The New Complete Book of Food



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r Garlic

See also Onions.

Nutritional Profile

Energy value (calories per serving): Low

Protein: Moderate

Fat: Low

Saturated fat: Low

Cholesterol: None

Carbohydrates: High

Fiber: High

Sodium: Low

Major vitamin contribution: Vitamin C

Major mineral contribution: Iron, selenium

About the Nutrients in This Food

Although raw garlic has some fiber and protein plus vitamins and minerals,

we rarely eat enough garlic to get useful amounts of these nutrients.

Nutrient Garlic cloves (2) Garlic powder (1 tsp)

Carbohydrates (g) 2.98 2

Protein (g) 0.6 0.5

Dietary fiber (g) 0.2 0.3

Vitamin C (mg) 2.8 0.5

Iron (mg) 0.2 0.1

Selenium (mcg) 1.3 1.1

Source: USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory. National Nutrient Database

for Standard Reference. Available online. UR L: http://www.nal.usda.

gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/.

Elephant garlic, a cross between an onion and garlic that may grow

as large as a grapefruit, has a milder flavor than regular garlic.

Garlic contains alliin and allicin, two sulfur compounds with antibi-

otic activity. In a number of laboratory experiments, garlic juice appears to

inhibit the growth of a broad variety of bacteria, yeast, and fungi growing

in test tubes, but its effects on human beings have yet to be proven.