Garlic is native to Mediterranean, European and Asian region. It is a valued root and in some civilizations, it was used as a form of currency. Egyptians used garlic as part of their rituals and garlic-shaped clay models are found in the Tutankhamen’s tomb. Million pounds of garlic are consumed annually by many people and we could gain plenty of health benefits from it. Although some people dislike the sulphuric smell of raw garlic, nearly people would find the smell of fried or baked garlic as appealing. Garlic is an essential ingredient in any kitchen. It is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin B6, as well as essential minerals, such as selenium and manganese. There are also copper, iron, potassium, calcium and phosphorus in garlic. Garlic has one important active substance, called allicin which has sulphur in its molecules. When consumed regularly, garlic could help us to control cholesterol levels, prevent cancer and reduces effects of heart diseases. Garlic is good for our cardiovascular system because it lowers blood pressure and widens the blood vessels.
Studies show that garlic can fight infections and prevent the proliferation of bacteria and other organisms. When applied directly on the skin, grated garlic can help to cure insect bites and warts. Although it is recommended to consume garlic regularly, we should be aware that there’s nothing good comes from overusing something. Consuming too much garlic could cause specific problems for some people, such as diarrheas, intestinal gas build up and indigestion. Many people prefer to cook garlic with the food to eliminate the foul odor, but we could use fresh garlic without experiencing the same effect. We won’t smell raw garlic if we grate it and put it in the salad. Parsley could actually negate the sulphuric odor of garlic. Anis, fennel and some cardamom seeds could have similar effects. Nevertheless, we should consume garlic at acceptable amount, because garlicky smell could come out of our every pore we eat it too much. Peeled garlic can be kept fresh for a few days in the fridge. In fact, some people use oily, spoiled garlic as part of their recipe.
A popular way to consume plenty of garlic is by making garlic toast bread. It is very easy to make and we can appease guests and family members with the tasty snack. We can use baguette, ciabatta or common sliced bread to make it. We could mix some butter or olive oil with a pinch of salt, pepper, parsley and grated garlic. If we want to improve the taste, basic can also be added. The next step is to bake the bread until the surface is golden brown. It’s an excellent snack to eat with some cheese and tea. There are many other healthy ingredients that we can use in our food and garlic is obviously one of the more important. The next time we cook, we could add some extra garlic without making it too overwhelming.