Eating garlic is a boon for your heart. Let’s find out how.
How Chewing Garlic Releases Allicin
When you chew garlic, it releases a sulfur-containing compound called alliin. There is also an enzyme called alliinase, but it is stored in a separate compartment. Chewing causes the alliin and alliinase to come together and mix. When they mix, allicin is formed — a powerful compound that promotes vasodilation and benefits the blood vessels in your body.
Benefits for the Heart and Body
This effect on the blood vessels helps reduce inflammation in the body, which is excellent for heart health. It also boosts testosterone levels. It supports the production of nitric oxide — which facilitates vasodilation — and the pathways associated with it. It also helps protect your arteries from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Why Chewing Is Better Than a Supplement
If you were to buy a commercial garlic supplement, it would cost around 2,000 — yet you get those same benefits simply by chewing garlic. There is an Ayurvedic principle here: the effect you get from eating garlic normally is different from the effect of taking an extract. Taking the extract places a heavy load on your liver. So, chew it well and do your heart a favor.
How to Eat It
You need to eat garlic by chewing it thoroughly — chewing it again and again. Eating it plain is a bit difficult — which is why adding some salt and chili works — but if you can eat it plain, go ahead. Here’s a simple trick: if you don’t want to chew it, crush it and wait 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll still get the benefits when you consume it. And when you do chew it, make sure to chew it thoroughly.
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