April 19th was National Garlic Day in the United States, and I’d like to celebrate that fact by sharing some. Thanks to Dilo Keith for letting me know of the obscure holiday!
1. The fear of garlic is alliumphobia.
2. Eating it reduces the buildup of plaque in arteries.
3. Consumption also lowers blood cholesterol levels according to some studies.
4. China produces over 77% of global output.
5. The compound known as allicin from crushed bulbs exhibits both antibacterial and antifungal properties.
6. Phytochemicals in garlic are believed to protect against stomach and colorectal cancers.
7. Eating garlic before mosque attendance is inappropriate according to Islamic views as subsequent bad breath may irritate fellow worshippers.
8. Parsley supposedly provides relief from garlic breath, but the reprieve is temporary at best.
9. The purported protection against evil such as vampires may be well known, but there is also a reverse Islamic myth that Satan’s left footprint sprouted garlic in the Garden of Eden.
10. Another name for garlic is “stinking rose” due to its strong odor.
11. All plants in the allium family can cause allergic reactions that range from the uncomfortable and disgusting to the dangerous, such as anaphylaxis.
12. Korean treatment of fermentation of the cloves within their skin creates black garlic that is soft, sweet, and mild (I recommend and have even snacked on the treat by itself).
13. Dating at least as far back as the time the Giza pyramids were built, garlic’s use as food and medicine covers thousands of years and countless cultures. Since that’s probably no surprise, as a bonus I’ll add that the most coveted type today originates in Syria.
