While garlic is more commonly referred to as the key ingredient to warding off vampires, there are more important reasons as to why you should keep this bulb in stock in your kitchen cabinets. Guaranteed to transform your meal into a bold, aromatic, and healthy dining experience, the medical benefits that garlic possesses alone is enough to want to include it in every dish. Its strong aroma and distinct taste are just added perks.

History: Garlic is known to be one of the oldest cultivated plants, dating back to 5,000 years. While it is native to central Asia, ancient Egyptians are noted throughout history as being the first to cultivate the bulb. Egyptians used garlic to enhance the strength and endurance of the slaves building the pyramids by adding it to their diets, and placed garlic in the tombs of pharaohs as they believed the bulb to possess sacred qualities.

The Greeks and Romans also regarded garlic as a strength-enhancing ingredient and therefore was eaten by athletes prior to sporting events and soldiers going off to war.

By the sixth century B.C., garlic was known in China and India thanks to migrating tribes and explorers that took the bulb with them on their travels. India has been known to have used garlic for its therapeutic purposes.

Garlic has been in the eye of researchers during the last few years due to its health benefits coming to light. Since, it has been researched extensively to scientifically validate its numerous health claims.

Currently, the top commercial producers of garlic are China, South Korea, India, Spain and the United States.

In cooking: Garlic can be used in a plethora of recipes as both one of the main ingredients or just a topping. Purée fresh garlic, canned garbanzo beans, olive oil, and lemon juice to make a hummus dip; add garlic as a seasoning to sauces and soups; or include chopped garlic to a shrimp salad. The best form of garlic is when it is in its raw state. This will promote the highest levels of its health benefits. When combining it with a cooked dish, add garlic towards the end of the cooking time as too much heat for too long will reduce the activity of its sulfur compounds, plus make it bitter in taste.

Benefits: Advertisement

[ Carrington Home Loans ] Garlic has a multitude of health benefits that range from anti-inflammatory effects to heart disease prevention. The sulfur compounds of garlic have the most diverse range of benefits. Virtually all of the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to function as antioxidants. When sliced, chopped, or separated, the compound aliicin has been associated with cardiovascular, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer benefits. Garlic is also a good source of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, thiamin (vitamin B1), and the minerals phosphorous, selenium, calcium, and copper.

Current research has shown that garlic may be able to improve the metabolism of iron. With the aid in the increase of the protein ferroportin, garlic may be able to help keep iron in circulation as it is needed by the body. A high intake of garlic has also been found to lower the risk of all cancer types except prostate and breast cancer. A moderate intake of garlic has been found to lower the risk of only two cancer types: colorectal and renal cancer. The anti-bacterial properties of garlic have been noted for their ability to control infections by bacteria and viruses, as well as infections from microbes including yeast, fungi, and worms.

For those with high cholesterol, taking note that garlic is able to lower blood triglycerides and total cholesterol (though at a moderate rate of 5-15 %) is important and beneficial.

Storage: Purchase garlic that is plump and has unbroken skin. Avoid garlic that is soft, shriveled, or that has begun to sprout. These are indications of decay and will affect the flavor and texture. Size is also not an indication of quality. Store fresh garlic in an uncovered or loosely covered container in a cool, dark place away from heat and light. While it is not necessary to refrigerate garlic, some people tend to prefer this storing manner. However, do not freeze garlic for it will reduce its flavor and change its texture. Whole garlic bulbs will keep fresh for a month to up to 8 weeks. Inspect the bulb frequently and remove any cloves that appear dried out or moldy. Once the bulb is broken, individual cloves will remain fresh for 3-10 days.

Fun Fact: Garlic has affectionately been coined as "the stinking rose" due to its distinct aroma but numerous therapeutic benefits.