Happy National Garlic Day! Coming up on April 19th!! Hold your breath, great recipes coming…ha!
I didn’t know there was a National Garlic Day, but I should have. My husband says if we are cooking something for my family and he wonders what the appropriate spice is for any dish in the world, his mantra is when in doubt, the Northerns love garlic salt. He’s so right. It’s the only herb+salt mix that I knew how to use from college to motherhood. I learned this valuable culinary lesson from my Dad. Garlic salt on everything…garlic salt for you, and you, and you, and YOU!
Garlic is a highly versatile herb that can be stored in many forms. Certainly we have garlic salt, but in my home we have a refrigerated garlic salve for sickness as well as garlic powder and whole cloves. My husband is building three raised beds for us girls and I have already claimed a row for garlic. I do admit, I’m the weird one who after handling garlic, I will be delightfully smelling my fingers for hours to come. I love it, but if you don’t, just run your fingers under cold water and rub steel with your fingers to cut the earthy fragrance.
BENEFITS
There really are innumerable benefits to garlic, unless you’re trying to get pregnant…my husband calls garlic “nature’s contraceptive.” I snort laughed when he told me that one! (his joking knows no end, y’all) Even my sister’s husband read about the benefits of raw cloves on blood pressure and upon crunching three cloves whole, he suffered heartburn all evening and smelled like garlic until it ran its course! He switched to other methods, but hopefully after reading this article, you will see how beneficial it is, and have new ways to choke it down. 😊 Medical News Today reports there are scientific studies finding therapeutic findings for garlic on the following systems:
- Lung cancer risk
- Brain cancer
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Potentially a powerful antibiotic
- Heart Protection
- High blood pressure and cholesterol
- Prostate cancer
- Alcohol-induced liver injury
- Preterm delivery
- Common Cold
If you want to get into the research, go here.
USES
In terms of historical use, Mountain Rose Herbs states that “garlic has been used medicinally, and as a culinary ingredient, for over 5000 years. The first medical textbook known to have discussed its use in medicine was the Collection of Commentaries on the Materia Medica (Ben Cao Zhing Zhi Ju) written over 1,500 years ago.”
Maybe the most important information I can share with you Mamas is the benefit of garlic on ear infections. My favorite healthy mom I follow is Katie Wells from Wellness Mama, and she geeks out on all health-related research. Her podcast is my go-to for all major road trips, mostly because I love the feeling of my mind being blown over and over by obscure and accurate information. Here is what she says about ear infections and traditional garlic olive oil,
“Antibiotics are often prescribed for ear infections, even though the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has not recommended this as a general practice since 2004. Many ear infections are caused by viruses, which are unaffected by antibiotics. (source) Antibiotics are often prescribed for ear infections, even though the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has not recommended this as a general practice since 2004. Many ear infections are caused by viruses, which are unaffected by antibiotics. (source)”
You can read her instructions and Garlic recipe for ears here. Garlic product links at bottom of post.
Another great Mom trick is to use raw garlic for acne and wounds as an antibiotic. Slice a clove in half and apply it to the affected area as long as you can handle it. For children, encase the garlic in gauze because it’s a bit strong.
Finally, however you can get raw garlic into your body at the first signs of mastitis, do it. Add it to your list of tricks like hot Epsom salt baths, lots of water, ice, massage, etc.
RECIPES
If there’s an herb that can help your health in multiple ways, it is the celebrated Garlic. Whether you’re celebrating National Garlic Day alone (maybe a wise choice), or with loved ones (have mints handy), you can enjoy it so many ways. Ready to eat it raw or cooked? Check these out!
One recommendation is raw garlic and honey. When I first read how people eat a teaspoon of it a day, I asked myself “what is happening here? what are people doing?” because raw garlic is hard to take, ask my brother-in-law! But it’s the absolute best way to take it – heat has been shown to reduce its anti-inflammatory properties.
Garlic & Honey: Whack 12 garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife to bruise and release some juice. Put cloves and honey in a small mason jar and either eat one teaspoon full every morning on an empty stomach, or wait a month for it to ferment (turning upside down every week to coat it), then eat it by the morning. You gotta be serious about your health to do this, but if you’re sick or suffering serious inflammation, this is a mega kick to your immune system: antibiotic, antioxidants, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal. Cheers.
Other Raw Forms of Garlic Recipes…
- Easy Peasy Garlic Hummus
- Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing
- “Fire Cider” for colds and flu
- Cooked Garlic Recipes…
- Soothing Garlic Roasted Soup
- Honey Garlic Chicken
Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes: I admit, I use the boxed Idaho mashed potato mix for my family! If you melt butter, add fresh pressed garlic and mix it into the potatoes, you will have easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes!
These are MY family faves:
Garlic Roasted Kale: Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with olive oil. Spread bite sizes of kale onto parchment and top with either garlic salt or fresh pressed garlic cloves and sea salt! My kids eat this like real chips. So do I.
Parmesan & Garlic Roasted Carrots: Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a gallon Ziploc bag, dump a package of organic petite carrots in, drizzle with 2T olive oil, add 1 tsp thyme, 1T parmesan cheese, and sprinkle with garlic salt OR fresh pressed garlic cloves and sea salt.
Which of these recipes are you most likely to try with your family? Don’t forget to check out the list of products below!
PRODUCTS
Here are a few online products, other than finding some at our beloved HEB:
, or with loved ones (have mints handy), you can enjoy it so many ways.){kind=link}