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Health Benefits of Garlic‎

health benefits of garlic
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of garlic? It’s a herb having a strong odour and pungent flavour that leaves behind a bad odour after having it. It is used by many cuisines around the world to add flavour to food. But, it enhances the flavour of the food, making it more scrumptious!

There are many who do not eat tubers and root for varied reasons including religious. But, I really feel they are losing out on such an important food ingredient!

Garlic has many medicinal, therapeutic and culinary uses. Most of the health benefits of garlic are attributed to the compound allicin. So, cooking garlic destroys allicin which in return destroys the health benefits. One should try and use garlic in a raw form wherever possible. This can be done by finely chopped in salads/buttermilk to avoid the pungent flavour.

There are ample of health benefits and other advantages…here are a few advantages

Boosts immunity:  This herb could help keep those colds and flu at bay. Try steeping garlic into a tea by steeping chopped garlic in hot water. Add a bit of natural honey to soothe your throat and cut some of the intense garlic taste.

Full of antioxidants: You can add few garlic cloves (finely chopped) to your salads as it is very rich in anti-oxidants. These antioxidants can kill the bacteria that cause acne. Next time you have a pimple, try rubbing a sliced clove of raw garlic.

Heart friendly: It helps in reducing hypertension, coronary heart diseases.

Anti-inflammatory: Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties. If you have psoriasis, a skin condition related to inflammation try rubbing garlic oil directly on the affected area for relief.

Embrace the multifaceted advantages of garlic for your health and wellness journey. Share your experiences and tips for incorporating garlic into your diet in the comments below. For more insights on nutrition and holistic health practices, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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How Garlic Can Help Boost Your Immunity

garlic

At some point you might have observed how some people rarely fall ill and even if they do fall ill, they recover in no time. Whereas, some people belonging to the same gender, age, and sometimes even same family, fall sick frequently and take time to recover. Ever wondered why? The answer is simple – immunity! We’re well aware that the immune system defends our body against infections and a compromised immune system can’t protect us! Hence, we must focus on building good immunity! This can easily be achieved with the food we eat and one of the foods that can help us is Garlic!

Garlic is loaded with nutrients, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal and antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that it can enhance immune cell function which reduces the severity of an infection.

Benefits of Garlic

  • It contains allicin, which acts as an immunity booster and an antioxidant that helps stop infections, and the spread of bacteria and air-borne viruses.
  • It is beneficial to your digestive health. A healthy gut enhances our immune system and reduces the risk of infection.
  • It supports your liver to effectively carry out detoxification.
  • It contains vitamin B & C, that fights off cold and cough.
  • It has proteins, minerals, the sulfur-containing compounds alliin, ajoene, daily sulfide and dithiin, and different enzymes, which makes garlic a “Healing Powerhouse”.

How Do You Use It In Your Diet?

You can enjoy garlic’s nutrients by slicing or crushing a whole clove and eating it raw, immediately, as allicin is unstable and loses its medicinal properties quickly.

You may also try adding raw crushed or chopped garlic, to:

  • Salad dressings
  • Soups as a garnish
  • Vegetable smoothies with other herbs
  • Peanut butter and apply on roti
  • Curd or vegetable raita
  • Coriander/mint chutney

Please note that cooking may cause loss of health benefits due to high temperatures. However, it was noted that crushing it and allowing it to stand for 10 minutes before cooking and by increasing the amount of garlic used in a recipe, one can compensate for the loss of its medicinal properties.

One can also go for garlic supplements like powdered garlic, aged garlic extract and/or garlic oil. However, one needs to be cautious, since there are no regulated standards for its supplements. You can also go for 2-3 raw garlic cloves a day.

A word of caution here is that garlic might reduce your platelet aggregation. People with serious bacterial/viral infections or taking anticoagulant medication/blood thinners need to be cautioned about consuming it. So consult your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian before adding it to your meals. 

For more topics on Nutrition, check out Healthy Reads. To get these facts about food, nutrition and more, subscribe to personalized coaching and ask your GOQii Coach directly: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Keep your immunity levels up and #BeTheForce! 

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Top 5 Health Benefits of Himalayan Single Clove Garlic

himalayan Clove

At Naturally Yours over the years I have met and spoken to hundreds of farmers, collectors and farm product distributors.

If I had to point out one thing that has always amazed me, it is the diverse agricultural heritage that we have across our country. Each region has a “gem” hidden away.

And yet they exist due to the strong knowledge and commitment that our farming community has towards preserving these little-known herbs and plants.

One such product that I came across a couple of years ago was the Himalayan Single Clove Garlic or the Snow Garlic or the Kashmiri Garlic (as this is found commonly in the Kashmir region of India) as it is popularly referred to as.

When I first saw this single clove garlic I was astonished at this small pointy somewhat lotus-like structure with a hard surface and pungent smell.

I clearly remember asking the farmer where the rest of the garlic is! The farmer calmly explained, Sir, this is all of it!

Himalayan Single Clove Garlic is one of the most potent herbs in the world and is known to be 7 times more potent than the normal Garlic.

7 Times! That blew my mind!

So I did my research to dig out all the facts & health benefits of this amazing herb.

  1. Reduces High Cholesterol Levels

Himalayan Single Clove Garlic is known to effectively reduce high cholesterol levels in the body. Research shows that garlic can lower about 20 mg/dl Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels in human body.

A popular recipe is to peel 3 or 4 cloves of garlic and have it on an empty stomach.

  1. Cures Cold & Cough

Scientist say Himalayan single clove garlic helps reduce the risk of getting cold and cough by over 50% when regularly consumed. In addition, it also reduces the chances of getting infected by other diseases. The presence of chemical compounds called Alliinase and Alliin helps create a powerful compound called Allicin when the bulbs are crushed or ground.

These powerful compounds help to alleviate cold and cough.  A syrup which is made of 2 bulbs crushed together and put in glass water and consumed is known to cure a cold and cough.

  1. Helps Fight Cancer 

Garlic inherently contains an organosulphur compound named diallyl trisulfide which helps fight cancer by helping the body to kill the cancerous cells. Researchers at the University of North Carolina have found that patients who consume garlic have a 66.67% per cent lesser probability to get cancer.

The National Cancer Institute says that consumption of garlic regularly reduces the risk of various cancers by 50% (average). This they attribute to the sulphur compound which helps to fight the cancerous cells in the body.

  1. Fights Diabetes

Researchers have found that consumption of 2-3 bulbs Himalayan Single Clove Garlic regularly helps decrease and control blood sugar levels. The presence of Allicin when combines with Vitamin B and Thiamine triggers the pancreas to generate insulin in the body. This, in turn, helps the body to fight diabetes effectively.

  1. Cures Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure

Himalayan Single Clove Garlic helps fight Heart Disease in two ways. One it reduces the LDL Cholesterol and the triglycerides in the body. Studies have shown that patients consuming garlic have up to 20% less LDL Cholesterol and triglycerides.

Second, it prevents the formation of plaque and clots by reducing the density of the blood. Scientists are of the view that patients consuming garlic regularly are 83% less prone to harmful blood clots.

In case of High Blood Pressure consumption of Himalayan Single Clove Garlic helps muscles relax and thereby help in reducing blood pressure levels.

A chemical compound called Hydrogen Sulfide present in garlic helps create this magic, which reduces the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the body.

If you know of any more health benefits than the ones mentioned above please do share in the comments section below.

Ps Note: Himalayan Clove Garlic is available in GOQii Store

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‘Spices that help in losing weight’

India is popular for its spicy food. The sheer number of whole and ground spices used in Indian foods is sometimes intimidating. Each dish has its own combination of spices and its own unique flavour. The spices not just add flavour to your food but they also have many health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, most spices are good for your health. Some of the spices also improve your metabolic rate and help in losing weight. Here is a list of Indian spices that help your body to burn more fat. So, spice up your dishes!

Cinnamon

cinnamon

According to a recent study, cinnamon may boost your metabolism. This sweet, fragrant spice also regulates your blood pressure. It lowers level of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients. Cinnamon increases the metabolism of glucose by around 20 times. This spice will help you lose weight faster.

How to Use?

You can prepare cinnamon, honey and lemon drink- boil a pinch of cinnamon in a cup of water. Sieve and add a tablespoon of honey and squeeze some lemon into it.

Turmeric

Turmeric

The pungent, yellow spice is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-fungal properties. It also helps you lose excess weight. The spice ups your body heat and this can result in improved metabolism.

HOW TO USE?

Use it in your curries, chicken and in milk to gain the health benefits of turmeric.

Ginger

ginger

The spicy ginger regulates your blood sugar levels and helps prevent an increase in the level of glucose. Like turmeric, ginger has thermogenic or fat-burning properties. You can add it to your stir-fried vegetables or tea or chicken. It improves the taste and helps you in weight loss.

HOW TO USE?

Prepare a Jeera (Cumin) Ginger drink.

Boil a tsp of Jeera and some crushed ginger in a glass of water. Boil till it starts reducing, sieve it and Drink after 30mins of lunch and dinner to ease digestion.

Black Pepper

black-pepper

Black pepper has a pungent flavour, thanks to the presence of the substance known as piperine and this substance also prevent new fat cell formation. The bioavailability of other foods is also increased by black pepper. It makes the food not only tasty but also healthy. If u eat fresh pepper and begin to perspire, that’s the pepper helping your body to get rid of excess water and toxins. But, you need to control consumption, a pinch with your food (one meal) is enough.

HOW TO USE?

Black Pepper Tea.

Easy to prepare and the best way to consume black pepper for weight loss. You can use ginger, lemon, honey, tulsi (basil leaves), cinnamon, or green tea bags to prepare the tea.

Use 1/2-1 tsp freshly ground black pepper and drink it before breakfast.

Regular consumption will not only help you in losing weight but also improve your skin and prevent gut problems.

CAUTION

Do not consume too much as it may cause gastrointestinal problems, burning sensation in eyes, stomach irritation. If you feel uneasy, stop the use of black pepper immediately.

Garlic

garlic

Adding garlic to your diet will help you burn the increased amount of fat and lose weight faster. Try to use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder or granules.

Here’s how it works…

  1. Garlic stimulates the satiety hormone which reduces binge eating, sugar cravings, junk food, and oily stuff.
  2. It releases the norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter which boosts metabolism.
  3. The allicin present in it lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels.
  4. Garlic inhibits the process breaking down stored fats.
  5. It is a powerful detoxifier and effective diuretic.
  6. It contains trace minerals (sulphur, selenium, and magnesium, zinc, copper and iron), amino acids and vitamins A, C, and E.
  7. It helps to dissolve blood clots that lead to Heart stroke.
  8. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
  9. It helps to remove excess mucus from the body.

HOW TO USE?

  • Squeeze juice of 1 lemon in a cup of water.
  • Chew 3 garlic cloves followed by the lemon water.
  • Or add crush the garlic cloves, stir in the lemon water and drink.
  • Repeat the process every morning.

These spices will help you to shed those extra kilos but you also need to change your lifestyle to a healthier one and should have a healthy diet.

TRY THEM OUT!!!

 

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