The next time you’re ready to dismiss garlic because of the potent smell, think about the good it can potentially do for your body…
Lovely little garlic packs immense nutritional power.
Archeological evidence shows ancient civilizations–including the Assyrians and Sumerians, Egyptians, Israelites, and Romans–used garlic for flavoring and various medicinal purposes.
Scientific studies reveal:
- garlic may reduce blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. Garlic increases the body’s production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessels, relaxing the vessel walls and therefore allowing blood and nutrients to flow more easily. Garlic also helps in preventing the buildup of plaque within artery walls.
- garlic acts as a potent antioxidant and antibiotic
- one study revealed that garlic defends the body against the bug (staphylococcus) that causes staph infections.
- research suggests that garlic can help ward off the common cold. A study at the University of Western Australia followed 146 healthy adults over a 12-week period, one group taking garlic supplements, the other group taking placebos. The group taking garlic supplements had 24 colds during the study, the group without garlic had 65. The garlic group had only 111 sick days, the group without garlic had 366.
Maximizing the health benefits of garlic:
- chop or crush garlic and let sit for 15 minutes before cooking. This waiting period allows an enzyme reaction to take place that will increase its nutritional properties.
At the first signs of a cold:
- finely dice one raw garlic clove and swallow, without chewing!
- take garlic this way up to 3 times a day to help relieve symptoms.
*Due to garlic’s blood thinning effects, hemophiliacs and those with blood-clotting problems should remain cautious with garlic consumption. Garlic can also interact with medications, so be sure to consult a medical expert to determine the proper intake for your body.
Sources:
Lissiman, E. Bhasale, AL, Cohen, M. “Garlic for the Common Cold.” PubMed.gov: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. July 8 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588383.
Parker-Pope, Tara. “Unlocking the Benefits of Garlic.” The New York Times, Health. October 15 2007. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/unlocking-the-benefits-of-garlic/.
Stone, Gene. The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick. Workman Publishing Company, New York. 2010.
