Garlic (Allium sativum) ثوم

Garlic

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium.

Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. With a history of human use of over 7,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Nutrients   
Garlic, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy        623 kJ (149 kcal)
Carbohydrates         33.06 g
Sugars                               1 g
Dietary fiber                2.1 g
Fat                                0.5 g
Protein                        6.36 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1)    (17%) 0.2 mg
Riboflavin (B2)    (9%) 0.11 mg
Niacin (B3)    (5%) 0.7 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)  (12%) 0.596 mg
Vitamin B6    (95%) 1.235 mg
Folate (B9)    (1%) 3 μg
Vitamin C    (38%) 31.2 mg
Minerals

Calcium    (18%) 181 mg
Iron                (13%) 1.7 mg
Magnesium    (7%) 25 mg
Manganese    (80%) 1.672 mg
Phosphorus    (22%) 153 mg
Potassium    (9%) 401 mg
Sodium    (1%) 17 mg
Zinc               (12%) 1.16 mg

Other constituents
Selenium    14.2 μg
Units

μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams

IU = International units
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

In the typical serving size of 1-3 cloves (3-9 g), garlic provides no significant nutritional value with the content of all essential nutrients below 10% of the Daily Value (DV). When expressed per 100 grams, garlic contains several nutrients in rich amounts (> 20% DV), including vitamins B6 and C, and the dietary minerals, manganese and phosphorus. Per 100 gram serving, garlic is also a good source (10-19% DV) of certain B vitamins including thiamine (Vitamin B1), and pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), as well as certain dietary minerals including calcium, iron, and zinc.


Garlic is hot & dry in the fourth degree, creates heat in the human body, its regular use causes dryness, but is beneficial for cold natured people, similarly, garlic is good for a person having a phlegmatic nature & the one who is in danger of catching Paralysis (CVA).

Garlic dries out the sperm, opens the clogs in stomach, takes out the gases, helps in food digestion, it can cause loose stools & it is a diuretic, it works as an antidote against inflammations & bites of poisonous insects.


USES OF GARLIC 

Cardiovascular
A 2013 meta-analysis concluded that garlic preparations may effectively lower total cholesterol by 11–23 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol by 3–15 mg/dL in adults with high cholesterol if taken for longer than two months. The same analysis found that garlic had a marginally positive effect on HDL cholesterol, no significant effect on blood triglyceride levels, and that garlic preparations were generally well tolerated with very few side effects.

Cancer   

A 2014 meta-analysis of observational epidemiological studies found that garlic consumption is associated with a lower risk of stomach cancer in the Korean population.

Other uses   
The sticky juice within the bulb cloves is used as an adhesive in mending glass and porcelain. An environmentally benign garlic-derived polysulfide product is approved for use in the European Union (under Annex 1 of 91/414) and the UK as a nematicide and insecticide, including for use for control of cabbage root fly and red mite in poultry.

Preservative
Garlic along with cinnamon is used as a fish and meat preservative, and displays antimicrobial property at temperatures as high as 120 degree Celsius; the combination can also be used to preserve fried and deep fried foods, and in the future might be used in an inner layer of plastic.

SCORPION AND SNAKE BITE CURE

If ground garlic is applied as a poultice on areas bitten by snake / scorpion, it will suck out the poison.

OLD COUGH TREATMENT

Garlic keeps the body warm, expels out the phlegm, cleanses the throat & nullifies the bad effect of changing water (especially for a traveler who has to drink water from various sources), garlic is fantastic for old cough, it is consumed as raw, cooked & roasted, removes the chest pain caused by coldness, & expels out leech / insects from the throat.

TOOTH EXTRACTION AND TOOTHACHES

If ground garlic is mixed with vinegar, salt & honey & applied on a broken tooth, will fragmentize the tooth & will easily take out the tooth from gums, & the same mixture is also helpful for killing tooth-ache.

TREATMENT OF VITILIGO/LEUKODERMA

If ground garlic is taken with honey water, it kills phlegm & the intestinal worms; garlic mixed with pure honey & applied on (Leukoderma / Vitiligo) reduces depigmentation of the skin.

BAD EFFECTS OF GARLIC

But garlic has many bad properties as well, it causes headache, weakens the brain & vision, creates sexual debility, causes excessive thirst, increases yellow bile & spoils the odor of breath, it's bad odor will go away if few leaves are chewed after eating it.