Welcome to Herb Notes, I'm Tara Ruth from LearningHerbs.
Garlic is the medicine of the people. From its pungent aroma that fills our kitchens to its centuries old reputation as a medicinal wonder, garlic holds a special place in both culinary and herbalism traditions.
While many people think of garlic only as a tasty addition to their favorite meals, herbalists know that this humble bulb boasts many benefits that extend far beyond its flavor profile.
So let's dive into three key health benefits of garlic.
One. Garlic can support immune health. Raw garlic acts as a strong antimicrobial herb that can not only help prevent you from getting sick, but can also help shorten the duration of colds and flu. In addition to bolstering the immune system, this powerful herbs can also address common cold and flu symptoms. Eating a little raw garlic with honey can ease a sore throat, and this pungent herb can also break up mucus, thinning the mucus so that it becomes easier to expel.
Two. Along with supporting immune health, garlic can also support healthy digestion. Cooking with fresh garlic can help address symptoms of stagnant digestion, including gas, bloating, and a heavy feeling in the stomach.
This pungent herb can also stimulate the appetite and overall encourages more warmth and movement in the digestive system. The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of garlic is to cook with it. So you can make garlic bread, pesto with garlic, garlic honey, garlic vinegar. Or simply put a few cloves of garlic into whatever recipe you're cooking and the world's your oyster!
And when incorporating more garlic into your cooking, it's super important to start slow as Rosalee de la Forêt notes in her Garlic Plant Profile and HerbMentor, garlic has a lot of inulin in it, which is a prebiotic. And this means that it can help feed healthy gut flora. And while small amounts of inulin are super helpful for healthy digestion, eating too much garlic, especially roasted garlic, can cause some discomfort and gas in sensitive folks.
Three. Garlic is anti-inflammatory. Garlic has strong antioxidant activity, which can help modulate inflammation in the body. As a driver of so many modern chronic health conditions, inflammation is an incredibly important factor to address when supporting overall health and wellness. Incorporating a little more garlic into your food can be one deliciously, simple part of a holistic approach to vitality.
So to recap, here are three ways I like to work with garlic…
One, I work with garlic to bolster my immune system. Two, I add garlic to my meals to support healthy digestion. And three, I cook with garlic to help modulate inflammation.
I do all of this in small culinary amounts to simultaneously make my food taste so good and to also experience the benefits of garlic. And just to note, since there are some concerns about garlic thinning the blood, if you are pre or post-op or you're taking any blood thinners, then please consult with an experienced practitioner before taking garlic.
And if you want to learn more about garlic's benefits, you can visit herbnotes.cards to grab a free deck of our top 12 herb notes. You'll learn all about common herbs, like garlic, yarrow, echinacea, cinnamon and more. This has been Herb Notes with me Tara Ruth. Catch ya next time!
