15 health benefits of garlic

Read this in Hindi Garlic is one of the most common ingredients in Indian dishes but apart from imparting flavour to food, this tiny, white pod also has immense medicinal properties. Used since tim

Garlic is one of the most common ingredients in Indian dishes but apart from imparting flavour to food, this tiny, white pod also has immense medicinal properties. Used since time immemorial to treat various ailments, garlic is one ingredient in your kitchen that has a number of uses. Here are the top 15 health benefits of garlic you should know about.

What makes garlic so special?

·         It has a variety of potent sulphur-containing compounds which are the reason for its characteristic pungent odour.

·         Allicin, the vital compound in the pod, is known to have great anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties. That is why garlic is best had when it’s finely chopped, minced or pureed and let sit for some time.

·         Garlic is also a reliable source of selenium.

·         Allicin, along with other compounds like ajoene, alliin, etc. also have a healing effect on your circulatory, digestive and immunological systems and help in lowering blood pressure, detoxification, healing, etc.

Helps keep bacterial and viral infections at bay

Due to its innate compounds, garlic can help keep both bacterial and viral infections at bay.

How does it help?

·         They help control bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast and worm infections.

·         Fresh garlic is thought to play a role in preventing food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, etc.

Can help treat skin infections

Since it has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, garlic is great when it comes to treating skin infections.

How does it help?

·         The chemical ajoene found in garlic may help treat fungal skin infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Tip:

If you have a skin infection, you could apply the juice of come crushed garlic cloves on the area once or twice a day. Wash the juice off with some clean, room temperature water.

Helps prevent the formation of clots in the body

How does it help?

The anti-clotting properties of ajoene found in garlic help in preventing the formation of blood clots in the body. While this fact is great for people with heart ailments and those prone to suffering from a stroke and other clotting disorders, it may also increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Tip:

To help stay healthy have one crushed garlic pod everyday on an empty stomach.

Can keep your BP levels in check

How does it help?

·         Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II (a protein that is responsible for increase in blood pressure) and helps in reducing blood pressure.

·         The polysulphides present in garlic are converted into a gas called hydrogen sulphide by red blood cells that helps dilate your blood vessels and helps control blood pressure. If your blood pressure levels are of concern you could try after speaking to your doctor about the change.

Tip:

To help control your blood pressure you could add garlic to your daily meals. Apart from that you could also eat one pod of raw garlic on an empty stomach to keep your blood pressure under control.

Helps protect your heart

How does it help?

·         With age, your arteries tend to lose their ability to stretch and garlic can help maintain their elasticity.

·         It also helps protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals.

·         The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked and slow the development of  hardening of the arteries.

·         The anti-clotting properties of ajoene (a compound present in garlic) helps prevent the formation of clots inside your blood vessels.

Can reduce the levels of bad Cholestrol

 How does it help?

·         The allicin present in garlic helps moderately lower our blood triglycerides and total cholesterol.

·         This compound also helps reduce arterial plaque formation.

Allergies:

How does it help?

·         The anti-arthritic property of garlic is due to diallyl sulphide and thiacremonone.

·         Garlic has also been show to improve allergic airway inflammation (allergic rhinitis).

Tip:

Raw garlic juice may be used to immediately stop the itching due to rashes and bug bites.

Can protect you against frequent colds and bouts of sore throat

How does it help?

·         The daily use of garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds.

·         Its antibacterial properties help in treating throat irritations.

·         Garlic may also reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections.

·         Its ability to promote expectoration makes it irreplaceable in chronic bronchitis.

Helps keep your BP levels in check

How does it help?

·         Garlic increases insulin release and regulates blood sugar levels in your body, especially if you are a diabetic.

Can help keep Cancer at bay

·         Garlic’s anti-cancer properties are due to the allyl sulphides it contains.

·         According to studies, diallyl sulphide found in garlic inhibits the transformation of PhIP (a type of compound that has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer into carcinogens.

Helps beat iron deficiency and anemia

 How it helps

·         Diallyl sulphides present in garlic increase the production of ferroportin (a protein that helps in the absorption and release of iron) and improves iron metabolism — all of which helps prevent iron deficiency and associated diseases like anaemia.

Can give your sex life a much needed boost

How does it help?

·         Garlic’s aphrodisiac properties which is due to its ability to increase the circulation and intensifying an orgasm.

Helps relieve pain caused due to a toothache

How does it help?

·         It can help relieve toothaches due to its antibacterial and analgesic properties. But be aware that it can be irritating to the gum

Tip:

Simply put some crushed garlic clove directly on the affected tooth.

Cinnamon more valuable than gold

7 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

1. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 diabetes.

While it’s true that there’s no cure for Type 2 diabetes, cinnamon can be an effective tool in managing the disease.

According to Lori Kenyon Farley, a Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in wellness, fitness and anti-aging and one of the experts behind cinnamon can help manage this disease in two different ways. “It can reduce blood pressure and have a positive effect on blood markers for those with Type 2 diabetes,” she explains. Cinnamon can also reduce insulin resistance, which, Farley explains, “has been shown to lower fasting blood sugar levels by up to 29%, which can reduce the instance of Type 2 diabetes.”

Shane Ellison, explains how exactly this works. “(Cinnamon) works directly on the muscle cells to force them to remove sugar from the bloodstream, where it is converted to energy,” he says. “It’s even shown to work better than most prescription meds.”

The key is in increasing insulin sensitivity in the body, a sensitivity that, while present at birth for those without type 1 diabetes, slowly decreases as we age and consume more sugar. As a result, sugar floats around in the blood, causing diabetes and other health problems. “Cinnamon, which is completely non-toxic, repairs the receptors so they are once again responsive to insulin,” Ellison explains. “In time, sugar levels normalize due to an increase in insulin sensitivity.”

Add to this the fact that cinnamon has a naturally sweet taste that is devoid of sugar, making it a great addition to foods like plain yogurt as a dessert or snack, and you’ll soon see why we suggest it as a staple for the pantries of those with Type 2 diabetes.

2. Cinnamon can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).

Even if you do not suffer from diabetes, you may want to include cinnamon in your diet for many of the same reasons as those who do.

The positive impact on Type 2 diabetes symptoms is due to a number of factors, notably “improving serum glucose, lowering fasting blood glucose, and reducing triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol.” These are all benefits that can help even those not suffering from diabetes, including those with hereditary cholesterol worries or problems.

“(Cinnamon) also raises HDL (the “good”) cholesterol,” she explains. HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol from the body.

And that’s not all. “Regular intake of cinnamon may also help to mitigate the effects of high-fat meals by slowing the increase in blood sugar post-meal,” says Parikh. This means that when cinnamon is added to your diet, the effects of occasional high-fat choices may not be quite as detrimental to your health as they would otherwise be.

3. Cinnamon has antifungal, antibacterial, and even antiviral properties.

Cinnamon has been proven to fight fungal, bacterial, and viral elements in foods, thus preventing spoilage. It’s no surprise that in the Middle Ages, when food spoilage was far more frequent due to lack of refrigeration, many recipes, both sweet and savory, were flavored with the spice.

But these properties of cinnamon do not extend merely to the foods cinnamon seasons. Consumers of cinnamon can benefit from these properties as well, according to our experts, who say cinnamon can be used as part of a treatment for anything from lung problems to the common cold.

Ayurveda explains that cinnamon can help with all sorts of lung congestion issues. “It helps clear up mucus and encourages circulation,” she explains, thus lending its powers to everything from a simple seasonal cough to bronchitis, when used in tandem with other remedies.

But perhaps the most surprising use of cinnamon is in combatting viruses, and not just the common cold. “Research shows that cinnamon extract may help fight the HIV virus by preventing the virus from entering cells,” says Parikh. “Therefore, cinnamon extract could potentially contribute to the management of HIV.”

4. Cinnamon can help treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are two neurological conditions that, for the moment, are incurable. An enormous part of treating these diseases is therefore in symptom management, and this can be boosted with the addition of cinnamon to a regular regime.

“Cinnamon has been shown to help neurons and improve motor function in those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s,” explains Farley. These contributions can help sufferers of these two diseases continue their regular routines with far less impediment.

5. Cinnamon may have anti-carcinogenic properties.

Many foods  are attributed with anti-carcinogenic properties, but it’s important not to jump from super food to super power. Parikh explains why it’s important not to get carried away.

“Evidence suggests that cinnamon may have anti-carcinogenic effects as well, although the research thus far is limited to animal studies,” she says. “These experiments demonstrate that cinnamon extract slows the growth of cancer cells and induces cancerous cell death.”

If these properties do extend to humans, then cinnamon may in fact be able to slow growth and kill cancerous cells. And even if these properties do not extend to a cure or treatment for cancer in humans, other characteristics of cinnamon, including the presence of antioxidants and free radicals, can contribute to its possible anti-carcinogenic effects.

6. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties.

Consumption of cinnamon can reduce both systemic and specific inflammation. The former is particularly important in the Western world, according to Parekh.

She says that in the West, “Systemic inflammation is a prominent problem that has led to the rise in chronic disease.” By adding cinnamon to a regular diet, this systemic inflammation can be reduced significantly.”

Specific inflammation reduction means that consumption of cinnamon can help treat certain types of head aches and pains, as well as arthritis pain. It plays a double role in this particular type of pain, according to Baron, as cinnamon can also boost circulation. “With circulation problems such as Raynaud’s syndrome or arthritis, this helps stimulate and push circulation to the joints,” she explains.

7. Cinnamon can help manage PCOS.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a problem with numerous symptoms that need to be managed, and cinnamon can be a key element of this management due to a number of characteristics.

First would be the management of insulin resistance in women with PCOS, which can contribute to weight gain. “A recent pilot study found that cinnamon reduced insulin resistance in women with PCOS,” explains Parekh, extending cinnamon’s recommended consumption from diabetes sufferers to anyone with an insulin resistance problem.

“Cinnamon can also help mitigate heavy menstrual bleeding associated with common conditions of female health, such as endometriosis, menorrhagia, and uterine fibroids.”

Wonders of Lemon Ginger Honey

Health Benefits of Ginger, Lemon, & Honey Tea   

Ginger, lemon and honey tea is a revitalizing beverage often used to help relieve cold and flu symptoms. All these ingredients have their own natural medicinal qualities and when they are combined, they create a calming and relaxing tea that can ease symptoms and boost your immune system. Ginger, lemon and honey tea can provide other health benefits, too.

Heart-Health Benefits

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a few preliminary studies suggest that ginger may help prevent blood clotting and reduce cholesterol. This can help fight heart disease, in which blood vessels become clogged and lead to stroke or heart attack. However, more studies are needed to confirm whether ginger is effective for heart disease or not.

Nausea and Vomiting Relief

Nausea refers to the sensation of having an urge to vomit, while vomiting refers to the spitting up of the contents of the stomach. They are not diseases, but rather symptoms of different conditions. Ginger may help prevent or treat vomiting and nausea from cancer chemotherapy, pregnancy and motion sickness, notes UMMC. It is also used to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis and alleviate an upset stomach.

Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Properties

Honey exhibits skin healing and antiseptic properties. Antimicrobial agents found in honey help prevent infections by eliminating bacteria in and around wounds. Many types of bacteria cannot live in honey so wounds heal, swelling calms down and tissue can grow back. Due to its ability to attract water, honey helps rehydrate dry skin. It can also help relieve sunburn pain and accelerate the healing process.

Antioxidant Benefits

When added to tea, lemon juice can provide many health benefits. Lemon juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin which helps heal wounds and repair and maintain bones and teeth. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps fight rogue molecules called free radicals that damage DNA and may contribute to the development of health problems, including cancer, arthritis and heart disease. According to the UMMC, studies suggest that vitamin C may help boost immune system function. Lemons contain bioflavonoids that help maintain adequate levels of vitamin C in every cell of your body.

More Benefits of Honey

A predigested sugar, honey helps people who have poor digestion or lack the two digestive enzymes, invertase and amylase, writes Vijaya Kumar, author of the book "The Secret Benefits of Lemon and Honey: Secret Guides.” Invertase enzyme splits sucrose into its component parts, glucose and fructose, while amylase aids in the digestion of carbohydrates. Furthermore, honey scores over sugars which contain high amounts of dextrose, since it prevents the elevation of blood pressure. Glucose present in honey helps restore the oxygen replaced by lactic acid when fatigue sets in. Adding honey to your tea can also provide you with antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that have been associated with a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, reports Eurekalert.org.