Celebrate National Garlic Day

Garlic Day promotes the many uses of garlic. And, there certainly are many uses. It’s a vegetable. It’s an herb. It is used in recipes world-wide. Garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The health benefits come from the sulfur-containing compounds and also cause the distinct odor. When you think of garlic think of its “anti” properties: antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer. And, garlic is believed to ward off evil spirits.

To get the most benefit from the garlic you eat you need to take care in the preparation. The two active compounds that provide anticancer benefits need time to interact with each other. If you heat it immediately after cooking, you will not develop the cancer-fighting properties. So chop, mince, or dice it at the beginning of your recipe prep and let it sit for 10 minutes before cooking. Using a garlic press rather than chopping it also maximizes production of the compound.

No matter how you slice or dice it, garlic is one food to include in your diet often. Your body will benefit and you won’t have to worry about werewolves!