1. Getting to Know Garlic In All It's Greatness
Let's face it, garlic is simply delicious, so you will be happy to know that you can cook with garlic to prevent heart disease as well as spice up your favorite dishes. The benefits of garlic and heart disease are under constant study; however, garlic is thought to help lower bad cholesterol as well as triglycerides in the blood. Additionally, garlic might help to prevent blood platelets from sticking together, a condition which can cause thrombosis. Because it helps to keep blood flowing smoothly and lower bad cholesterol, it also helps to lower blood pressure. If you are not a garlic lover, don't worry, as the American Diabetic Association recommends only 600 to 900 mg of garlic per day. That's equivalent to just one fresh clove to get the health benefits of garlic.
2. How to Keep Your Cloves
To get the most nutrients from each garlic clove, make sure that you buy garlic bulbs which have firm and plump cloves with the papery shell intact. Once garlic has become spongy and soft or has begun to shrivel, it should be tossed as the nutrient-rich oils are greatly diminished. Always keep garlic in a cool and dry location; however, keep it out of refrigeration. Garlic needs oxygen, so don't store it in air-tight containers, drawers, cabinets or plastic bags. Finally, keep garlic out of the sun as well, as the heat and UV rays can destroy the oils.
3. Enjoy the Full Flavor
Cooking with garlic for heart health is as simple as adding a clove to your favorite recipes, as garlic complements almost everything. Garlic can be added to your morning eggs, to salad dressings, sauces, meats and fish and more. Just remember not to burn or overcook garlic, or it will destroy the delicate oils. The longer garlic is cooked, the softer the flavor, so many people choose to sauté garlic before adding other ingredients; however, when cooking for heart health, add your garlic when cooking is almost complete, or whenever possible, add it raw.
4. The Smell That Doesn't Quit
Okay, so garlic is delicious but that doesn't mean you want to smell like garlic for the rest of your life. As garlic lovers know all to well, eating large amounts can cause your body odor and breath to match your healthy food habit; however, a single clove a day is not enough to affect your natural body odor. After cooking with garlic, you can wash your hands with a bit of salt and lemon juice, rinsing with cool water to wash away the odor. Additionally, chewing on fresh parsley after a garlic-rich meal will help to neutralize garlic breath.
