There’s nothing like the fresh scent of garlic to get your taste buds tingling. But sometimes, you may find yourself craving it for no reason at all. While it’s normal to have a craving for certain foods from time to time, if you’re experiencing an intense desire for something specific over and over again, this could be an indication of underlying health issues.
What Is Garlic?
Garlic is a member of the Allium family, which also includes onions, chives and leeks. Garlic has been used as food and medicine for thousands of years throughout the world.
In Ancient Egypt it was used as an aphrodisiac; in ancient Rome it was a powerful medicine; in China it was considered an antidote for poison; and in India it was used to treat fevers.
Today, garlic is widely regarded for its medicinal properties because almost all parts of this herb contain vital nutrients that can promote good health when consumed regularly.
Why Am I Craving Garlic?
If you’re craving garlic, it could be a sign that you’re deficient in the mineral selenium. Selenium is crucial for the production of a variety of antioxidants in the body, including glutathione, which protects your cells from damage from free radicals and helps with thyroid function. This nutrient also plays an important role in your immune system and reproductive health.
A deficiency can cause many symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased immunity (including frequent colds or infections), brittle nails, hair loss or baldness (known as alopecia), gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea along with depression.
How Can I Tell If My Body Is Craving Garlic?
If you’re craving garlic, it could be a sign that your body is deficient in this mineral. If you are experiencing a craving for garlic, there may be other signs that your body is deficient in zinc as well. Other symptoms of zinc deficiency include dry skin and hair loss (including brittle nails).
Zinc is essential for maintaining healthy immune function. It also plays an important role in the production of collagen, which helps strengthen our connective tissues including those found within joints such as cartilage and ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that support bones at their joints).
How Much Garlic Is Too Much Garlic For The Body?
One question you may have, “Is it normal to crave garlic?” While there’s no hard and fast rule about how much garlic you can eat and still be healthy, there are a few things you should keep in mind when considering whether or not your cravings for garlic are out of the ordinary.
First off, remember that every person is different. Your body might find it easier than others to break down and digest foods with high amounts of garlic because it’s used to them. People who live in areas where they use more fresh herbs (like Italy or France) have gotten used to consuming large quantities of herbs without experiencing ill effects or side effects—and this can also be true for other types of food as well.
The next thing to consider is dosage: How much did you eat? Did you eat a whole bulb’s worth? Or was it just one clove? It all depends on how much raw food was consumed in total! If your body isn’t used to consuming large amounts at once yet then cravings may kick in sooner than expected depending on what type(s) were ingested (e.g., chopped vs diced).
What Are The Health Benefits Of Eating Garlic?
- Garlic is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect your body against free radicals—unstable molecules that can damage cells and lead to chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. One of the most well-known antioxidants is vitamin C, but garlic contains more allicin than any other food on the planet!
- Garlic is also a natural antibiotic. Studies have shown that garlic has antimicrobial properties against bacteria, fungi and viruses (like colds). This may be why it’s been used as a herbal medicine for thousands of years!
- Garlic can help with weight loss and lower blood pressure. A compound called allicin found in garlic helps reduce insulin resistance, which may help you lose weight by decreasing cravings for sugar and carbs. In addition, research shows that people who eat at least 1 clove per day are less likely to develop high blood pressure or heart disease later in life!
What Are The Negatives Of Eating Garlic?
Garlic can be a great addition to your diet, but it’s not for everyone. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, garlic might not be a good choice for you:
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Bloating
- Diarrhea and vomiting
If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, it’s best to avoid eating garlic as much as possible. The pungent flavor can cause further discomfort in your digestive tract and exacerbate existing problems with heartburn or indigestion.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you might be craving garlic. Garlic is a powerful antibiotic, which means it can help fight infections in the body, including colds and the flu (it’s also thought to boost immunity). This might explain why some people crave garlic when they’re sick with a cold or flu.
The next time you have a cold or feeling run down from stress, try eating more garlic by adding it to your food or drinking homemade garlic tea, so you can start to reap the benefits of eating garlic.