Sure it can make your breath smell like something awful, but scientific research suggests a healthy daily helping of garlic can go do a lot when it comes to helping your health.
The foremost effects are on the heart, where garlic boosts the body's supply of hydrogen sulfide, which protects one of the most important organs.
"Garlic actually relaxes blood cells, so the vessels and the blood cells become more plastic and more elastic," said Jennifer Sygo, a registered dietician with the
Cleveland Clinic.
But it's not just good for the heart. A garlic-rich diet can protect against breast, prostate and colon cancer, medical experts suggest.
The bad news is that in order to get the full health benefits should be eaten raw, but if you or others can't stand the smell on your breath, the second best way is to crush it before cooking, which releases the food's healthy compounds.
Unfortunately though, when it comes to garlic, a little doesn't go a long way. Experts suggest a total of two cloves a day are needed to make noticeable improvements in one's diet, a smelly sacrifice not many are willing to make.
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