Garlic originates from central Asia, and have a history of human use for more than 7000 years.
Garlic has been used both as a food and in prevention and treatment of disease. It is one of the plants with the longest history in medical use.
There has been found a history of the use of garlic in both the ancient Greek temples as well as in the Egyptian pyramids. Also in the Bible, there are references to garlic.
It is interesting to see that different cultures without any connection at all, had the same use of garlic and had attributed the same health properties. This is found in texts from China, India, Egypt, Rome, and Greece.
It was in many cultures given so the workers could work harder and have more strength. The original Olympic athletes used garlic as a performance-enhancing agent, so garlic is maybe one of the first known kind of doping.
You will find garlic used in almost all Thai dishes, and in Thailand, there is a very long tradition of using it in traditional Thai medicine. One of the uses is that there are made a balm used for ear infections.
The nutrient fact, below, is based on 100 gram of raw Garlic.
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 31.2
Thiamin mg 0.2
Riboflavin mg 0.11
Niacin mg 0.7
Vitamin B-6 mg 1.235
Folate, DFE µg 3
Vitamin B-12 µg 0
Vitamin A, RAE µg 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 9
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) mg 0.08
Vitamin D (D2 + D3) µg 0
Vitamin D IU 0
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) µg 1.7
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated g 0.089
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 0.011
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 0.249
Fatty acids, total trans g 0
Cholesterol mg 0
Proximates
Water g 58.58
Energy kcal 149
Protein g 6.36
Total lipid (fat) g 0.5
Carbohydrate, by difference g 33.06
Fiber, total dietary g 2.1
Sugars, total g 1
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 181
Iron, Fe mg 1.7
Magnesium, Mg mg 25
Phosphorus, P mg 153
Potassium, K mg 401
Sodium, Na mg 17
Zinc, Zn mg 1.16
