garlic and honey
Garlic contains allicin, an organosulfur compound that helps boost immunity levels.
Many preclinical studies suggest that organosulfur compounds in garlic may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cardioprotective activities.
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Honey also contains biocompounds that have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
When combined, garlic and honey are considered a powerful home remedy for boosting the immune system and improving overall health.
While mashing garlic with honey is the fastest way to get it, honey from fermented garlic is known to have tremendous health benefits.
Fermented garlic and honey recipe
The most common way to have garlic and honey as a herbal remedy is fermented garlic honey. Here is the step by step process to do it.
Apparatus: Glass jar – Preparation time: 10 minutes – Fermentation time: 3 days – Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 1 cup.
Ingredients
12 cloves of garlic [7]
1 cup raw honey
Instructions
To make fermented garlic honey, you will need a clean 1-quart heatproof glass jar. Use one with a wide mouth for easier access to the garlic cloves.
Garlic cloves can be prepared any way you like. You can choose to peel it off entirely or keep the paper thin layer. Also, you can use the whole garlic clove, lightly crush it, or mince it.
Put the garlic in the jar. Pour the honey over the garlic. You can stir it to make sure all the garlic cloves are covered in honey. Close the lid of the jar and let it sit for 3 days.
Remove the lid from the jar and let the gases out. You may see small bubbles at this stage. Let it sit for a week. You should open the lid every other day and give it a little stir.
Fermented garlic honey is ready to use. You can store it at room temperature for a month.
grades
If the honey solidifies, you can bring it to room temperature by heating it in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
You can use the garlic-flavored honey on grilled chicken or fish, or as a sauce for spicy fried chicken.
Benefits of garlic and honey
Let us see the most important benefits of garlic and honey.
Alternative natural antimicrobial drug
A 2013 research report revealed that garlic in combination with tazma honey (honey produced in Ethiopia by stingless bees) had potent antimicrobial properties.
The researchers discovered that the mixture of garlic and honey it was effective against Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Lyesria moncytogenes, and Streptococcus pneumonia.
The herbal tonic helped inhibit the growth of these bacteria that cause pathogenic bacterial infections. Another research study confirmed these results and also found that when the two are used together, they appear to prolong or enhance the life of the other.
It can reduce the risk of heart attack
Garlic, in different forms such as fresh, powdered and aged, has long been associated as a powerful natural food that can help support heart health.
Research in animal and human studies shows that the garlic can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levelswhile preventing the formation of blood clots.
Likewise, honey is rich in phenolic compounds, which act as natural antioxidants and help improve cardiovascular health.
Natural remedy for cold and flu relief
Honey (natural with no added sweeteners) has powerful antiviral properties, according to research.
Allicin, the main ingredient in garlic, helps improve the disease-fighting response in the body’s white blood cells, especially when they encounter viruses that cause the common cold and flu.
Fermented garlic or aged garlic, in particular, helps reduce the severity of cold and flu symptoms.
Other health benefits include:
It can boost weight loss.
It can protect brain health.
However, there are not enough studies to verify these claims. Garlic fermented in honey has also been promoted as a natural cure for erectile dysfunctionbut only one animal model has shown a possible positive association.
Side effects
Garlic in honey is generally taken in small amounts as an herbal remedy and cannot cause harmful side effects. You may experience bad breath or perhaps body odor.
In excess, raw garlic can cause heartburn or upset stomach. Both garlic and honey can cause allergic reactions in certain people.
People with a pollen allergy should be careful when consuming honey, as it can cause wheezing, coughing, and skin reactions, among other symptoms. Also, honey contains natural sugar and should be consumed in moderation.
Garlic can also interact with certain medications such as blood thinners like warfarin. It can also decrease the effectiveness of saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection.