I could really care less about how garlic makes me smell. To me, it’s one of nature’s greatest foods—and not simply because it’s freaking delicious. Sure I put it on toast, pasta, and just about everything in sight—and have since I was old enough to reach it—because it’s yummy. But it’s also got the bonus of being completely full of health benefits.

While some cultures have claimed that garlic is a “cure-all,” I wouldn’t go that far. I have yet to see it wipe out AIDS. But research has show that it can help you out in the following ways.

Heart Health: Garlic can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. It can also lower your cholesterol, which is good because I’m not so into Cheerios.

Joint Relief: An anti-inflammatory food, garlic can help relieve asthma, osteoarthritis and other inflammation symptoms.

Blood Health: Garlic can help reduce your risk of blood clots and stroke, and even lower your blood pressure.

Asbestos Blocker: Due to its antioxidants, garlic might be effective in combating the effects of asbestos.

Weight Control: Yep, garlic has even been shown to help reduce weight gain.

Cancer Prevention: Okay, so maybe it hasn’t wiped out AIDS, but it may help ward off cancer. Prostate, colorectal, ovarian, oral, and esophageal cancer risks have been found to be cut—sometimes by half or more—by simply eating garlic. It’s also been known to help keep listeria, salmonella, staphylococcus, meningitis, and E. coli at bay.

Saving Face: Crushed garlic in your food is said to help keep acne in control because of its blood cleansing and antibacterial properties.

Garlic has also been known to…

• Lower blood sugar
• Reduce tumor size
• Remove heavy metals within the body
• Reduce yeast infections

So here’s to garlic, smelly or not. Feel free to enjoy your garlic—especially crushed or raw, which makes it even more effective. Try one of these delicious garlic recipes, or create your own. For the benefits listed above, try a full clove a day—and to ward off a cold, two to three cloves might just do the trick. If you’re cooking the garlic, be sure to add/heat it within the last few minutes of cooking—and don’t microwave it—to keep its healthful properties in tact.

And if your date is bothered by the smell, just tell him that you’re super health conscious.

As with any supplement, ask your doctor before using garlic in pill form, as it may interact with other medications.