From Biryanis to Pastas, Garlic is indispensable to any cuisine! This pungent bulb can add a distinct aroma to your food and lives up to its “Flavour powerhouse” tag. Garlic belongs to the onion family, with a scientific name “Allium Satvium”. Garlic has been in use since times immemorial not only for its taste lifting properties but also for its numerous medicinal benefits. One such form of Garlic discussed in this article is Natural Garlic Oil. This powerful edible oil has been proven to combat many ailments including prevention of Cancer. Let us understand more about Garlic oil benefits and also the best way to prepare it at home.
What Is Garlic Oil?
Garlic Oil is a powerful smelling oil derived from Garlic pods. The essential Garlic oil is prepared by steam distillation process and is widely used for cooking and medicinal purposes. The high amounts of Diallyl disulphide give it a pungent aroma. The common type of Garlic oil prepared by soaking or boiling Garlic in vegetable oil is not considered to be the pure form. It is Garlic-infused oil used mainly in cooking or as a salad dressing.
Is Garlic Oil Safe?
Garlic essential oil is generally very potent and is not recommended in high amounts. The safest way to use this oil in your diet or for topical applications is to use home-made Garlic infused the oil. With a shelf life of just 4-5 days when stored in the refrigerator, this oil is usually considered to be safe for internal consumption.
Garlic Oil Nutrition:
Garlic Oil made with 1 ounce of Garlic contains approx.
(The values solely represent the nutrition present in garlic and not the base oil)
- Magnesium: 23 %
- Vitamin B6: 17 %
- Vitamin C: 15 %
- Selenium: 6 %
Apart from these, abundant quantities of Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus and Vitamin B1 are also present.
How Does Garlic Oil Work?
Garlic oil is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The anti-bacterial properties of this oil help in combating symptoms of flu-like running nose, sore throats and cough. Garlic oil is also known to lower the cholesterol level, thereby keeping heart diseases at bay. Topical application of Garlic oil can treat skin infections like acne, rashes etc.,
How To Make Garlic Oil At Home?
Here is a simple recipe to make Garlic infused oil at home:
Things You Need:
- Garlic Cloves – 6
- Olive Oil – ½ Cup
Method:
- Peel the garlic cloves and finely mince them.
- In a thick bottomed wok, bring olive oil and the mince together.
- Warm it for a couple of minutes.
- Don’t let it sit on the heat for long, as doing so can burn the garlic.
- Remove from heat and strain the oil.
- Store it in a glass container.
How To Use Garlic Oil?
Garlic oil can be used in stir-fries, salad seasoning and even to in curries to enhance the flavour. If you have a cold and cough, you can drizzle a few drops of garlic oil on your warm soup to get instant relief. For skin and scalp related infections, rubbing this oil directly on the affected areas can do wonders. You can even add a few drops of garlic oil in hot water to work as a foot soak for corns and smelly feet.
How Much Dosage Of Olive Oil Can I Take Daily?
The recommended dosage of olive oil is about 2 tbsp to 3 tbsp per day. Consuming more than this quantity can lead to belching, indigestion and other side effects. Also, garlic oil can lead to heartburn and bad odour in your mouth when taken in large amounts. So, before sure to use it moderately in your food!
Garlic Oil Benefits For Skin, Hair & Health:
Check out the 14 Surprising Garlic Oil Benefits for health, hair and skin. Let’s have a look into them.
Garlic Oil Health Benefits:
Here we enlisted top 10 garlic oil health benefits. Let’s have a look into them.
1. Cure Infections:
Any infections caused by fungus or bacteria can be treated with garlic oil. The medicinal properties of garlic oil will help in the treatment of the infections. Yeast infections and staph infections are some of the common ones that can be cured.
2. Lowers Cholesterol:
The reduction of bad cholesterol called LDL and triglycerides is possible with consumption of garlic oil. This helps in keeping cholesterol in check and thus promotes heart health. It also prevents the accumulation of fat and cholesterol that increases body weight.
3. Relieves Tooth Ache:
Take some garlic oil on a clean cotton ball and apply it well on the affected area of the tooth to relieve the pain. This should be done for at least 10 minutes. This should be done for about 2-3 times in one day until the problem is completely cured.
4. Prevents Cancer:
There are chemicals in garlic oil known as allyl sulphur. This prevents as well as stops the occurrence of cancer cells in the body. This is valid for colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer, and breast, prostate and oesophagal cancer.
See More: Garlic Uses
5. Treats Infections In The Ear:
There are viruses that cause ear infections that lead to discomfort, distress and irritability. Warm homemade oil from garlic can be used as a home remedy for the treatment for this. The antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal benefits of Garlic Oil for ears is proven.
6. Natural Mosquito Repellent:
Garlic oil has a strong scent which can repel insects including mosquitoes. They are one of the natural insecticides used by farmers to protect their crops. The best way to ward off the pesky mosquitoes is by mixing 1 part of Garlic oil in 3 parts of water in a spray bottle and spraying it near the windows, garden area and wash areas.
7. Diabetic Control:
One of the factors that can lead to Diabetes is heart problems. By controlling blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular diseases, Garlic oil can also help in reducing the risks of Diabetes. Studies also show its effects in controlling blood sugar levels. If you have a history of Diabetes in your family, it is better to start acting now!
8. Maintains Respiratory Health:
Garlic has a compound called “Allicin”, which is known to fight infection-causing bacteria, particularly those that affect the lungs. This is why Garlic oil can be good for those who are prone to lung-related problems and help them breathe free. Even genetic diseases like Cystic fibrosis that affects the lungs can be prevented to a certain extent with Garlic.
9. Prevents Obesity:
Garlic helps in better digestion of food and is also an effective “fat burner”. With exercise and balanced diet, incorporating garlic oil in your diet can help you lose weight faster. Garlic oil with a little honey can make a wonderful tonic to treat your metabolic disorders, thereby preventing the risks of getting obese.
10. Treats Cold Sores:
Garlic oil can be a magic remedy for treating cold sores. These are usually caused by microbial infections and can be quite painful. Applying garlic oil directly on them can help in fighting the bacteria and restore skin to normalcy. It also aids in faster healing of the sores and reduces redness and inflammation.
See More: Garlic For Cold
Garlic Oil Benefits For Skin:
Here we enlisted top 2 garlic oil benefits for skin. Let’s have a look into them.
11. Treat Acne:
Garlic Oil for face is used to treat acne and blemishes. A face mask can be made from garlic oil that can be used for treating acne and breakouts on the skin. This can be usually mixed in a mud pack and applied once in a week on the face to get desired outcomes.
12. Garlic Oil For Skin Health:
All kinds of fungal infections on the skin including corns and warts as well as jock itch, athlete’s foot and ringworm can be treated with the application of garlic oil on the affected areas each day. It will surely give you excellent outcomes in hand. Pain relief and infection-free skin are some of the Garlic oil massage benefits.
Garlic Oil Benefits For Hair:
Here we enlisted top 2 garlic oil benefits for hair. Let’s have a look into them.
13. Treats Dandruff:
Garlic oil can be easily applied to the hair and the scalp to treat the issues of dandruff and flakiness. It also treats itchiness in the scalp and hydrates the scalp skin well. This should be applied once a week every alternate week to get the desired outcomes on the problem.
14. Garlic Oil For Hair Problems:
There are a lot of nutrients in garlic oil that helps in good health of the hair. It provides an important nutritional requirement to the hair and smooths the hair texture and improves hair growth. It also protects the scalp well. Hair breakage can also be treated and the roots of the hair are made strong with garlic oil. It boosts the blood circulation to the hair follicles and regulates its functions.
Garlic Oil Side Effects:
Now that you have learned about the wonderful benefits of Garlic Oil, it’s time we know about its side effects:
- Strong smell in your mouth causing bad breath.
- Burning sensation in mouth and throat.
- Heart Burn
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach disorders
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Allergic reactions like hives, rashes, redness, itchiness.
See More: Garlic Side Effects
The ancient Greeks and Egyptians have long recognized these wonderful Garlic oil benefits. Not only does it make your food drool-worthy, but also can lead to a reduction in medicine dependency. The oil is also quite easy to make, with less than 10 minutes of preparation time. So, what are you waiting for? Prepare this garlicky goodness at home and enjoy the too-good-to-believe health benefits it offers!
