Raw Garlic Vs Cooked: Garlic has served as the best seasoning and medicine for centuries. Garlic has become quite potent elements in inflammation or immune immunity. However, is raw or cooked garlic healthier?
Allicin is a sulfur compound that is created when garlic is crushed chewing or chopping. Allicin accounts for most of the medicinal benefits and strong taste of garlic, making even raw garlic a treasure trove of nutrients. Some studies have indicated that raw garlic does lower blood pressure and regulates cholesterol and boosts immunity more than cooked garlic does. The unfortunate part is that its taste and smell pungent might be too much for certain individuals.
Cooking garlic changes its chemistry. The general rule is that the more heat one applies in cooking, the less allicin will remain in the garlic; thus, a part of its medicinal value would be destroyed. The bright side of it Cooking garlic is milder to the digestive tract, easy to digest, plus loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. Roasting or sautéing brings a sweetness and mellows the pungent flavor of garlic that attract many.
Raw garlic would most probably snatch the crown for the health benefits. Raw and freshly crushed garlic should be added to salads, dips, or herbal teas if you want to enjoy as high a dose of those valuable health benefits as possible. On the positive side, when it comes to flavor and digestibility, well prepared cooked garlic does have more than a few nutrients to boast about. The simpler option would probably be to combine both, raw for medicinal benefits, and cooked for culinary rapture.
Also Read: Why You Should Eat a Garlic Clove Every Morning
Raw and cooked garlic have their unique advantages. The Raw garlic is more medicinally potent while cooked garlic has the milder flavor but retains much the same goodness. Healthy might not be this or that option but a combination depending on your health goals and taste preferences.