Fresh Garlic

What is Garlic?A spice which is strong-smelling pungent-tasting bulb, used as a flavouring in cooking and in herbal medicine. Garlic is a plant in the Allium (onion) family. It is closely related to onions, shallots and leeks. Each segment of a garlic bulb is called a clove. There are about 10–20 cloves in a single bulb.

Scientific Definition : Garlic (Allium sativum) is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion.

Short History : Over 5,000 years garlic has been used as food, medicine, an aphrodisiac, money, and magic potions. Garlic is believed to be a native of central Asia, South Asia or southwestern Siberia.  There is some debate over the origin of this herb. It is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops.  Garlic lovers carried the pungent herb into Egypt, Pakistan, India and China.  The crusaders brought back garlic to Europe. Later Spanish, French, and Portuguese settlers introduced garlic into the Americas. It was known to ancient Egyptians, and has been used both as a food flavoring and as a traditional medicine. China produces some 80% of the world supply of garlic.

Nutritional Content of Garlic : Calorie for calorie, garlic is incredibly nutritious. This comes with 42 calories, 1.8 grams of protein and 9 grams of carbs.

A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of garlic contains:

Manganese: 23% of the RDA

Vitamin B6: 17% of the RDA

Vitamin C: 15% of the RDA

Selenium: 6% of the RDA

Fiber: 0.6 grams

Decent amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1

Health Benefits of Garlic

• Garlic Contains Compounds With Potent Medicinal Properties
• Garlic Is Highly Nutritious But Has Very Few Calories
• Garlic Can Combat Sickness, Including the Common Cold
• The Active Compounds in Garlic Can Reduce Blood Pressure
• Garlic Improves Cholesterol Levels, Which May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease
• Garlic Contains Antioxidants That May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
• Garlic May Help You Live Longer
• Athletic Performance Might Be Improved With Garlic Supplements
• Eating Garlic May Help Detoxify Heavy Metals in the Body
• Garlic May Improve Bone Health
• Garlic Is Easy to Include in Your Diet and Tastes Absolutely Delicious

Other health benefits

• The Blood Purifier
• Relief from that stubborn cold and flu
• Prevention of Heart Disease
• Anti-bacterial and Anti-parasitic
• Cancer Prevention
• Protects the skin from the effect of free radicals and slow down the depletion of collagen

Common Use : From stir fries and baked potato to grilled chicken and pasta, garlic makes just about everything taste better. Find over 1390 garlic recipes on Allrecipes.com. Enjoy roasted, grilled or baked or as spice in the curry.