Garlic and honey have many health benefits that have been proven by research. You can enjoy the beneficial properties of these two foods by using them alone or together. Garlic and honey can be taken as supplements or added to recipes in their natural form.
1. Properties of Garlic and Honey
Garlic and honey have been used in traditional medicines around the world since ancient times. The main health-giving ingredient in fresh garlic: Allicin. Garlic contains oxygen, sulfur, and other chemicals that give garlic its antibacterial and disease-fighting properties.
Medical reviews have noted that plucking or crushing fresh garlic cloves releases more allicin than using whole cloves. However, chopping or crushing garlic can quickly deplete allicin content. To get the maximum benefit of garlic's allicin compound, you should use fresh garlic as soon as possible.
Natural honey is rich in antioxidants: Flavonoids and polyphenols. These chemicals contained in garlic help fight inflammation (redness and swelling) in the body, in addition to helping balance the immune system and prevent certain diseases. Honey is similar, also having antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
2. Health Benefits of Garlic and Honey
Several studies in the medical field have investigated the health benefits of eating garlic and honey for the body. In traditional Ethiopian medicine, garlic is combined with a local honey that is used to treat respiratory problems, skin infections, and even diarrhea.
Garlic is traditionally used to treat symptoms of colds and coughs. Studies on garlic have also reported its role in boosting the immune system and helping to alleviate asthma symptoms. Traditional Arabic medicine also recommends garlic for treating heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, toothaches, constipation, and infections.
2.1. Antibacterial
Studies have found that garlic and a type of tazma honey can prevent certain types of bacteria from growing. The study tested each food individually and in combination to determine their antibacterial benefits. The researchers found that garlic and honey both killed bacteria when tested alone. And when created in combination, garlic and honey had even better antibacterial effects than when used alone.
Using a combination of garlic and honey can help slow or stop the growth of bacteria that cause illness and symptoms of infections including pneumonia and a type of food poisoning, including: Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella.
Another study conducted in the laboratory found that the combination of garlic juice soaked in honey can even prevent infections involving bacteria that cannot be treated with antibiotics.
2.2 Antiviral
Some honeys also have powerful antiviral properties, which can help treat or prevent colds, flus, and other illnesses caused by viruses.
A laboratory study found that Manuka honey can stop the flu virus from growing. The researchers concluded that honey, especially Manuka honey, is almost as effective as antiviral drugs against this virus.
2.3. Boosting Heart Health
Several clinical and laboratory studies have looked at the benefits that garlic can bring to heart health. However, these studies also note that the antioxidants in honey may also help protect you against heart-related disease.
According to a medical review, garlic may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by: Reducing high blood pressure; reduce high cholesterol; prevent excessive blood clotting (blood thinning); prevent hardening or stiffening of blood vessels
Another review also found that the sulfur molecules contained in garlic may also help protect the heart muscle from damage and make blood vessels more elastic, helping to prevent heart-related diseases, blood clots, and strokes.
LDL cholesterol is the main cause of hardening of the blood vessels, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, research has also shown that garlic helps reduce unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels.
2.4. Boost Memory and Brain Health
The mixture of both garlic and honey contains many health-promoting antioxidant compounds. These healthy chemicals help the body balance the immune system and prevent illnesses. Furthermore, the mixture of garlic and honey can also protect your brain from common brain- and memory-related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
Studies have noted that aged garlic extract contains a high amount of the antioxidant kyolic acid. This powerful antioxidant may help protect the brain from damage caused by aging and disease, and may also help improve memory and concentration in some people.
3. How to Use Garlic and Honey
You can enjoy the many health benefits of garlic and honey by incorporating them into your cooking as powders or nutritional supplements.
Fresh crushed or minced garlic offers the most health benefits. Garlic powder and aged garlic extract also have many healthful compounds. However, garlic oil has fewer healthful properties, but can still be used to add flavor to dishes during cooking.
Garlic supplements usually contain garlic powder, and there is no recommended dosage for fresh garlic or garlic supplements. Some clinical studies suggest that you can get health benefits from a daily dose of 150 to 2,400 milligrams of garlic powder.
Raw honey, or original honey, can be used as a natural remedy for coughs, colds, and sore throats. Clinical experts recommend citrus honey, eucalyptus honey, and labiatae honey for coughs. Taking a spoonful of honey as needed or adding honey to herbal teas can be very beneficial and can help relieve cold and flu symptoms.
Honey can also be applied to the skin to help soothe allergic rashes, acne flare-ups, or other skin irritations. Honey can also be used to help heal skin wounds, burns, or scrapes. Additionally, it can be used to clean the skin and apply a small amount of medicinal honey directly to the affected area.
4. Potential Side Effects of Garlic and Honey
The nutritional and health compounds contained in garlic and honey may cause side effects or reactions in some people during use. Talk to your doctor before you intend to use garlic or honey supplements.
Garlic Interactions
Garlic can cause allergic reactions in some people in certain situations. Therefore, taking garlic supplements or eating garlic in large doses can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, garlic can cause negative interactions with blood-thinning medications, including: Salicylates (Aspirin); Warfarin (Coumadin); Clopidogrel (Plavix). Garlic can also interfere with an antiviral drug saquinavir used to treat HIV.
Honey Interactions
Using honey can increase blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. So talk to your doctor or dietitian before adding honey to your diet.
Honey is not known to interact with other medications, but it can cause allergic reactions in certain people. If you are allergic to ingredients like bee pollen, ask your doctor if honey is safe for you to consume. Honey may also contain other types of pollen that can also trigger reactions such as:
- Wheezing
- Dry cough
- Swelling of the face or throat
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Skin reactions
- Irregular heartbeat
Warning
Infants under one year of age should not be given honey – not even tasted. Honey can cause a rare but serious stomach condition called infant botulism. The reason for this reaction is due to bacterial spores that may be present in honey.
Garlic and honey have been used quite commonly in traditional medicine for their many health benefits. Recent medical research has shown that garlic and honey have some health properties for humans. However, more research is needed to find out the exact dosage and benefits of garlic and honey for each specific subject. Although you can benefit from the nutritional and medicinal properties of garlic and honey by using them in your daily cooking. However, you should ask your doctor or nutritionist if garlic or honey supplements are right for you.
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Reference source: healthline.com
