It has a therapeutic effect on prostatic inflammation, which is the process that initiates the development of prostate cancer. Raw garlic contains high amounts of anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce oxidative stress.
Besides, eating raw garlic before bed leads to increased blood flow. As a natural blood thinner, garlic improves blood circulation. More blood flows to the male organ to improve libido and enjoy intimacy.
A single clove of garlic has healing properties. Therefore, eating garlic regularly can promote healing in men. For those involved in bodybuilding, garlic improves the production of the hormone testosterone, which helps build masculine tissue.
Aiding in Weight Loss
For some time, weight loss experts have recommended garlic supplementation as an effective remedy. Therefore, eating raw garlic can effectively lead to a reduction in waist circumference.
All garlic cloves have compounds that regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the urge to eat. Besides improving the flow of blood, garlic also promotes lymphatic drainage and helps you avoid draining too much weight.
People who eat raw garlic on an empty stomach also experience a suppressed appetite. It makes you feel full for longer and avoid binge eating.
Helping with Colds and Flu
It can be difficult to sleep properly when you have a cold and flu. Eating garlic daily is the best option if you want to keep away incessant colds and flu. Garlic has lots of vitamins that make colds and flu less severe. So, when the flu comes, it will help you heal faster. So, don’t be afraid to eat some raw garlic before bed.
How to Eat Garlic in the Morning?
Eating raw garlic in the morning has many health benefits, as discussed in this article. You need one clove of garlic. After peeling it, prepare crushed garlic. Eat the garlic paste using a spoon and accompanied with lukewarm water. You could increase it to two cloves as you get used to the daily routine.
How to Eat Garlic in the Evening?
You should eat raw garlic for one to two hours in the evening before getting it. Peel, dice, and crush two cloves of garlic. Scoop the paste with a spoon and swallow it. Take a glass of lukewarm water to push the garlic down.
In that case, you should have a hearty meal before eating your garlic. With that, the food would go to the stomach first and prevent the likelihood of stomach reflux. If you don’t like the pungent smell of raw garlic, roast it first before eating.
The Bottom Line
You can eat garlic in the morning or evening and reap maximum benefits. What’s important is that the garlic should be raw and not cooked. Raw garlic contains more nutrients than its cooked counterpart.
Sources
https://www.sehat.com/how-to-eat-garlic-daily
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/can-you-eat-raw-garlic#benefits
https://betterme.world/articles/eating-a-clove-of-garlic-before-bed/
https://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/growing/blog/garlic-for-insomnia-1
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/0701/p103.html
https://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-flu-pictures/ways-garlic-boosts-immunity.aspx