4 reasons why garlic should regularly feature in your diet this winter

There’s a reason why our grandmothers were so insistent on making us chew garlic. Although it can leave an unpleasant aftertaste if eaten raw, this herb has many miraculous properties. It can make even the blandest soups taste mouthwatering for one. The ingredient that makes plain chicken stew taste savoury and makes you thirst for more? That’s this bulbous little plant working its magic. We are pretty sure that each of the ‘mother’s special chicken soup’ we swear by, had a generous helping of garlic!

Aside from adding tang to your dishes, garlic is also handy for warding off many health problems. This culinary mainstay is also a must-have during winter when we are most susceptible to flu, cough and cold. Garlic is known to be a powerhouse of immunity-boosting nutrients such as arginine, oligosaccharides, selenium and flavonoids. Here’s why you need to include more garlic in your diet, this winter:

Garlic Can Help Your Cells Survive Onslaught Of Virus

Eating garlic can increase the number of virus-fighting T-cells in your bloodstream. A study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Florida found that people who consumed garlic showed less symptoms of cold and flu compared to those who didn’t. Garlic is said to have allicin which when consumed turns into sulphur-containing compounds that strengthen white blood cells against viruses

Can Keep Stress At Bay

Did you know that the more stressed you are, the more vulnerable you become to cough and cold? A study conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found out that stress levels have a direct correlation with the body’s ability to fight diseases. Garlic can help your adrenal glands produce less stress hormones. This helps you fight off immunity-related diseases and remain energetic.

May Improve Heart Health

No matter your age, having a heart disease is one of the worst health scares.. However with the right diet and lifestyle, you may be able to reduce your chances of being diagnosed with one. A 2002 study found that garlic might be a great ingredient to keep your heart healthy. Red blood cells transform the sulphur in garlic into hydrogen sulphide gas. This expands our blood vessels and prevents blood pressure levels from increasing. Moreover allicin (an enzyme present in garlic) is thought to reduce the triglyceride levels in blood. This may improve cardiovascular health.

How To Maximise Health Benefits Of Garlic?

Garlic has plenty of health benefits. But they would be most effective under certain conditions. According to researchers, the enzyme alliinase which converts alliin into the beneficial allicin only works under certain conditions. It can also be deactivated by heat. One study found that excessive microwaving of garlic can lead to deactivation of alliinase. Another research found that crushing garlic and leaving it for 10 minutes before cooking may preserve many of its medicinal properties.

Here are a few ways to make garlic work for you:

• Crush or slice your garlic before consuming it. This way you will be absorbing more allicin.
• Before you cook garlic, allow it to stand for 10 minutes.
• Increase your garlic intake.
• Try to eat a clove of garlic raw once a day. Allicin works best when it is introduced into your body directly. However, raw garlic may lead to bad breath, so make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly afterwards!