Is Garlic Man-Made: Everything You Need to know about them

Have you ever questioned the origin of garlic? I know it’s just a silly thing to ask, but believe me, when you get to know that the garlic you use today is man-made, it’s quite surprising.

When I first heard this, I couldn’t believe it, especially since I grow them in my garden. How could it be man-made? To get the answers, I dig the history of garlic, where I came to understand the difference between man-made and the process of evolving through natural processes.

I understand it might be confusing for you, but to get over it, you need to read the article and find your answer. After reading the article, if you have any questions or doubts, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comment section.

Is Garlic Man Made?

The short answer for this is, that they are not man-made but were cultivated by humans where the origin is done from the wild species Allium longicuspis in Central Asia changed to domesticated Allium sativum in which the process of selective breeding and genetic modifications are involved.

Origins of Garlic:

• To describe the origin of garlic we need to start the story from West and Central Asia where a plant called Allium longicuspis was bred and changed into Allium sativum, or the garlic we are using today. 
• There has been domesticated and recognition done on its taste and medical properties by ancient Indians around 6000 years ago and approximately around 3000 BC the Indian traders brought them to the Middle East and from there garlic started to spread to numerous civilizations.
• The garlic was soon used as a seasoning and an antiseptic plant. 
• They were more popular when garlic was introduced to  Rome and Greece where they used them for religious and superstition rituals. Some are saying that it is used to protect them from leprosy and is repellent to smallpox if you use it to hand above the entrance door of your home. 
• Garlic was used for medical purposes more than to be used for food seasoning in Asia.
• There were some Buddhists during the 1st and 10th centuries that avoided using garlic and now also some religions avoid using garlic. Because they are used have thought about it perception is bad for both mind and body.
• Nowadays in South Asia, the three most popular seasonings used are garlic, ginger, and onion. There is some research done saying “the effectiveness of garlic for reducing and lowering risks of heart disease and blood pressure“.

The Making Of a Culinary Legend:

Now I will be discussing how garlic is being passed from being a wild plant to being used in our kitchen. Here is the answer to the secret ingredient used to turn it out which is the selective breeding done by many legends. There are pictures of anchesters which are used to select the most delectable and boost garlic plants and used to replant the clove to create a marvelous garlic specimen. Over time, the human cultivation process has transformed wild garlic plants into the garlic we are used to enjoying today.

The garlic evidence has been found as far back as 5,000 years ago where there were ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, and Romans eagerly part taking in the garlic craze. 

DNA Detective Story:

Now here I have discussed the garlic based on changes done in our lab and genetics. If you compare the wild garlic species to the domestic Allium sativum, certain researchers give clues about the origins of garlic. There have been found certain differences between them.

Genetic Markers:

There has been research done by scientists who have joined some pieces together to solve the evolutionary puzzle of garlic by the way of investigating specific genetic makers. there is invaluable information provided by Sherlock Holmes-worthy sleuthing that describes the origin and development of garlic. There is also genetic research done by a popular theory that it emerged due to hybridization. 

In short, it seems like a romantic drama in which wild garlic spaces intermingle and exchange genetics and giving the result of the garlic we use today. There is also a proven story that suggests humans play a very significant role in the evolutionary shaping of garlic In there have been centuries of selective breeding and genetic modification, with the result in the garlic we are using in our kitchen.

USES & EFFECTIVENESS:

Effectiveness:

The following are some uses and effectiveness of garlic:

• In the old stages, the arteries of the person were not able to stretch and flex. Using garlic will help to soften the arteries. You need to just take a garlic powder supplement but twice a day for 24 months. The high doses of this product are more beneficial to women than men when they are used to taking it over 4 years. Many researches are showing the benefit of taking garlic with other ingredients.
• Eating garlic reduces any risk of developing colon or rectal cancer. If a person is diagnosed with any of these types of tumors or cancer taking hideosis of the garlic daily for 12 months will reduce the risk of developing any new tumor. This is not the same in other garlic supplements.
• There is much research stating, that taking garlic reduces the total cholesterol level by around 15 mg/DL and low-density lipoprotein by 6 mg/DL.
• Taking the garlic daily for more than 8 weeks will have better results. But it does not increase the hide density lipoprotein or lower level of blood fats called triglycerides.
• Taking garlic also helps in reducing blood pressure by as much as 7% or 8%. For reducing high blood pressure a specific garlic powder product is being produced named Kwai, from Lichtwer Pharma.
• If a man takes a clove of garlic daily will lower the risk by 50% of developing prostate cancer. It will reduce the risk associated with developing prostate cancer according to China. However, there are some researchers from Iran saying that it does not affect prostate cancer risk in men. The research done on a clinical basis does suggest taking garlic supplement that deals with the risk of prostate cancer or reduces any symptoms that are associated with that.
• People who are used to consuming garlic for about 8 weeks will reduce in number of tick bites but the research on comparing the garlic uses that repellant the dicks are not available.
• If you are suffering from ringworm then I suggest you apply a gel that contains 0.6% ajoene twice daily for one week to be effective for the treatment of ringworm.
• Applying a gel with which contain 0.6% ajoene twice a day for about one week will act as an antifungal medication and will be effective for treating jock itch.
• Also applying a gel that contains one percent of a chemical ajoene will be very effective for treating the foot of an athlete as it will act as a medicine of Lamisil.

Ineffective:

The following are some ineffective uses of garlic:

• It will not help in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.
• Taking garlic oil macerate daily for 8 weeks will not improve any lung function system and it will not act as an antibiotic in children for treating with cystic fibrosis and lung infection.
• There is research done for a garlic product by Allicor, INAT-Farma, Moscow, Russia says that “taking it with anti-diabetes medication for 4 to 24 weeks will help in reducing the blood sugar cholesterol level, and triglycerides“. However, the research says that garlic or not useful or effective for treating blood sugar or cholesterol in a person.
• It is not effective for improving the cholesterol level or blood pressure in children having high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
• There is a saying that “taking garlic by mouth to treat H. Pylori infection is effective but if a garlic clove or powder or oil is used by humans it will not help to treat the people who are infected with H. Pylori”.
• The consumption of garlic will not reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.
• The taking of garlic by mouth is not effective in repelling the mosquitoes.
• People are used to consuming garlic powder if they are suffering from leg pain which is caused by poor blood circulation by mouth for 12 weeks but it seems not to reduce any sort of leg pain due to poor circulation in the leg.
• There is some early evidence suggesting that taking a specific garlic daily during the third trimester of a pregnant lady does help in reducing the development of high blood pressure which is going through the first time of pregnancy period. 

Conclusion:

Now I can say that yes the garlic that you use today in your kitchen is a form of human intervention in which they have bred many varieties of the plant to give it the shape and taste that you can use for cooking to add flavor to your meals. There are many fruits that you are to eat for example bananas, oranges, and Apple ITC which are a human intervention.