Garlic: why to embrace it

It's common for people to grow self-conscious after eating a garlic-laden anything, but I'm about to tell you something that will make that seem oh so unimportant. Garlic not only promotes healthy blood-flow to the heart, but it also fights off infection and bacteria (keeping you from catching a cold) and speeds up your metabolism.

I sprinkle garlic powder onto virtually any dish I can (like I did on my 'bello burger- check the post out here), but the best way to take in your dose of garlic is by crushing or dicing up some up yourself while it's fresh. Then, let it sit for about 10 minutes before throwing it into your mix and putting it in the oven to bake. Why the wait? By doing so, you preserve about 70% of garlic's natural compounds as opposed to cooking it directly after being chopped (to find out more about this, click the link here).

Garlic adds a great punch of flavor to a wide array of dishes, whether you choose to include it in your next marinade, or by adding some to your vegetables, fish, bean dip, burger seasoning, or soup. With so many options to choose from, there's no reason not to incorporate garlic into your next meal!

And if it's your breath that's really holding you back, get over it and pop a tic-tac.

P.S. - my Pinterest URL has been changed from http://pinterest.com/intriguedbylean to http://pinterest.com/intriguedwtlean (in order to keep things more consistent). I'm constantly adding new pins, so check in regularly for a slew of healthy recipes, tips, workouts, and more!