Garlic is an herb that is grown around the world. It is closely related to onions, shallots, and leeks. Each segment of a garlic bulb is called a clove. There are about 10–20 cloves in a single bulb.

Garlic grows in many parts of the world and is a popular ingredient in cooking due to its strong smell and delicious taste. In Iran, a garlic variety which is grown in Hamedan is very fine and has the best smell and taste.

Garlic is used in many purposes; however, the main use of garlic is for its health and medicinal properties.

Here are the health benefits of garlic:

1- Garlic Contains Compounds with Potent Medicinal Properties.

It is now believed that most of garlic’s health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed. The sulfur compounds from garlic enter the body from the digestive tract and travel all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects.

2- Garlic Is Highly Nutritious But Has Very Few Calories.

Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese. It also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients.

3- Garlic Can Combat Sickness, Including the Common Cold

Garlic supplements are known to boost the function of the immune system.

4- The Active Compounds in Garlic Can Reduce Blood Pressure. It Improves Cholesterol Levels, Which May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease.

Garlic is used for many conditions related to the heart and blood system. These conditions include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, inherited high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, reduced blood flow due to narrowed arteries, and "hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis).

5- Garlic Contains Antioxidants That May Help Prevent Alzheimer's disease and Dementia.

Garlic contains antioxidants that protect against cell damage and aging. It may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

6- Garlic May Help You Live Longer

The potential effects of garlic on longevity are basically impossible to prove in humans. Garlic has known beneficial effects on common causes of chronic disease, so it makes sense that it could also help you live longer.

What about the health benefits of Pickled Garlic?

Pickled garlic is more than a culinary delight. Along with this benefit, eating pickled garlic does not give the consumer either immediate garlic breath or secondary garlic odor (sweat, lungs, etc.) hours later whereas cooking fresh or dried garlic give both kinds of odor. The acid in vinegar neutralizes the Alliinase and slowly breaks down the rest of the cloves into odor-LESS water-soluble compounds that circulate via the bloodstream, mostly S-allyl cysteine (SAC), the active ingredient in Kyolic brand of aged garlic extract. Kyolic has shown in many studies that SAC lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar levels and inhibits platelet aggregation as well. While SAC has some anti-tumor properties, the odorous sulfides that circulate in the lymphatic system have greater anti-cancer properties. The wonderful thing is that the longer you leave the garlic in the vinegar, the more SAC is formed - for over 4 years - it just gets better with age - up to about 5 years! There's just as much SAC in the vinegar as there is in the garlic.