Some love it, others hate it and its smell. Garlic contains many he althy ingredients.
In natural medicine, garlic has been known since ancient times as one of the best natural antibiotics and heart remedies. In the meantime, numerous studies have also confirmed the good effectiveness of garlic against infectious diseases and colds. Even anti-carcinogenic properties against cancer diseases such as colon cancer are said to be inherent in the spicy clove of garlic. But what makes garlic so he althy and how can its healing powers best be used? A little food science.
The garlic (Allium sativum) belongs to the leek genus, like onions and chives. In contrast to these two, garlic is not a native type of leek, as it originally comes from Asia. Garlic is an integral part of numerous Asian national cuisines. Whether Indian, Thai, Japanese or Chinese cuisine - garlic is part of almost every national dish. And not without reason, because Asian natural healing methods such as Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) discovered garlic very early on as a he althy and healing root herb. Accordingly, Allium sativum is not only a foodstuff in Asia, but also an important remedy for all kinds of diseases.
Garlic - nutritional values and ingredients
In the kitchen, garlic is known as a spice for its extraordinarily intense aroma. For many, this has an unpleasant side effect after eating, as it still causes an intense bad breath even days after eating garlic. It is precisely this property that goes back to some of the most valuable ingredients in garlic.
The garlic clove contains the sulphur-containing amino acid alliin. When garlic is cut or pressed, it produces the flavoring substance allicin, whose antibiotic and anti-cancer properties are largely responsible for the healing effect of garlic. The conversion of alliin to allicin occurs during the preparation of garlic by breaking down the plant's own cell structure, with the enzyme alliinase starting the conversion process.
Also ownsGarlic also has a whole lot of other amino acids, some of which are essential, which are essential structural building blocks for the human organism. What's more, Allium sativum also contains valuable vitamins and minerals, including
- Calcium
- iron
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin C
- and vitamin E
The potassium content in garlic is particularly high at 400 mg per 100 g. The mineral is responsible in the body for the regulation of heart and vascular function, as well as for the transmission of nerve impulses and cell communication. The latter also plays an important role in communication between immune cells. Since potassium also influences protein synthesis, the mineral is also involved in the production of protein-containing antibodies.
Nutritional values of garlic at a glance
| Nutrient | Salary per 100 g |
|---|---|
| protein fat carbohydrates | 6.1g 0.1g 28.4g |
| Minerals
Sodium |
17 mg |
| Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) |
200 µg |
| Amino Acids
Alliin |
140 mg |
Use the power of the garlic clove - tips for preparation
So, to get the most out of the he alth benefits of garlic, chop it as finely as possible, or ideally, press it whole in a garlic press. Only in this way can the conversion of alliin into allicin work well and garlic be used in cooking as both a spice and medicinal herb.
Since allicin is not heat-stable, garlic should always find its way into the saucepan at the very end. A short sautéing or frying is then sufficient to develop the characteristic garlic aromaunfold. It is also conceivable to soak garlic in oil, which creates a long-lasting aromatic oil for special kitchen experiments.
If you don't cook with garlic regularly, you should at least use it in the cold season. Here, eating garlic daily or weekly can be a good immune boost against colds and respiratory infections.
Tip: As an alternative to fresh garlic, you can also buy garlic capsules in pharmacies. They contain allicin-containing garlic oil in a concentrated form, which allows garlic to specifically strengthen the immune system. And the daily intake of garlic capsules is also highly recommended for patients suffering from heart and vascular diseases.