How you prepare garlic for cooking can actually improve its medicinal effectiveness. Find out what you should do and other fascinating facts about this member of the onion family.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Know what you should eat to keep vampires at bay? Garlic, of course! At least that’s what they tell you in the movies.
Some people think it repels mosquitoes though, after a good garlicky meal your breath may keep your friends away, too.
Garlic plants, which first sprouted in Central Asia thousands of years ago, are part of the onion family. There are 300 different kinds of garlic around the world.
According to Islamic tradition, garlic plants grew in the left footprints of Satan after he left the Garden of Eden.
The ancient Egyptians fed garlic to the builders of the pyramids to keep them strong and healthy.
And in ancient Greece, Olympic athletes chewed garlic cloves at the beginning of a race in hopes of increasing stamina.
Modern research shows garlic may have health benefits, including warding off colds, lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow.
But wait before you cook your garlic. Crushing it at room temperature and letting it sit for 15 minutes can boost its healthful ingredients.
Crushed up garlic can also be used to treat bee stings.
But keep it away from your pets. Garlic in large amounts can be toxic to Fido or Fifi.
Did you know that a fear of garlic is called alliumphobia?
Maybe that’s what has been ailing vampires all these years.