In a couple of weeks on April 19th, National Garlic Day celebrates the stinking rose. For thousands of years, before this fragrant and potent root was used to season your favorite dishes (like garlic bread!), it was employed as a medical treatment in ancient cultures. The health benefits of garlic were used by Chinese, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. Garlic consumption has been shown to have numerous fantastic health benefits for the body.
To learn more about what eating more garlic does for your metabolism, blood pressure, and even your gut health, we spoke with Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, MD, who works for work for Welzo, a fully integrated healthcare platform. He said that eating more garlic every day can help boost metabolism, lower blood pressure, and improve digestion and gut health. This is because of the compounds in garlic that help increase thermogenesis, relax blood vessels, improve blood flow, and feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Find out more below!
Garlic Boosts Metabolism, Lowers Blood Pressure, And Improves Digestion
Garlic is the edible bulb from a plant in the Allium family. Their close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive. Each segment of garlic is called a clove. And, there are about 10 to 20 cloves in a garlic bulb. "Eating garlic has been shown to boost metabolism in some studies. Garlic contains compounds that can help increase thermogenesis, which is the process by which the body burns calories to produce heat," Afzal says. This can cause a temporary increase in metabolic rate. Although the effect may be relatively small, it can still help with burning fat for weight loss
And, eating garlic, Afzal says, could have beneficial effects on gut health. "Garlic contains prebiotic compounds that can help feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can help improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, some studies have suggested that garlic may have antimicrobial effects that can help reduce harmful bacteria in the gut," he notes.
"For most people, incorporating garlic into their diet can be a healthy choice due to its potential benefits for metabolism, blood pressure, and gut health," Afzal says. "However, it's important to keep in mind that excessive consumption of garlic may cause digestive discomfort or other side effects in some people, and may interact with certain medications, so it's best to speak with a healthcare provider before making significant changes to one's diet."
At the end of the day, garlic is a flavorful, versatile ingredient that can be easily added to your dishes. Experts like Afzal commend garlic's abilities to boost metabolism, lower blood pressure, and improve digestion and gut health. In general, it's best to try and have one to two cloves of garlic that you can add to dishes every day. He also warns that overconsumption of garlic may cause digestive discomfort and could interact with certain medications (not to mention it could cause bad breath!). That's why it's best to discuss significant diet changes with your doctor beforehand.
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