Garlic(Allium sativam) a close relative of onion and a native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran ia a bulbous plant. Garlic has a pungent smell, and is good in certain dishes, but is there more to it? It is often considered a great, healthy herb. Well, for one, it has the vital chemical compound allicin, which is a wonderful therapeutic ingredient with many medicinal qualities. The allicin compound contains sulfur, which gives the herb its pungent savor and peculiar smell. The health benefits of garlic are innumerable.
Season and where it grows:
Garlic is easy to grow in awide range of climates and it is frost tolerant. It does less well in very hot and humid areas or where there is a lot of rainfall. It can be planted in the early spring or mid autumn season. It needs a lot of sunlight and sandy loam is the best suited soil to grow garlic. Garlic is grown by planting the cloves which act as seeds for the purpose.
Nutritional Information:
Garlic in the ancient times,was highly valued for its numerous health benefiting properties, which are still followed in many cultures today. Our ancestors have used it as a bug-repellant. In Medieval Europe it was used against plague and the Egyptians would even bury it along with their dead.The sulphur-containing compound, Allicin, found in fresh, crushed or chewed garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and some startling claims mention that it may help prevent some forms of cancer too.The ‘bulb’ of this herb typically consists of 10-20 smaller sections called the ‘cloves’. Each small clove is a powerhouse of flavour as well as medicinal properties.
Medicinal Use of Garlic:
Garlic is used for many conditions related to the heart and blood system. These conditions include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, reduced blood flow due to narrowed arteries, and “hardening of the arteries”. Some people use garlic to prevent cancer. Other uses include treatment of fever, coughs, headache, stomach ache, sinus congestion, gout, joint pain, hemorrhoids, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, low blood sugar, snakebites, diarrhea and bloody diarrhea, tuberculosis, bloody urine, a serious nose and throat infection called diphtheria, whooping cough, tooth sensitivity, stomach inflammation, scalp ringworm, and a sexually transmitted disease . It is also used for fighting stress and fatigue.
Products from Garlic:
Unlike most foods, food-processing does miraculous things to garlic. Garlic powders and oils are ideal for flavoring foods. The chemistry of garlic is quite complicated and different types of processing produce more than just preparations in different forms, i.e., powders, oils, or Aged Garlic Extract. These different forms contain different garlic compounds and may have different effects and toxicities. The garlic product that contains the most safe, stable, and odorless compounds is the most valuable as a supplement.
Culinary Use Of Garlic:
The irresistible aroma of roasted garlic is so captivating with its powerful notes, that it has long been used as a flavour booster in curries, stir-fries, pizza toppings, pastas, meat preparations, dips – you name it! It has the power to instantly liven up any dish .
