Let’s look together at the common question: “Is garlic a vegetable or not?”
Garlic has been familiar to us since childhood. We reluctantly ate it to fight our colds. My parents placed jars of peeled garlic around the house and said, “It kills bacteria.” It is difficult to underestimate the usefulness of garlic. Its taste is no less remarkable - it is an indispensable ingredient in thousands of dishes.
Have you ever wondered what this product is? Is garlic a vegetable or not? How does science classify it? From the article you will get the answer to this question and find out what beneficial properties garlic has.
What is garlic? Vegetable or not?
To answer these questions, let's look far into the past and find out where this unusual product came from.
Origin
Asia is considered to be the birthplace of garlic. To be more precise - areas of Afghanistan and India. It was from the territories of these countries that the culture spread throughout the world - Egypt, Great Britain, China. People were primarily attracted by the bright smell and rich taste. In addition, our ancestors immediately realized that the plant has a lot of useful properties.
With the development of civilization, garlic became increasingly popular. In the Middle Ages, people ate garlic because it provided a huge amount of vitamins to the body. And as you know, food products at that time were not very diverse. In addition, garlic was credited with magical properties. However, for the Middle Ages this is par for the course.
Chemical composition
Garlic contains a huge amount of useful elements. The chemical composition of the product is carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, nitrogenous substances, vitamins, sodium, potassium and calcium. And this is not the entire list of chemical particles. In total, the product contains about 50 useful elements, many of them are valuable antioxidants.
The most valuable are B vitamins and ascorbic acid.. Plus, garlic is characterized by the presence of essential oils, which are also used in medicine and cosmetology. It should be noted that selenium is a powerful antioxidant. It helps our body get rid of parasites and germs.
Important. Garlic - what is it? From a scientific point of view, garlic is a real vegetable. It belongs to the family of perennial herbaceous plants.
The nutritional value
100 g of product contains 149 kcal. This is 10.46% of the daily intake for the average healthy person. The amount of protein is 6.5 g, carbohydrates are 29.9. Garlic is low in fat - only 0.5 g per 100 g. The plant also contains dietary fiber - 1.5 g.
Medicinal properties of garlic
The plant strengthens the immune system and has bactericidal properties. It also gets rid of fungal infections and removes intestinal infections from the body. In addition, the product can thin the blood, lower cholesterol levels, stimulate digestion, and prevent the development of malignant tumors. Regular consumption reduces the level of mucus in the body.
Plus, the product lowers blood pressure, prevents artery clogging, and has a diuretic effect. Helps wounds heal faster.In other words, the medicinal properties of the product can truly be called magical.
It will be interesting:
Types of garlic
Let's consider what varieties exist and how do they differ from each other?.
- Spring. It is planted mainly in the spring. The culture tolerates spring frosts well. One head can have up to 30 lobules. It is stored much longer than other varieties, but does not lose its beneficial properties. Spring garlic loves moisture, so it should be watered generously. The crop should be harvested before mid-September.
- Winter. Unlike spring crops, the crop is planted in the fall. The head contains only about 10 large lobes. The harvest of winter garlic is one of the highest, but it is not stored for so long. Loves favorable soil. It is better to choose a dry and elevated place for planting. The largest heads are selected for planting. It is winter garlic that is most often used in restaurants, catering establishments, and shops.
- One-toothed. In fact, this is planting material. Externally, it has a round shape, the name speaks for itself - it consists of only one clove. The one-toothed plant is used to propagate other, more valuable varieties. The advantage of single teeth is that they can be stored for about three years without losing their valuable qualities. Compared to other materials, single teeth are more expensive.
- Bush. It is usually planted for greenery. The plant is planted 10-15 days before the first frost - it is not afraid of cold weather. It is easy to care for, but like any other plant, it requires timely watering.
What is elephant garlic
The plant was nicknamed so for its large size. The vegetable loves light and large open areas. Under no circumstances should you plant it in the shade. It is best to plant in winter or spring, having previously prepared the soil. Garlic loves moisture and nitrogen.
In order for the harvest to be rich, you need to follow a number of rules. For example, keep the soil loose, remove weeds, and water abundantly. You should also remember that elephant garlic loves compost and various fertilizers.
Important! Elephant garlic has a sharp, yet piquant taste. Cooks love to add it to haute cuisine dishes. At the same time, the culture is perfectly stored at room temperature if the room is dried and ventilated in time.
How to choose and store correctly
Unfortunately, 80% of the garlic in our stores and markets is an imported product. It is brought mainly from China. Foreign products often contain harmful impurities, which are used to make garlic grow faster and last longer. Plus, the plant is soaked in chlorine - this procedure gives it an attractive appearance.
To choose a truly healthy and tasty vegetable, use expert advice:
- A good product will be firm and not dry. Therefore, if you pick up a head of garlic that literally crumbles in your palm, you have a low-quality vegetable in front of you.
- Don't be fooled by perfect looks. This is often achieved using harmful chemicals.
- Good garlic should have a bright taste and juiciness. If you purchase a product at the market, try biting off one clove. Of course, don’t forget to use chewing gum after this.
- It is better to buy a plant with a stem and root.
Use in folk medicine and cooking
Preparations from this plant are often used to treat diseases. Garlic is known for its has an antibacterial effect and kills pathogenic fungal microorganisms. In addition, the product stimulates appetite and reduces high blood pressure. It would take a very long time to list the wonderful properties of this product.
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Since the product contains essential oils, it used for the prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma. Garlic oil or garlic tincture will have a good healing effect. Garlic pulp can be spread on bread, or simply eaten at lunch. It is also useful to make compresses based on garlic oil.
Besides, Traditional medicine recipes advise using garlic to prevent cancer. Depending on the form of the disease, doctors advise consuming the product on an empty stomach, or squeezing the juice and adding it to water.
Important! At the start of treatment, it is difficult to immediately swallow garlic or garlic oil - a bitter taste and a strong burning sensation appear in the mouth. Experts advise gradually increasing the dosage rather than swallowing 2-3 cloves at once. Soon you will feel that your body is not resisting, but on the contrary, it feels much better.
Keep in mind that not everyone can use garlic for medicinal purposes.. Before using traditional recipes, consult your doctor for any contraindications.
In cooking
National cuisines around the world simply love garlic. They use everything - the roots, the leaves, and the heads themselves.. As a rule, the plant is used as a spicy addition to main dishes.The product is in perfect harmony with meat and fish, vegetables and other herbs. Often dried garlic or garlic salt is added to food. You can make it yourself or buy it in a store.
From product make spices, oils, salad dressings. Garlic is especially loved in Asia - in those countries where they traditionally prefer spicy and fiery food. To preserve its beneficial qualities, it is necessary to subject it to less heat treatment.
Garlic does not like to be boiled or fried for a long time.. It is best to place the whole head in the finished dish - then its aroma will give the food a unique taste.
Plus, the product is used as a preservative. When preparing pickled tomatoes or cucumbers, it is almost impossible to imagine that the housewife will not add a couple of garlic cloves to them.
Application in medicine
Many herbal remedies are made from garlic.. Essential oil is added to ointments that help cope with insect bites and calluses. Medicines for coughs and bronchitis are also made from garlic oil.
In cosmetology
Garlic is good for beauty if:
- Doing garlic maxi hair. They strengthen the skin of the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out less and become stronger.
- Use against pimples and acne. Since the plant has a high antibacterial effect, it copes well with skin inflammation.
- Do hand baths. They will make your skin soft and moisturized.
Important! Be careful: garlic can cause severe irritation. Before use, check your skin's reaction to the product. If you feel a burning sensation and redness, rinse the burned area with plenty of water.
Contraindications
To you You should not eat garlic if:
- you have a stomach ulcer;
- chronic gastritis;
- liver and kidney disease;
- haemorrhoids;
- epilepsy;
- allergy to substances contained in the plant;
- The product is also contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This is not a complete list of contraindications. A person may have an individual intolerance to the product.
Conclusion
Garlic is a storehouse of beneficial properties. It is used in medicine, cooking and cosmetology. If you grow your own crops, do so in accordance with all sowing and harvesting rules. Remember that the vegetable loves moisture and large, bright spaces. In favorable conditions, garlic can be stored for up to 3 years without losing its beneficial properties.
However, be careful - the product has many contraindications. Garlic should not be consumed by people with stomach diseases, as well as by those who are hypersensitive to the components of the plant. Remember - everything is good in moderation. Do not under any circumstances abuse this useful, but at the same time dangerous product.
I eat garlic all the time, it helps against vampires