How to Enjoy Garlic and Reap the Health Benefits
By Sandy Schroeder
Most of us love garlic bread and enjoy garlic in a variety of dishes, but there’s much more to the story. Scientists tell us garlic is really a superfood with widespread health benefits.
According to Newsmax, scientists say garlic can improve the immune system, benefit the heart, and may help fight some cancers while lowering triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Garlic is a cousin to leeks and onions. It’s packed with healthy compounds that fight bacteria, and generate its distinctive smell.
Researchers advise eating a half clove of fresh garlic or more daily. Slice, chop or crush fresh garlic to maximize its power. Let it sit 5-10 minutes, especially when mixing it with acids such as lemon juice or vinegar.
Enjoy Garlic in One Pan Pasta!
Here’s a divine way to enjoy pasta and garlic in Martha Stewart’s One Pot Pasta recipe. Fresh cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic and red pepper blend with linguini to create a little bit of heaven in 9 minutes! Everything happens in one pan (without boiling water first). Adapted from MarthaStewartLiving.com, June, 2013.
Ingredients
- 12ounces linguine
- 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- Half teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 5 cups water
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Mix pasta, onion, garlic, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, basil, oil, two teaspoons of salt, a quarter teaspoon of pepper and water in a large straight sided skillet. Put linguine flat on bottom of pan.
Bring to boil on high. Boil mixture turning and stirring pasta often with fork or tongs until pasta is al dente and water is almost gone. About 9 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper. Divide into four dishes, top with basil and serve with olive oil and Parmesan.
Dealing with Garlic Breath
Food and Wine researcher Sheryl Barringer gives us three natural ways to erase garlic breath.
- Eat raw apples to create a natural deodorant for garlic breath
- Add lemon juice to your salad or ice tea to neutralize the odor-triggering enzymes
- Drink green tea to get polyphenols to cover up the garlic smell
Garlic is not only tasty, but it's also good for us when we consume it. Start with the recipe here, then find others online, for ways to incorporate the benefits of garlic into your diet.
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