General information and nutritional value of Garlic

Interesting Facts about Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a perennial plant, usually grown as an annual crop.
It is closely related to onions, chives, shallots, and leeks.
It is propagated from the bulbs (that separate into numerous cloves).
All plant parts are edible, but garlic is mainly cultivated for its bulb.
Garlic has been used as food, a condiment, and for medical purposes (it contains alliinase (allicin)), for over 5,000 years.
Garlic originated from Asia and Europe.
Nowadays, there are more than 600 cultivars available in the market.
It is a high-value crop and labor-intensive.
China is the largest garlic producer, with up to 75% of global production.
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is not a true garlic but a type of leek and has a milder taste.
There are white, pink, and purple garlic varieties.
Olympic athletes in ancient Greece used to eat garlic before the games.
The Greek father of medicine, Hippocrates, used to prescribe garlic for 61 diseases.
In some countries, garlic is considered to be an aphrodisiac.
Milk neutralizes the unpleasant garlic odor.

Top Garlic-Producing Countries

Nowadays, according to the statistical database of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the top garlic-producing countries globally are:

China (with more than 20 million of tons per year)
India (almost 3 million tons/year)
Bangladesh and South Korea
Egypt and Spain
USA and Russia

Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Garlic

Due to its several nutrient contents, garlic is considered a superfood and has been used for over 5,000 years, both for food and medical reasons. More specifically, according to USDA, 100 gr of raw garlic contains:

58.58g of water
149kcal (calories)
0.5g of fat
6.36g of protein
33.6g of carbohydrates
1g of sugars
2.1g of dietary fiber
31.2mg of vitamin C (total ascorbic acid)
25mg Mg
153mg P
1.7mg Fe
1.235mg vitamin B6
181mg Ca
401mg K
17mg Na
1.16mg Zn
0.2mg Thiamin
0.7mg Niacin
9IU VitaminA

Health Benefits of garlic

Some of the main health benefits of raw garlic consumption are:

Blood pressure levels reduction
LDL cholesterol levels reduction
Antithrombotic properties
Antibiotic properties
Anticancer properties
Heavy metals detox properties
Boosts bone health
Reduces hair loss
Improves acne symptoms

Reduce Blood Pressure and Risk of Heart Attacks

Based on scientific evidence, after consuming garlic tablets for 24 weeks, patients with essential hypertension managed to reduce their blood pressure levels, both Systolic and Diastolic. In addition, there was also an observed reduction in SBP and DBP (p<0.005) in comparison with atenolol (P<0.005). However, consuming raw garlic has only a moderate, momentary effect on blood pressure levels. Additionally, garlic has been found to help manage cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Anti-Cancer properties

The anticancer properties of garlic are mainly a result of a variety of sulfur compounds contained in it. The most important of them is allicin. According to studies, allicin seems toxic for cancer cells, reducing the possibility of the development of specific cancer types. However, allicin is an unstable compound. Stomach acids and heat significantly reduce their protective properties.

Common Cold and Acne (Antimicrobial properties)

According to a study, patients who were given a garlic supplement tablet seemed to suffer less from common cold attacks compared to a placebo group during 12 weeks.

The antibacterial properties of garlic can reduce acne symptoms by fighting the bacteria causing it, based on the results of a scientific study.

Reduce Hair Loss

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venerology, and Leprology has published a study in which patients who suffered from Alopecia areata reduced their hair loss rate after applying a gel containing garlic.

Heavy Metal Detox

A study in which participants were workers of a battery plant, exposed to heavy metals and prone to develop heavy metal poisoning, has shown that consuming garlic daily for 4 weeks reduced the heavy metal content in their blood by 19%.

Promote Bone Health

Garlic is a source of Vitamin B-6, Calcium, and Zn, essential bone-building components. This, together with the founding of a study, according to which garlic consumption from women at the menopause stage caused an increase in their estrogen levels, may be beneficial for osteoarthritis and other bone problems.

There are very rare cases of allergies caused by garlic, but some people may experience indigestion when consuming it in high amounts. Generally, a daily dose could be around 0.5-1 clove of garlic, which contains approximately 3,000-6,000 mcg of allicin (if it is consumed in tablets). However, you should first consult your doctor before starting to use garlic in higher doses as a treatment for any diseases.

References

Further reading:

Garlic Plant information and Variety selection

General information and nutritional value of Garlic

Growing garlic in your backyard

Growing Garlic Commercially – Complete Growing Guide for Garlic from Start to Finish

Soil Requirements, Soil Preparation, and Planting of Garlic

Garlic Water Requirements and Irrigation Systems

Garlic Fertilization Requirements

Garlic Pests and Diseases

Garlic Weed Management

Garlic Harvest Yield and Storage

Garlics in Bulk Wholesale Prices

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