Garlic is an important staple for Italian restaurants everywhere. Although it’s known for its pungent scent, this vegetable adds delicious flavor to popular dishes such as pizza and pasta. It also has a high number of health benefits. Guido’s Pizza in Anchorage, AK, explains some of the surprising ways garlic helps your body.

4 Health Benefits of Garlic

1. Contains Essential Nutrients

You want your diet to contain a good balance of vitamins and minerals, and eating foods with garlic contributes to that. Garlic provides you with helpful nutrients such as iron, thiamin, selenium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and manganese. With so much of your recommended daily nutritional intake packed into these little bulbs, a diet rich in garlic could boost your health.

2. Has a Low Calorie Count

Despite being rich in nutrients, garlic has very low fat content. A single cup of garlic holds less than one gram of fat, and most recipes will use much less than that. So while garlic-reliant foods commonly found in Italian restaurants will have lots of health benefits, you won’t have to worry about counting calories from the garlic.

3. Helps With Digestion

If you have digestive issues, adding a little garlic to your diet could help. Garlic contains fiber, which helps regulate digestive systems and improves proper intestinal function. Colitis and diarrhea are often treated with garlic. It has even been shown to kill and dispel intestinal parasites.

4. May Lower Risk of Cancer

Though it won’t prevent cancer, there is some evidence that shows it can lower the risk of getting certain types of cancer. The American Institute of Cancer Research has found that those who include garlic in their diets are far less likely to develop colorectal cancer. Additionally, the sulfur components found in garlic contain phytochemicals that can combat many different cancers.

At Guido’s Pizza, you can get all the garlic you need in a tasty pizza or pasta package. This Italian restaurant has been crafting piping hot plates for the people of Anchorage County for over 30 years. Each dish is made with the freshest ingredients, then served in-house or delivered straight to your door. To place your order, call (907) 563-2222. You can take a look at their full menu online.