Garlic: Spicing Up Your Heart Health
When it comes to improving heart health, your plate can be a powerful ally. One simple and flavorful addition? Garlic! Well known for its heart-boosting benefits, garlic contains allicin—a compound packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Whether roasted, minced, or added to your favorite dish, incorporating garlic into your meals is a delicious way to care for your heart naturally.
Benefits Include:
- Regulates blood pressure & sugar
- Anti-inflammatory
- Supports detoxification
- Balances cholesterol
Sweet Potato Hummus
Consuming garlic raw is the best way to harness the potency of allicin. Chop or crush a clove of garlic, let it sit for 10 minutes to activate the allicin, and eat. Alternatively, consider recipes such as this twist on hummus to incorporate raw into your dishes.
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet potato, cooked & mashed
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained & rinsed
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, halved
- 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- Season with pepper to taste
Directions:
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth
- Serve with fresh vegetables, whole grain pita break, or seed crackers
Adapted recipe from the Institue for Functional Medicine (IFM)
A Note on Black Garlic:
While all garlic varieties contain heart-healthy compounds like allicin, black garlic and aged garlic extract undergo a fermentation or aging process that enhances their antioxidant properties and reduce their sulfur content, making them gentler on digestion. Black garlic can be found in specialty markets and some local growers in whole bulbs, peeled cloves, and supplements.
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