Garlic is one of the most widely used flavorings in food and has many flavors
A host of other applications as well, from insect repellants to
Protection from vampires. Of course, you really won’t be
Catch any vampires (don’t tell your daughters), but you still can
Benefit greatly from including garlic in your daily routine.
One of the most amazing uses of garlic is to help with sleep. But before we get into why it works, let’s take a look at the general health benefits of garlic. It is actually quite high in calories, 100 per 100 grams. However, garlic is so strong in flavor that no one can eat that much in one meal. Garlic contains complex carbohydrates and protein as well as vital minerals and vitamins such as B vitamins, sodium, potassium and magnesium.
It also contains high amounts of allicin, a sulfur compound that gives garlic its distinctive aroma. This is why garlic is so useful in treating infections and can kill some viruses better than antibiotics. In addition, garlic contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that improve the functioning of almost all body systems.
Eating garlic regularly supports cardiovascular health by improving blood flow. To reduce bad cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure. It is recommended for metabolic disorders and respiratory problems. Garlic is believed to prevent premature aging by inhibiting the activity of free radicals, thus stopping the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
With all the benefits of eating garlic, why would you put it under your pillow?
As it turns out, this practice is an old folk remedy for insomnia. Smelling the allicin sulfur compound can have a calming effect that helps you wake up and fall asleep during the night. It seems a little strange that such a strong and distinctive scent can be so soothing, but many people swear it works.
One way it may help is that the scent can clear blocked nasal passages, thereby improving breathing. Anyone who has tried to sleep through a bad cold knows how uncomfortable it is when you can’t breathe properly. But you may find that you get sick less when you sleep with garlic under your pillow, because allicin is thought to inhibit two groups of enzymes that are responsible for the ability of infectious microbes to invade the body and survive.
If just smelling garlic doesn’t do you any good, try eating a few before bed – only if your husband agrees! (You can try telling her that the scent repels bugs, which is the last thing anyone wants in their bed.) Not much scientific research has been done on sleep and sleep, but we do know that it contains a small amount of magnesium and potassium, two minerals that play an important role in the quality of sleep.
Magnesium supports deep, restorative sleep by helping to maintain healthy levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces nerve activity in the brain and central nervous system, which in turn leads to increased relaxation and reduced stress. Potassium is believed to increase sleep efficiency and reduce periods of wakefulness after drifting. If you are getting enough of these nutrients in your daily diet, you may not need to eat garlic before bed. However, if you want to give it a try, there is a folk remedy for that as well.
We are mainly talking about warm milk and garlic drink. Boil a crushed clove in a cup of milk for about 3 minutes. Nothing about the recipe is set in stone, so if you want to play around with the ratio of garlic to milk, you’ll have to follow it. Let the mixture cool, remove the cloves and add a teaspoon of honey. For best results, use your home sleep remedies about 30 minutes before bed.
Now, if the thought of drinking this concoction now makes your nose wrinkle in disgust, know that there are garlic supplements you can swallow to avoid the pungent taste. It doesn’t work as well as fresh garlic, but if you don’t really care about the taste but still want the benefits, it’s better than nothing. Note that high doses of garlic can interact with some medications, and supplements contain varying levels of garlic. If you plan to use dietary supplements, it is better to talk to your doctor.
A word of warning if you have pets that help with bedding and/or food: garlic is toxic to dogs and cats. You probably don’t want to put cloves under your pillow when you’re not in bed. A small amount of garlic on your plate may not be a big deal, but a whole clove can make your furry friend very sick. In any case, using a clove of fresh garlic under your pillow every night is much more effective for sleep
