Garlic tea is a great home treatment option for colds and flu, as it acts as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory, relieving symptoms such as cough and sore throat.
But it’s not just that, the infusion made with the vegetable, used as a seasoning, also serves to strengthen the immune system, give that little strength to those who want to lose weight and also help control the levels of fat in the blood and blood pressure, reducing thus the risks of developing various cardiovascular problems.
Do you know what is better? The tea can be prepared with other ingredients that serve to enhance the bulb’s therapeutic effects on the body and has very few contraindications.
To help you enjoy the full potential of this drink, we have separated 6 very simple recipes that can be prepared with ingredients common to all kitchens. Next, learn about the main health benefits. Check out!
Table of Contents
6 Simple garlic tea recipes
1. Easy garlic tea
You only need 2 cloves of garlic and 1 cup of hot filtered water. To prepare the infusion, mash the garlic cloves, with the same skin, place them in the cup and add the hot water.
Cover with a small plate and leave the tea muffled, to extract all the vegetable’s therapeutic properties, for about 10 minutes. Finally, just strain, sweeten with honey and drink it warm.
2. Garlic and lemon tea
For this recipe you need half a lemon , 2 medium garlic cloves and 1 cup of filtered water.
Heat the water and garlic in a pan until it boils. When it starts bubbling, turn it off, add the juice and lemon rinds and cover to leave the tea sweltering for at least five minutes. Strain and drink.
3. Garlic tea with lemon and honey
This recipe takes more ingredients and is ideal for fighting flu symptoms. To prepare you need 1 lemon, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 star anise , 1 cinnamon stick, 1 cup of filtered water and 2 tablespoons of honey.
Peel the lemon and remove the white part. Then mash the garlic with the skin and bring all the ingredients to a boil. When it starts bubbling, count for 3 minutes and turn it off, leaving it to rest for another 5 minutes. Strain, add honey and drink while still hot.
4. Garlic clove tea
Add 2 crushed and unpeeled garlic cloves to a pan of 1 cup filtered water and 3 cloves . Bring everything to a boil and turn off. D eave capped for 10 minutes, strain and sweeten with honey.
5. Garlic tea with ginger
Garlic can also be combined with ginger . To prepare this infusion, place 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1 cup of filtered water and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger in a pan.
Bring everything to the heat and when it comes to a boil, turn it off, cover the pan and let it rest for 10 minutes. Finally, just strain and drink while still hot. If desired, you can sweeten the tea with a little honey or brown sugar.
6. Garlic tea with propolis
Add 2 cloves of garlic, crushed and unpeeled, to 1 cup of boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes to extract the phytochemicals from the vegetable. Then strain, add 30 drops of propolis, sweeten with a tablespoon of honey and drink while still hot.
Health benefits
Treats colds and flu
You’ve heard someone recommend garlic tea to treat colds and flu, haven’t you? Well know that the vegetable is really effective to alleviate the discomfort caused by these diseases and promote a faster recovery.
This is because garlic is a potent agent against the problem-causing viruses. In other words, the infusion reduces the lifespan of these microorganisms, especially those of Influenza A and B, making them weaken and allowing the organism itself to take on the disease.
In addition, vegetables of the Allium genus , such as garlic and onions, are rich in substances called isothiocyanates, which have bronchodilator and expectorant properties.
This means that they are able to dilate the channels through which the air passes until it reaches the lungs and still dilute the secretion that is produced by the body, two factors that contribute to the elimination of mucus (phlegm), which is produced to help fight diseases respiratory, but it causes a lot of discomfort.
In this way, having a cup of this tea alleviates the cough and sore throat, since it reduces the irritation it causes in the area.
Helps eliminate blood fat
Frequent consumption of garlic helps to eliminate levels of fat, cholesterol and triglycerides from the blood. This happens thanks to some substances, such as allicin, quercetin, saponins and flavonoids, found in good amounts in the plant, and which neutralize atherogenicity.
This means that they prevent all that ingested fat from building up into plaque and sticking to the arteries, preventing clogging and various cardiovascular problems.
Garlic tea also stimulates the release of bile, a bitter and greenish liquid produced by the liver, which works as a type of natural detergent. With this, the body is able to metabolize fats more efficiently and eliminate all excess through the feces.
Allicin, which is the compound responsible for the vegetable’s strong smell, also helps to reduce triglycerides, a type of fat found in refined sugars and white flours, which increase the risk of stroke and even heart attack.
Controls blood pressure
Did you know that garlic tea is also indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure? Well, the plant’s allicin also helps to improve blood circulation and reduce heartbeat. Two factors that directly contribute to blood pressure control.
Garlic does this because it is a vasodilator . This means that it widens the veins, promoting smooth, continuous blood flow. Cool, huh? And you know the best of everything? At the recommended doses, this treatment does not bring any side effects and may be more effective than some synthetic drugs in certain cases.
Reduces glucose
Do you suffer from diabetes mellitus? Garlic tea is suitable for you, as it stimulates the production and release of insulin, the hormone that metabolizes carbohydrates and is secreted by the pancreas to control the levels of sugar that must be circulating in the blood.
The volatile sulfur compounds present reduce the body’s resistance to the action of insulin. That is, they make the body better identify and absorb small amounts of the hormone when it is released from the pancreas. The result is a reduction, and even elimination, of the need to take insulin on a daily basis.
However, even if there is confirmation of this effect, never abandon the treatment given by your doctor without guidance.
Decreases the risk of thrombosis
Garlic tea also has an anti-thrombotic factor. That is, it prevents the formation of thrombi (clots) that can obstruct the bloodstream and bring serious consequences to health.
Volatile sulfur compounds inhibit the production and release of the thromboxane-synthetase enzyme, responsible for the grouping of platelets and which serves to prevent bleeding. However, sometimes it happens to be released in excess, out of time and even to the wrong place, resulting in the formation of clots that cause thrombosis.
Strengthens the immune system
Drinking garlic tea regularly strengthens the body’s total defenses and this is because the drink is rich in lectins, proteins that can resist the entire digestive process and that tell you when the body needs to produce more antibodies. The more antibodies the more protection.
Detoxifies the body
Another benefit of this infusion is that it detoxifies the liver , and consequently the entire body. Sulfur compounds stimulate the elimination of foreign substances in the body, also called xenobiotics.
Understand better:
Allicin and allin favor the production of enzymes that kill toxins or cause them to be diluted in water and secreted through sweat or urine. The result is the disposal of substances that are harmful to health, impairing the correct functioning of the body. All in a natural way.
Helps in the treatment of intestinal parasites
Garlic tea also serves as a home treatment against intestinal parasites (worms). Because it manages to prevent the proliferation and help in the disposal of parasite eggs of the species Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis , which are some of the most common.
In addition, the infusion is very effective in combating giardiasis (infection caused by parasites of the giardia genus) and also against several types of protozoa.
Relieves symptoms of respiratory allergies
Drinking a cup of the infusion prepared with a few cloves of garlic also helps relieve symptoms of respiratory allergies. This is due to two different factors.
The first is the already mentioned expectorant capacity of the vegetable, which favors the elimination of that mucus that accumulates in the airways and causes symptoms such as coughing, runny nose and irritation.
The second is that the phytochemicals found in this seasoning inhibit the production of cytonins, which are molecules that serve to trigger the body’s counterattack against a foreign body.
“Okay, but what does this have to do with allergies?” This is all about why the allergic response is nothing more than an action by the body against some agent that is causing irritation. Garlic makes the immune system understand that it doesn’t need to worry and this is because it prevents the compounds that send the alert from starting to be released. Cool, huh?
Fight infections
Garlic is also considered a potent natural antibiotic and that is why the infusion made with it has been used for millennia to fight infections caused by fungi and bacteria.
The compounds found in the plant are effective in preventing the proliferation and eliminating bacteria known to cause stomach problems, such as ulcers, intestinal and respiratory infections. Even acting against microorganisms that have become resistant to conventional antibiotics.
The presence of saponins in the infusion also prevents fungi that cause vaginal infections, such as candidiasis, and respiratory infections from also starting to multiply inside the human body.
Favors healthy weight loss
Finally, garlic tea can help you lose weight, but it should never be used solely for this purpose. This is because the infusion works only by favoring the elimination of fat that is accumulated in the tissues, which, in the long term, does contribute to the weight loss process, but only with a small part.
Therefore, always combine the consumption of tea with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
How to take and necessary care
Even though it is a natural medicine, the Ministry of Health warns that the infusion should not be consumed by people who suffer from thyroid problems or who are undergoing treatments with anticoagulants, due to its anti-thrombotic effect.
Also for this reason, never consume the infusion before or right after surgery or childbirth, as it increases the risk of bleeding.
The excess of tea, which concentrates good amounts of sulfur compounds, can also cause gastric irritation and headaches, and should not be drunk on an empty stomach or in doses above the recommended.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.