The ancient myths say that this plant grew under the left foot of Satan when he stomped his foot after being cast out of heaven. So, people have known about it since time immemorial. However, it is not included in the list of products allowed for consumption in yoga. Ayurveda is not so strict and still says that it does more harm to the mind and mental processes than good.
If you decide to include garlic in your diet for weight loss, you are likely to wonder why it is treated so ambiguously in ancient Eastern and Indian practices. So, what do these tiny cloves contain: a farewell to extra pounds and overall health, or an upset stomach without fat burning at all?
Mechanism of Slimming
Garlic contributes to weight loss due to biochemical processes launched by its phytoncides. With proper and regular use, it:
This is a low-calorie (143 kcal per 100 g) product with a low glycemic index (30), which allows it to be classified as dietary.
That garlic helps to lose weight is a fact. True, the product is very specific and requires a special approach. If used incorrectly, it can harm your health.
Etymology. The word has a common Slavic etymology and comes from the words
Properties and Composition
The benefits of garlic also lie in its complex healing effect on many organs and systems. If you include it in your diet regularly for a month, you will notice not only weight loss, but also an improvement in your overall well-being, because the product:
- protects against colds, staphylococci, pathogenic fungi and yeasts, dysentery, and typhoid pathogens;
- cleanses the body;
- reduces fatigue, increases endurance;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- prevents blood clots, improves vascular health;
- strengthens bones and joints;
- helps with poisoning (thanks to the sulfides it contains);
- lowers cholesterol.
The beneficial properties of garlic are due to its unique chemical composition. It is hard to imagine that this small clove contains more than 400 components, each of which, entering the body, performs a specific function. Here are just a few of them, the most useful ones:
- polysaccharides;
- vitamins A, B, C;
- phytoncides;
- acids: pyruvic, chlorogenic, coffee, ferulic, oleanolic, coumaric, phytic;
- allicin, salicin, quercetin, rutin;
- sitosterol, geraniol, linalool;
- saponins;
- ajoene (a substance similar to aspirin in its properties);
- a large number of mineral substances, etc.
Not so long ago, a study was published in which data were given in detail describing what happens in the body after eating 3-6 cloves:
- within an hour — cleansing of the intestines and improving bowel function;
- after 3 hours — cleansing the blood of free radicals;
- after 5 hours — removing the fluid, reducing swelling, starting fat burning, and accelerating metabolism;
- after 7 hours — killing bacteria;
- after 10 hours — increasing blood oxygen levels;
- after 24 hours — changing the composition of the blood: the level of triglycerides and cholesterol decreases.
Thus, garlic helps to lose weight and improve your health at the same time, which makes it an ideal companion to any diet, especially since diets, as we know, have a very negative impact on health.
Through the pages of history. In ancient Egypt, each slave was given several cloves of garlic for breakfast in order to provide them with strength for the whole day. Therefore, you can use this property when going to your gym session — drink water with garlic an hour before training — it will increase your endurance, and you will be able to reach new heights.
Pitfalls
Do not idolize garlic and consider it a remedy for all diseases. One has only to think about why it is forbidden in yoga, and skepticism immediately arises. Before using it for weight loss, study the information about possible harm.
Contraindications
- Hypertension;
- hemorrhoids;
- individual intolerance;
- diseases of the digestive tract, genitourinary system, kidneys, and liver;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- bleeding;
- epilepsy.
Side effects
- headaches;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- heart problems;
- an attack of gallstone disease;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- increased bleeding (including menstrual bleeding);
- heartburn, flatulence.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of garlic include its specific smell, which many find unbearable. Also, do not forget that this product is known as an appetizer, which is incompatible with weight loss.
From around the world. The garlic diet is very suitable for those who live in San Francisco. The city has its own Garlic Restaurant, where dishes are prepared with the addition of this ingredient, from pizza to ice cream.
Recommendations
If garlic increases your appetite and interferes with your diet, include more dietary fiber (vegetables) in your diet so that you feel full.
Fresh garlic in its pure form should not be consumed on an empty stomach, because it irritates the gastric mucosa and can cause heartburn.
To get rid of bad breath after eating garlic, it is recommended to immediately eat fruits containing oxidizing elements. They neutralize the smelly sulfur compounds. These include apples, plums, pears, peaches, prunes, and apricots.
In the evening, it is better to refrain from garlic, because:
- it has a pronounced diuretic effect;
- it has a stimulating effect on the nervous system, so there is a risk of insomnia;
- as a result of the excited appetite, it will lead you to the refrigerator.
There is a separate diet based on garlic: it involves adding garlic to all possible dishes: salads, soups, stews, to meat, sandwiches, etc. Even cakes and pancakes are prepared with it, which are used instead of bread.
Another secret. To eliminate the garlic smell from your breath, it is recommended to eat ordinary sunflower seeds.
Drink and Dish Recipes
Garlic and water
The simplest, but no less effective, fat-burning drink. Chop a couple of peeled cloves, pour 200 ml of warm water, and let it brew for 10 minutes. When drinking the infusion, you do not need to swallow the cloves. Drink it after breakfast and lunch throughout the weight loss course.
If you need a more concentrated infusion of garlic on water, without changing the proportions, pour boiling water over it and let it brew for 6-8 hours. After that, you can drink the infusion according to the same scheme.
