Garlic and Ginger Boost Immune System
We are currently in a state of nationwide lockdown, and this may be the first time in a long time that everyone has put health before anything else. As you are probably aware, the new Coronavirus has sickened millions of people worldwide, and the hazardous situation has prompted many nations to declare a lockdown. More and closer people are practicing good hygiene and paying more attention to what they consume. Immunity is characterized as a healthy state in which the body can fend off disease-causing substances. We frequently have medicinal herbs and spices in our cupboard that could boost our defenses. Consider the fact that ginger and garlic are much more than just spices for your curries and stews. The therapeutic benefits of ginger are well known in Ayurveda; it is regarded as a traditional treatment for nausea, indigestion, and bloating. On the other hand, garlic is well known for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Together, these two extremely effective herbs can work wonders, particularly when it comes to immunity and weight control. Ginger garlic tea is a great idea to boost immunity and aid in weight loss.
Herbal teas are calming and frequently highly helpful for easing discomfort brought on by a cold, stuffy nose, or sore throat. Daily herbal tea consumption is acceptable, but it is better to seek medical attention if the symptoms persist. One of the greatest ways to enjoy the benefits of both is to make ginger and garlic tea:
For Immunity:
- The book “Healing Foods” by DK Publishing House claims that ginger’s “Volatile oils are a good treatment for the flu, headaches, and menstruation cramps because they have anti-inflammatory qualities similar to those of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines). It may help reduce the need for medicines for osteoarthritis.”
- The high sulfur content of garlic aids in the prevention of infections. It is well known for having antiviral and antiparasitic qualities that reduce cold and cough symptoms. It is not suggested for asthmatics to ingest a lot of garlic, though.
Ginger-Garlic Tea For Weight-Loss:
- Ginger works wonders for maintaining a healthy digestive system. In addition to reducing bloating and cramping and accelerating the passage of food through the digestive tract, ginger is an excellent way to stimulate the digestive system. Weight loss depends on having healthy digestion.
Additionally, garlic helps to improve digestion and remove toxins from the body. Your metabolism could naturally increase with the aid of garlic. It is also well known for suppressing appetite. According to a study that was published in the Journal of Nutrition, garlic may help in fat burning.
How to make ginger-garlic tea:
1. Take a pot of hot water (add about a cup of water).Now, add a small chunk of ginger (make sure it is peeled and washed).
2. Then add 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic; next add half a teaspoon of black pepper and let it steep for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, strain in cup, add half a teaspoon of honey for taste and enjoy!
(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)
How Garlic Fights Colds and The Flu
For millennia, people have used garlic as a culinary additive and a remedy.
In reality, there are numerous health advantages to eating garlic.
This includes less risk of heart disease, greater immunological function, and bettered mental wellness.
This article describes how garlic is especially effective at warding off the flu and the common cold.
Garlic Can Boost Immune Function
Compounds in garlic support the immune system’s ability to combat pathogens.
Alliin is a substance that is present in whole garlic. This chemical transforms into allicin (with a c), the primary active component of garlic, when garlic is chewed or crushed.
Sulfur in allicin is what gives garlic its characteristic flavor and aroma.
However, because allicin is unstable, it soon transforms into other sulphur-containing chemicals believed to be the source of garlic’s therapeutic powers.
When certain types of white blood cells in the body come into contact with viruses like those that cause the common cold or flu, these substances have been demonstrated to enhance the body’s reaction to fight the sickness.
BOTTOM LINE: Garlic can be crushed, chewed or sliced to produce allicin, which is thought to give garlic its immune-boosting properties.
Can Garlic Help Prevent Colds and The Flu?
The ability of garlic to treat and prevent colds and the flu has been demonstrated.
Garlic lowers your risk of getting sick initially and shortens the length of your illness, according to studies. Additionally, it can lessen how bad the symptoms are.
In one study, 146 healthy individuals were given three months of either garlic pills or a placebo. The probability of acquiring a cold was 63% lower and colds lasted 70% less time in the garlic group.
In a different trial, participants who consumed 2.56 grams of aged garlic extract daily experienced colds on average 61% less frequently than those who received a placebo. Additionally, their colds weren’t as bad.
If you frequently get the flu or a cold, eating garlic can help you feel better or possibly cure your sickness.
But an examination of the data revealed that many of the research looking into how garlic affects the common cold were of poor quality.
It’s also unclear whether taking garlic regularly is necessary or whether it can be used as a temporary remedy when you first become ill.
BOTTOM LINE: Regularly eating garlic may help prevent the common cold or the flu. If you do get sick, eating garlic can reduce the severity of your symptoms and help you recover faster.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Garlic
The health benefits of garlic can drastically change depending on how it is processed or prepared.
Only under specific circumstances does the enzyme alliinase transform alliin into the useful allicin. Heat might also render it inactive.
One study discovered that alliinase can be inactivated in as little as 60 seconds in the microwave or 45 minutes in the oven, and a different investigation discovered comparable outcomes.
On the other hand, it was mentioned that crushing garlic and letting it stand for 10 minutes prior to cooking can assist preserve its therapeutic benefits.
The researchers also claimed that boosting the amount of garlic used could make up for the health benefits lost during cooking.
Here are a few ways to maximize the health benefits of garlic:
- Crush or slice all your garlic before you eat it. This increases the allicin content.
- Before you cook with your crushed garlic, let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Use a lot of garlic — more than one clove per meal, if you can.
BOTTOM LINE: Ensure whole garlic is crushed, chewed or sliced before it’s eaten. Let crushed garlic stand for 10 minutes before you cook it.
Garlic Supplements
minced garlic
Fresh garlic that has been cut into slices and dried is used to make powdered garlic. Although it is considered to have allicin potential, it does not contain allicin.
To preserve it from stomach acid, powdered garlic is treated at low temperatures before being placed within capsules.
In order for the enzyme alliinase to transform alliin into the useful form of allicin in the intestine, it needs to withstand the harsh environment of the stomach.
Unfortunately, it is not known how much allicin can be obtained through supplements made of powdered garlic. Depending on the preparation and brand, this varies substantially.
Aged Garlic Extract
When raw garlic has been sliced and stored in 15–20% ethanol for over 1.5 years, it becomes aged garlic extract.
This type of supplement does not contain allicin, but it does retain the medical properties of garlic. Many of the studies showing benefits against colds and the flu used aged garlic extract
Garlic Oil
Another useful supplement is garlic oil, which is created by putting raw garlic in cooking oils. It is available in capsule form or as a direct addition to meals.
However, it’s important to remember that rats can be poisonous to garlic oil at higher quantities and under specific circumstances, according to research conducted on animals.
Manufacture careful to utilize the appropriate preservation techniques if you’re planning to make your own because homemade garlic oil has also been connected to many cases of botulism.
BOTTOM LINE: Common types of garlic supplements include powdered garlic, aged garlic extract and garlic oil. Aged garlic extract may be the best type.
How Much Garlic Should You Eat Per Day?
One segment (clove) of raw garlic, taken two to three times day, is the bare minimum effective dose.
A supplement containing old garlic is also an option. Then, a typical dose is between 600 and 1,200 milligrams per day.
Don’t exceed the dosage guidelines for garlic supplements because excessive intakes might be hazardous.
BOTTOM LINE: You can get a benefit from garlic by eating 2-3 garlic cloves per day. Supplement doses range from 600 to 1,200 mg per day.
Other Tips to Boost Immune Function
Here are 5 more ways to boost immune function and help you avoid colds and the flu:
- Take a probiotic: Probiotics can promote a healthy gut, enhance your immune system and reduce your risk of infection
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet: Your whole diet is important. Getting a balance of important nutrients will make sure your immune system stays in good shape.
- Don’t smoke: Cigarette smoke can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to infection
- Avoid excess alcohol: Excess alcohol is thought to damage your immune system and make you more susceptible to infections
- Take a zinc supplement: Take zinc lozenges or syrup within 24 hours of the start of a cold, as this may reduce the duration of the cold
BOTTOM LINE: A healthy diet and lifestyle are essential for keeping your immune system in good shape.
More Advice
Garlic can aid in the fight against the flu and colds, according to studies. It can lessen your risk of getting sick and hasten your recovery.
It is better to take raw garlic or aged garlic extract to get the most out of these advantages.
Garlic is ultimately delicious and quite healthful. There are also a ton of additional excellent reasons to incorporate it into your diet.
Impressive Benefits of Combining Garlic and Ginger
Both ginger and garlic are renowned for their medicinal properties.
These common components include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may provide some disease protection, according to decades of scientific research.
Combining them could potentially have positive health consequences. You could accomplish this by eating them as ingredients in recipes like stir-fries and soups or by taking supplements.
This article looks at 7 amazing possible advantages of eating ginger and garlic together.
1. Provides anti-inflammatory benefits
The capacity of both ginger and garlic to reduce inflammation is one of its most well-known advantages.
Chronic inflammation is connected to the advancement of many diseases, including heart disease and several malignancies, even though the body’s inflammatory response is necessary for keeping you healthy.
Strong anti-inflammatory plant components found in garlic and ginger may aid to block pro-inflammatory proteins linked to chronic inflammation.
It’s interesting to note that different garlic preparations include various anti-inflammatory organosulfur components.
Fresh garlic is packed with :
- S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (alliin)
- γ-glutamyl cysteine derivatives
Dried garlic powder contains the compounds:
- alliin
- diallyl disulfide (DADS)
Ground garlic offers :
- sulfide family compounds
- dithiines
- (E–Z)-ajoene compounds
Ginger is loaded with anti-inflammatory substances as well, including the phenolic compounds gingerols and shogaols .
A number of studies have demonstrated that ginger and garlic have anti-inflammatory effects.
For example, studies have shown that both garlic and ginger reduce markers of inflammation in humans. Both foods lower your levels of these pro-inflammatory proteins :
- tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)
- interleukin-6 (IL-6)
- high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
A 2020 review of 17 high quality studies found that taking garlic supplements led to significant reductions in CRP. It also found that another type of garlic supplement, called aged garlic extract, significantly reduced CRP and TNF-α
A 2020 review of 109 high quality studies found that ginger may be particularly effective when people with arthritis use it to reduce inflammation and pain
Little is known about the combined effects of ginger and garlic on inflammation in humans. However, based on the available research, it’s likely that using garlic and ginger together could help reduce markers of inflammation.
SUMMARY: Studies show that garlic and ginger both separately offer potent anti-inflammatory effects. Based on results from clinical research, it’s likely that combining garlic and ginger would offer anti-inflammatory benefits.