Are you looking for ways to boost your immune system? Did you know that raw garlic can help you do just that? Garlic is a plant in the onion family and most of its health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed.
Not only is garlic low in calories, but it is incredibly nutritious. Just one clove of raw garlic contains manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, selenium, fiber and other trace elements such as calcium, potassium, iron and Vitamin B1.
So aside from the vitamins and minerals, how can garlic help you? Garlic has been touted as reducing blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels as well as helping to detoxify heavy metals in the body. Garlic is also considered an antioxidant.
Garlic is known for its distinctive taste. If your digestive system is able to tolerate garlic, you’ll love the following links to some awesome recipes! If you prefer to take supplements to get the benefits of raw garlic without digestive upset, keep reading. I’ll share what to look for in a garlic supplement below.
Recipes to Help Boost Your Immune System with Raw Garlic
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Saute your chicken breasts in a creamy sauce of chicken broth, butter, heavy cream and an entire head of sliced garlic. The sauce will mellow the garlic flavor so that it’s not overpowering, but you’ll still get all the healthy benefits. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes so you can ladle on that extra sauce!
Fresh Basil Garlic Pesto
Make this traditional pesto recipe with the fresh ingredients of basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. This fragrant, savory and delicious pesto works well on pasta, as a condiment for sandwiches, and as a topping for salmon or chicken. You can’t go wrong with this recipe that utilizes raw garlic for a hit of all those amazing benefits of this ingredient.
Quick Garlic Pecorino Dressing
Pecorino cheese, lemon juice, garlic cloves, olive oil and a dash of water get blitzed in your blender for a healthy and delicious dressing for whatever type of green salad you’re making. Keep this easy recipe handy!
Need A Supplement?
If you’re not able to tolerate full-on garlic in your food consumption, consider taking a daily garlic supplement. Look for garlic supplements that have allicin in them, which is the active component of garlic. Allicin is also what gives garlic its smell. So if you see a product that says “odorless”, I would avoid that one as it probably is not very effective.
When you invest in coated tablets, it protects the garlic from your acidic stomach while it enters your small intestine. This is where your body will use it most effectively as it works to boost your immune system. The coating will also protect you from acid reflux that some people have to deal with when they take strong supplements.
Look for a tablet that contains at least 5,000 mcg of allicin per serving. For most supplements, you’ll be taking one tablet one to three times per day, depending on which brand you use.
No matter how you decide to integrate garlic and allicin into your health plan, you’ll see benefits to your immune system as you beef up your body’s ability to fight infection over the course of time.
What is your favorite garlic dish? Looking for more ways to boost your immune system? Try one of these 7 tips!
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