Fight cold and flu with some garlic this winter

Cold and flu are somehow synonymous with winters or the change of season. While you may take meds to get relief from its side effects, nothing beats the benefits of using a natural remedy to fight this viral disease.

Garlic belongs to the allium family and is closely related to leeks and onions. It has been used for medicinal purpose and cooking for the longest time. It is also rich in potassium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, iron, and calcium, which are known to offer various health benefits. Apart from that, the sulfur compounds released upon cutting or chopping garlic also benefits our health.

Read on to know about the benefits of using this common kitchen ingredient to cure the symptoms of cold and flu.

Garlic contains beneficial compounds that boost immunity by fighting the germs. The sulfur released upon cutting garlic enhances the response of some of the white blood cells when these cells come in contact with viruses, much like what happens when you have a cold or flu. Garlic has been found to prevent cold and flu. It also reduces the severity of the symptoms of cold and flu, which makes it a vital ingredient to be used on a regular basis. You must use the garlic carefully as exposure to high temperatures reduce the potency of alliinase to form the vital ingredient allicin. So, it is sensible to use a sufficient quality of garlic for cooking. It is advised that you must consume at least one to three cloves of garlic per day. You may also use alternative sources to add garlic to your body.

Garlic supplements, garlic oil, powdered garlic, and garlic extract are a few other ways to increase the intake of garlic. If depending on supplements only, a minimum dose of 600mg to 1200mg is beneficial. Not just cold and flu, garlic is highly beneficial to reduce the high blood pressure levels as well. It has been also found to lower the cholesterol levels in the blood. Thus, regular consumption of garlic is very useful for heart health. However, excessive consumption of garlic may irritate the stomach lining and lead to gastritis. It can also alter the constitution of the body (as believed in naturopathy) and cause a skin rash. Pregnant women, people with asthma, and those who are about to undergo surgeries should avoid consumption of garlic.