Everything you need to know about garlic

The medicinal application of garlic goes back as far as 1500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians recommended it for a host of ailments, including heart disease, wounds, tumours, parasites and headaches — some of the benefits modern science has also attributed to garlic. Here's everything you need to know about garlic, including some smart ways to add it to your diet.

• Ajoenes: Ajoenes may be responsible for garlic's antithrombotic (anticlotting) actions, and possibly may have antifungal activity.
• Allicin: Allicin has antibacterial properties (it is also responsible for garlic's pungent smell) and is released when garlic is crushed or cut, producing numerous sulfur compounds.
• Allyl sulfides: Believed to inhibit tumour growth, these sulfur com­­pounds block the damaging effects of carcinogens and promote cancer cell apoptosis (cell death).
• Sulfur compounds: These compounds, including ajoenes and allyl sulfides, may possess anticarcinogenic, anticlotting, antifungal and antioxidant effects. Sulfur compounds also promote the activity of glutathione, a substance that may inhibit carcinogens.

To activate garlic's full nutritional power, after chopping or crushing it let the garlic stand for 10 minutes before cooking it.

• The brief standing period allows allicin and its potent derivatives to be activated.

When garlic is digested, a portion of its sulfur compounds enters the bloodstream and is subsequently exhaled from the lungs or eliminated through the pores when we sweat. This is the price we pay to reap the benefits of the "stinking rose."

• And since the human nose can detect less than one part of these sulfur compounds in one billion parts of exhaled air, it's no wonder that garlic breath is so noticeable.
• Eating parsley might help to reduce these unpleasant odours, possibly because of its chlorophyll.

• Finely mince several cloves of garlic and stir into reduced-fat sour cream. Serve as a dip for crudités.
• Roast whole, unpeeled cloves of garlic in olive oil. The garlic will get soft and creamy and can be spread on bread.
• Make a garlic-walnut sauce for pasta. Combine equal amounts of peeled garlic cloves and walnuts, a little olive oil and fresh lemon juice, and puree until smooth. Toss with hot pasta.
• For appetizer nuts, mince garlic, sauté in olive oil and toss with toasted walnuts and almonds. Sprinkle with a bit of salt.
• In a blender, puree garlic, yogurt and fresh cilantro for a savoury drink.
• Chop garlic and stir into bread, biscuit or savoury pie doughs. Or try it in corn muffins, and serve with savoury soups and stews.

Garlic makes up for its unattractive smell by being a healthy and nutritious food. Keep this guide in mind and get the most out of garlic by adding it to your diet today!

--------------------

Discover the smarter way to save time and money

Ready to start saving more on your groceries and pharmacy purchases? Download the FREE YP Grocery app today! It lets you create shareable shopping lists, automatically finds all the best deals and coupons, then delivers them right to you. No more manually scrolling through hundreds of flyers to find what you’re looking for!

Download the YP Grocery app now!