Which Vitamins Does Garlic Have

Garlic: a great source of vitamins C, B6 and B1

Officially a herb, garlic is a popular flavoring agent but is also known for its health promoting properties. Garlic is nutrient dense, full of vitamins and minerals, and according the "Journal of Nutrition," it has been used medicinally since antiquity. Eating garlic raw removes the risk of losing valuable vitamins and nutrients through cooking.

Vitamin C

One cup of raw garlic provides over 42 mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant, helping to protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules created as a by-product when our bodies break down food into energy. Vitamin C is also essential for the production of collagen; an important protein required to make skin, scar tissue, connective tissue and blood vessels. It is also influential in the maintenance and repair of bone, cartilage and teeth. "Nutrition Data" states that up to 50 percent of vitamin C can be lost through the cooking process.

Vitamin B6

Garlic provides 1.6 mg of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, per cup. Vitamin B6 carries many health benefits. It is used to help the immune system produce important antibodies to fight disease and infection. It promotes healthy nerve function and helps form new red blood cells. Vitamin B6 also assists the body to break down and utilize proteins. 50 percent of this vitamin could be lost after cooking.

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1, otherwise known as thiamine, is essential for healthy function of the heart, nervous system and muscles. It is also influential in the breakdown of carbohydrates to be used as energy. A cup of raw garlic provides 0.27 mg of thiamine. Up to 55 percent of thiamine is lost when cooking garlic.

Other Vitamins

Garlic also possesses small amounts of several other vitamins. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), pantothenic acid and folate are all found in garlic, and carry additional health benefits. An array of minerals can also be found in garlic, most prominent of which is manganese. Manganese is a trace mineral that helps our bodies utilize the other vitamins ingested when we eat garlic. An ounce of raw garlic provides 23.5 percent of the required daily value of manganese.

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