When speaking of mindfulness and “awareness” garlic certainly has it’s place!! Nothing like eating a nice garlic rich lunch only to be reminded of it the rest of the afternoon. But aside from adding a familiar flavor to our most loved dishes, (and the dreaded “garlic breath” after), garlic is known the world round for not only it’s versatility as a food, but as a healing medicinal ingredient.

We all know garlic for it’s ability to ward of Vampires and demons, but did you also know that some Christian Myths believe that garlic and onions arose out of the footprints of Satan after leaving the Garden of Eden?! If that’s the case, then I’m with Satan because I LOVE garlic!

This association with garlic’s ability to ward off evil spirits is likely based on the antimicrobial properties of allicin, one of the primary compounds in garlic. This means that garlic has been shown to inhibit or destroy bacteria, fungus, parasites, and even viruses!

While modern science has discovered these things in the lab, ancient cultures around the entire world have been using garlic as a healing medicinal ingredient dating at least as far back as the time of the Giza pyramids.

Garlic is a member of the Alliaceae family, which includes onions, chives, shallots, and leeks. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, and regulate blood sugar levels.

Bad breath aside, there are infinite reasons to include garlic in your diet! Try the Roasted Garlic recipe below for a less common way to enjoy this amazing little plant.