Garlic in Your Diet

Garlic is considered to be a smelly yet important vegetable in our lives. Almost all forms of meat and poultry can be spiced up with garlic. A clove of the garlic is associated with a lot of medicinal properties too. You can also grow this beneficial plant in your kitchen garden. The garlic should be dried properly before it is ready to be eaten.

Effect on other Plants- Garlic can prevent aphid or plant lice from infesting your precious rose plants. You just need to plant it near the rose  in order to derive the maximum benefit. The leaves of the peach plant can be prevented from curling and withering when it comes in contact with the garlic. It can control brown rot in stone fruit and cure the potato and tomato plant from late blight. However, planting garlic near peas or runner beans may slow down their growth.

Medicinal Properties- Garlic was used to cure leprosy in the middle ages. It is also believed to be effective in controlling bronchitis and asthma. Garlic is supposed to have antiseptic qualities and can help to minimize the spreading of infection. Wounds were healed during the First World War by soaking sphagnum moss in garlic juice. Garlic can also strengthen the lining of the stomach, get rid of worms and can aid kidney function. You can treat your pets with infusions of garlic in order to enhance their digestion. Garlic mixed with parsley can cure your dog of bad breath. It also helps to purify your blood and boost up your immunity. Women, can get rid of bacterial infections affecting the vagina by inserting a clove of garlic with the aid of a tampon.

Cooking- Mediterranean cuisines are liberally peppered with garlic. It is used in soups and salads as well. You can also chew on raw garlic if you can get used to the particularly strong odor. Parsley counteracts the smell of garlic and most people prefer to chew on parsley after eating garlic.