Garlic
Garlic (in English: Garlic) is a very common herbaceous plant, and its scientific name is (in English: Allium sativum). It belongs to the onion family, including leeks and green onions. A garlic bulb contains several cloves, each encased in a paper-like covering, which can be white or purple in color and somewhat firm. Garlic has a pungent taste and strong aroma, adding a distinctive flavor to food. Generally, garlic requires low temperatures to grow, although studies have found that garlic from tropical regions grows better than other types. In fact, garlic grows best in temperate regions rather than extremely hot or very cold ones.
Benefits of Garlic for the Skin
Garlic offers numerous benefits for the skin, including:
- Reducing Acne: Garlic helps reduce acne caused by toxin buildup that clogs pores due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it a strong antioxidant.
- Reducing Psoriasis Symptoms: Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by redness, itching, and scaling, particularly on the scalp, elbows, and knees. Garlic consumption helps reduce these effects due to its strong anti-inflammatory properties.
- Protecting the Skin from UV Damage: Garlic delays aging due to its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory compounds, preserving healthy skin cells.
- Reducing Stretch Marks and Cracks: Garlic can minimize skin stretch marks and cracks.
- Treating Eczema: Garlic helps treat eczema caused by certain inflammations due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Natural Skin Recipes Using Garlic
- First Recipe: Garlic is a natural remedy for acne due to its antibacterial properties and can be used as a topical treatment.
- Ingredients: 2-3 garlic cloves, some water or aloe vera gel, and a cotton pad.
- Preparation: Mash the garlic cloves, mix with water, and let sit for 10 minutes. Dip a cotton pad into the mixture and apply it to the affected areas.
- Second Recipe: Garlic has anti-aging properties that help improve skin appearance and reduce inflammation. This recipe helps eliminate stretch marks and cracks.
- Ingredients: A few garlic cloves and bandages.
- Preparation: Crush the garlic well and apply it to the stretch marks and cracks. Cover the area with bandages overnight and wash in the morning. Repeat until the marks and cracks diminish.
Benefits of Garlic for the Body
- Prevents Food Poisoning: Garlic has powerful antibacterial properties that help kill bacteria like Salmonella and boost the immune system to fight disease and infection.
- Reduces Blood Pressure: Garlic lowers blood pressure by blocking the action of a substance called Angiotensin II, which constricts blood vessels, or by releasing hydrogen sulfide, which dilates blood vessels.
- Treats Athlete’s Foot: Garlic has antifungal properties that help treat athlete’s foot by applying it directly to the affected area or soaking the foot in garlic water to kill the fungal infection.
- Protects the Heart: Garlic helps protect the heart by maintaining arterial flexibility with age, preventing arteriosclerosis, stopping blood clot formation, and preventing blood clots.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Garlic relieves inflammation, sores, and acne, treats psoriasis, soothes toothaches, and boosts the immune system.
- Allergy Treatment: Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a good treatment for allergies, bronchial inflammation, and insect bites.
- Natural Insect Repellent: Garlic acts as a natural insect repellent due to chemicals that deter insects, especially mosquitoes, as noted in an Indian study.
- Relieves Respiratory Problems: Garlic helps alleviate respiratory issues like asthma and treats colds due to its antibacterial properties.
- Cancer Prevention: Regular garlic consumption protects the body from various cancers.
- Improves Bone Health: Garlic improves bone health, particularly against osteoporosis and arthritis, and prevents bone damage.
- Reduces Stomach Pain: Garlic relieves intestinal inflammation and stomach diseases. It is recommended to eat one clove of garlic before breakfast with a glass of water for stomach protection.
- Regulates Blood Sugar: Garlic helps regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Including garlic in the diet is essential for people with diabetes as it significantly lowers blood glucose levels. It is recommended to consume 3-4 garlic cloves to lower blood sugar levels.
