Elephant garlic and garlic are both members of the allium genus. But elephant garlic is a type of leek, not garlic. It is in the same genus as garlic, but it is a different species. So, while they are both called garlic, elephant garlic isnt actually garlic. The main difference between elephant garlic and garlic comes down to size, taste, and color. Regular garlic can have up to twenty cloves per head, but elephant garlic is bigger and only has five or six cloves per head. Regular garlic has a much stronger taste than elephant garlic. And elephant garlic is more off-white or yellow, while regular garlic is white. So, when it comes to elephant garlic vs. garlic, they are not the same.
Garlic has been used for centuries as both a culinary ingredient and a medicinal remedy. But not all garlic is created equal. The two main types – elephant garlic and regular garlic – have notable differences when it comes to their health benefits. This article will compare elephant garlic and regular garlic to help you understand which offers more advantages for your health.
An Overview of Elephant Garlic
Elephant garlic is not actually a true garlic, but rather a variant of the leek. It derives its name from the large size of its cloves, which can be up to three times the size of conventional garlic cloves.
In terms of appearance, elephant garlic has a milder flavor and is slightly sweeter than regular garlic. Its cloves have a more fibrous texture similar to leeks.
Elephant garlic contains some of the same compounds as regular garlic, like allicin and sulfur-containing amino acids, but at lower levels. It has decent amounts of manganese, vitamins B6 and C, phosphorus, and calcium.
However, the concentration of these nutrients and antioxidants is less than what is found in regular garlic.
The Extensive Health Benefits of Regular Garlic
Regular garlic is a particularly potent medicinal food. It contains a higher concentration of bioactive compounds compared to elephant garlic. These include allicin, alliin, and sulfur-containing compounds that provide a wide array of health benefits.
Some of the main scientifically-proven benefits of regular garlic include:
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Cholesterol reduction – Regular consumption of garlic can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol due to its content of allicin and sulfur compounds. This improves heart health and reduces cardiovascular disease risk.
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Blood pressure lowering effects – Garlic acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow Multiple studies confirm its ability to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension
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Immune boosting properties – The antioxidants in garlic support the immune system. Garlic extracts have been found to enhance immune cell function and activity.
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Antimicrobial effects – Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties that help fight infections. It’s especially potent against H. pylori, the bacteria implicated in stomach ulcers.
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Anti-cancer capabilities – Regular garlic intake is associated with reduced risk of certain cancers like stomach, colon, and prostate cancer. Its organic sulfur compounds exhibit anti-tumor effects.
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Detoxification support – Garlic contains sulfur compounds that help the liver detoxify harmful substances and promote glutathione production. This helps the body eliminate toxins and free radicals.
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Anti-inflammatory action – Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties that may relieve inflammatory conditions like arthritis, muscle pain, and autoimmune disease. Its sulfur compounds inhibit pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in the body.
Elephant Garlic Has Milder Medicinal Effects
While elephant garlic does contain some beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants, they are found in lower concentrations compared to regular garlic.
Therefore, the health benefits of elephant garlic are less potent. Its effects are much milder on parameters like cholesterol, blood pressure, and disease prevention.
However, for those who cannot tolerate regular garlic well, elephant garlic may be the better choice. It is gentler on the stomach and digestive tract than conventionally-grown garlic.
People who wish to consume garlic for its flavor but want to avoid strong medicinal actions may also find elephant garlic more suitable.
Maximizing the Health Benefits of Garlic
To obtain the full disease-fighting potential of garlic, regular garlic is the best choice. Here are some tips to maximize its medicinal effects:
- Opt for fresh raw garlic when possible – it has the highest allicin levels
- Crush, slice or mince garlic cloves and let them sit for 5-10 minutes before cooking to enhance allicin production
- Cook garlic lightly or add it at the end of cooking to retain medicinal qualities
- Consume 2-3 garlic cloves daily, equal to about 4 grams or 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- Allow raw garlic to interact with onions or herbs to create beneficial chemical reactions that boost immunity
Combining regular garlic with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle provides protection against chronic diseases along with great flavor! So harness the true healing power of this incredible kitchen staple.
When comparing elephant garlic vs regular garlic in terms of health benefits, regular garlic is the undisputed winner. It contains higher levels of medicinally-active compounds that can lower cholesterol, improve heart health, fight infections, reduce inflammation, and may help prevent cancer.
Elephant garlic does confer mild benefits, but cannot match the extensive, proven effects of regular garlic on cardiovascular function, antimicrobial activity, detoxification, and cancer prevention.
So if you are aiming to use garlic for its medicinal effects, be sure to choose regular garlic and consume it in its most potent raw form. Harnessing the full potential of garlic provides amazing protective and therapeutic benefits for your whole body.
What is Elephant Garlic?
The plant that grows elephant garlic gets its name from the fact that its bulbs are very big, about twice the size of regular garlic bulbs. Because it’s so big, you might think it tastes like twice as much garlic, but it doesn’t. Instead, the flavor is much closer to an onion or shallot. Elephant garlic plants have flat leaves and sturdy stalks. It’s not as strong in flavor as regular garlic, and you can eat it raw in salads, roast it, or sauté it, but you shouldn’t use it in place of regular garlic when cooking.
Elephant garlic grows in similar conditions to regular garlic. Elephant garlic takes two growing seasons to complete its life cycle, making it a biennial. The plant does not flower in the first year of growth and produces only one bulb. In the second year, the plant will flower and produce multiple bulbs from the divided first bulb. Home gardeners can plant elephant garlic in the Fall or the Spring. A Fall crop takes around eight months to mature, while a Spring crop can mature in three months.
Garlic is a flowering plant that has a long history of medicinal and culinary uses. Garlic comes in wide varieties, but they either fall into the hardneck or softneck category. Hardneck garlic is heartier and does better in colder climates, while softneck garlic survives better in warmer climates. There are three types of softneck garlic: silverskin garlic, artichoke garlic, and creole garlic. While the other types of garlic fall under the hardneck category.
The strong, pungent taste of garlic is used in many dishes around the world, but most people think of Italian food when they think of garlic. For the past 5,000 years, people have eaten garlic, and most people think it comes from Central Asia.
The medicinal use of garlic has a long history of being used as an antiseptic and antibacterial. Healthline says that eating garlic can lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and clean out the body. The Cleveland Clinic says that putting garlic on the skin can kill fungi like athletes foot and even get rid of acne.
Elephant garlic and garlic have some key differences that set them apart, but they are the same nutritionally. There is no difference in calories or carbs.
How to Use Elephant Garlic
Due to the mild flavor, elephant garlic is not a suitable replacement for garlic. Elephant garlic has a milder taste that is closer to onion than garlic. Home chefs can think of elephant garlic more as a vegetable than a flavor-enhancing herb like regular garlic. Elephanta garlic can be used like shallots or red onion in the salad. Shaving slices and adding raw slices to salads can add some flavor. Roasting elephant garlic makes it soft and buttery, perfect for spreading on toast or crackers. Or add elephant garlic to a stir fry, marinade, dressing, and dip for a slightly onion-like tanginess.
Taste-Testing Elephant Garlic and Ordinary Garlic
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