Ever wonder if garlic does anything more than ward off vampires and make you smell so strongly no one wants to sit next to you? Sure, it adds flavor to the foods we cook, but there’s a lot more! Many studies have been conducted, and the results show positive benefits to eating garlic. In the rest of this article we’ll go over a few of the best health benefits to eating garlic.

Say Goodby to Sniffles – Everyone hates the common cold. Even if you doubt it before now you must believe it: raw garlic can, indeed, help cure a cold. If you’ve been asking yourself how to naturally treat sinus infections, garlic can help. Research has shown that garlic extract can boost your immune system and keep the level of cold-fighting antioxidants high in your body.

Reduce Cancer Risks – Eating garlic can also help help prevent cancer. Animal testing has proven that garlic has its benefits concerning cancer, even if you don’t believe it. Not only does it help your immune system, which is necessary to fight cancer, but also limits the formation of cancerous cells.

Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke – Further benefits include prevention of heart disease and lower blood pressure. Garlic extract can help raise your good cholesterol levels and help decrease your bad cholesterol levels. Garlic can also decrease the thickness of your blood. Garlic increases blood flow and allows arteries to work properly.

Reduce Birth Defects – Garlic can actually raise the birth weight of babies at risk of low birth weight. It also has proven to reduce the risk of other birth defects. Another benefit to garlic is helping with impotence.

The good news is garlic is easy to find and take. If you enjoy indoor herb gardening, you could even grow it yourself. If the taste does not appeal to you, you can often find it in capsule form from your local vitamin distributor.

So why doesn’t your doctor prescribe garlic? While it is beneficial, none of it is guaranteed. Also, there is not a lot of money to be made with garlic as there is with prescription drugs. Although it certainly can’t substitute professional medical advice, there are little risks to taking it and many rewards.

Do you eat garlic regularly? It could just keep you healthy!