Cooking Tip #1 – Prepping Garlic
Garlic is instrumental to adding flavor AND nutrition to healthy cuisine. Jamie Oliver shares how to prep garlic for its maximum potential in this
video.
And check out all the amazing health benefits of garlic!
◾It helps immunity. High in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, garlic helps keep your body healthy. It contains many flavonoid anti-oxidants
like carotene beta, zea-xanthin, and vitamins like vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infection and scavenge harmful,
pro-inflammatory free radicals. Allicin, a compound formed when garlic is chopped or crushed and other essential volatile compounds have anti-bacterial,
anti-viral, and anti-fungal activities.
◾It’s great for your heart. Laboratory studies show that allicin reduces cholesterol production by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase
enzyme within the liver cells. Allicin also decreases blood vessel stiffness through facilitation of nitric oxide (NO) release. Further, it blocks
platelet clot formation and has fibrinolytic action (prevents clot growth) inside the blood vessels. This function of allicin helps decrease the
overall risk from coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular diseases (PVD), and stroke. Garlic bulbs are one of the richest sources of
potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and selenium. Selenium is a heart-healthy mineral, and is an important cofactor for antioxidant
enzymes within the body. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for red
blood cell formation.
◾It helps prevent stomach cancer. Research studies also suggest that consumption of garlic is associated with a possible decrease
in the incidence of stomach cancer.
Stay tuned for more tips throughout the month!
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