4 Cloves Of Garlic A Day – What Are They Good For?

To stay healthy, it is not really necessary to eat 4 cloves of garlic every day. Although experts recommend including this food in moderation in a balanced diet, as is usually the case in the Mediterranean.

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying that 4 cloves of garlic a day will keep the doctor away?  It is commonly said that consuming a clove of garlic on an empty stomach is good for cardiovascular health. Well then,  what good could four cloves of garlic do your body?

Garlic is a food that is widely used in cooking. We use it to season various dishes and even prepare dressings and sauces. It offers a very special taste and makes it possible to obtain preparations with an exquisite aroma, such as garlic bread.

Garlic, a millennia-old remedy

The plant belongs to the leek family, which is technically called Allium and which also includes onions and leeks.

The Spanish Nutrition Foundation states that garlic (  Allium sativum  L.  ) is a low-calorie food that contains  minerals such as iodine, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains vitamin B6 and sulfur compounds (including allicin).

Allicin is a sulfur compound that is released when the garlic clove is crushed, cut, or crushed. The antibiotic and antioxidant properties are mainly attributed to the allicin, although it is also suggested that it could be a hypoglycemic agent (that is, it would help lower blood sugar levels).

4 cloves of garlic a day: the benefits

Below we’re going to share some of the key benefits of consuming 4 cloves of garlic per day as part of a balanced diet.

1. 4 cloves of garlic a day are said to lower cholesterol

Because various researches have been conducted over the past few years to determine whether consuming cloves of garlic can help lower cholesterol, and particularly bad cholesterol,  the idea that it might help has not yet been discarded. However, the scientists still need to conduct further studies.

Folk medicine still recommends consuming garlic if you have high cholesterol. In addition, it is believed that consuming cloves of garlic may help prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, strokes, heart attacks, and high blood pressure.

2. 4 cloves of garlic a day is said to help fight viral diseases

It is widely believed that  garlic can help kill pathogens that cause infections (such as the flu). For this reason, it is often said that consuming cloves of garlic may help “drive out” infectious diseases.

3. Improving bone health

According to a study, garlic may help relieve inflammation and osteoporosis in women going through menopause. In particular, consumption is said to affect estrogen metabolism,  which could be the scientific explanation for this benefit.

4. 4 cloves of garlic are said to improve performance

The Spanish Nutrition Foundation states that  garlic was used  in ancient times  to reduce fatigue and improve worker performance  (in terms of strength and endurance).

In addition, the Olympians in ancient Greece also consumed garlic before the competition. Hence, it is believed that the consumption of garlic cloves contributes to physical performance.

Additional benefits

According to some studies, regular consumption of garlic cloves could do the following:

• Lowering blood sugar levels
• Liquefaction of the blood and, as a result, improvement in blood circulation
• Improved function of the liver and kidney systems
• Promote the health of the heart and the rest of the cardiovascular system

And it is widely believed that consuming garlic cloves  can boost the immune system,  preventing infections (or reducing their effects on the body).

4 cloves of garlic per day: raw or roasted?

Some people believe that garlic should be consumed raw to reap its benefits. Others say that the best way to benefit from garlic is to cook it in a certain way, as the heat would “activate” the compounds.

You can probably use certain techniques to avoid nutrient loss when grilling or roasting. One option is to chop the garlic and let it sit for about 45 minutes. At this point the allicin is activated and cannot be destroyed even when cooking. This way you can consume garlic both raw and cooked without losing its beneficial properties.