Today, April 19, is National Garlic Day. I thought I would take advantage of the holiday and put together a quick little round of fun facts [1] for you all to enjoy. Usually, I only reserve my favorite pieces of worthless knowledge for major holidays like Easter and Christmas, but I thought, hey garlic is in practically everything and is used in most cultures throughout the world. Surely, this potent little vegetable deserves its own fabulous batch of fun facts. For example did you know that garlic is actually considered both a vegetable and an herb? Or that garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years since ancient Greek and Roman times? To see how eating garlic can better your health,

• Garlic is believed to ward off heart disease, cancer, colds, and flu. The consumption of garlic lowers blood cholesterol levels. and reduces the buildup of plaque in the arteries.



• It was even once used to treat acne, warts, and toothaches.
• The psychological term for fear of garlic is alliumphobia.
• The origin of National Garlic Day is unknown and it is not recorded in congressional or presidential proclamations.
• Garlic is said to fight off evil spirits and keep vampires away.
• If your garlic has sprouted, it is still usable although it has lost some of its flavor and health benefits.
• The smell of garlic can be removed by running your hands under cold water while rubbing a stainless steel object.



• Garlic is a member of the onion family which also includes leeks and shallots.
• Its pungent flavor is due to a chemical reaction that occurs when the garlic cells are broken. The flavor is most intense just after mincing.
• The majority of garlic (90%) grown in the United States comes from California.
• If your rose garden is being attacked by aphids, an excellent home remedy to get rid of them is to spritz the leaves and blooms with a mixture of crushed garlic and water.
• When picking out garlic at the grocery store, choose firm, tight, heavy dry bulbs.
• Garlic has been used to infuse vodka and as an ingredient to make cocktails. [2]
• Finally, to tie garlic into Wedding week [2] here on the Sugar Network: at ancient Greek and Roman marriages the brides carried bouquets of garlic and other herbs instead of flowers.

Got a fun fact about garlic? Please add it to the list below!