Health Benefits Of Garlic

WHAT IS GARLIC?
Garlic, Latin name Allium sativum, belongs to the onion family Alliaceae including shallots, and leek. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both medicinal and culinary purposes. The garlic bulb is divided into sections called cloves.
 
IS GARLIC GOOD FOR YOU?
Garlic is one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet. Garlic belongs to the Allium family of vegetables which also includes onions, chives, shallots and leeks.
 
Today garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement. Garlic promotes the well-being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. One of garlic's most potent health benefits includes the ability to enhance the body's immune cell activity.
 
The active component in garlic is the sulfur compound called allicin. Allicin is the chemical produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. Allicin is quite powerful as an antibiotic and a potent agent that helps the body to inhibit the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. In fact, it's said that 1 milligram of allicin has a potency of 15 standard units of penicillin.
 
There are now over 12 studies published around the world that confirm that garlic can reduce cholesterol.
 
Recently researchers in Oxford and America have published some summaries of all the good data on garlic. Garlic is known to stimulate T-lymphocyte and macrophage action, promote interleukin-1 levels, and support natural killer cells. Strong activity of these key cells promotes healthy immune system function, and strengthens the body's defenses.
 
GARLIC FACTS
Garlic has germanium in it. Germanium is an anti-cancer agent, and garlic has more of it than any other herb. In lab tests, mice fed garlic showed no cancer development, whereas mice that weren't fed garlic showed at least some. In fact, garlic has been shown to retard tumor growth in human subjects in some parts of the world.
 
Another benefit of garlic is it helps regulate the body's blood pressure. So whether you have problems with low or high blood pressure, garlic can help equalize it.
 
Garlic helps strengthen your body's defenses against allergies; helps loosen plaque from the artery walls; helps regulate your blood sugar levels; and is the best choice for killing and expelling parasites such as pin worms from the human body.
 
In addition to all these health benefits, garlic is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Some of these include protein, potassium, Vitamins A, B, B2 and C, Calcium, Zinc and many others.
 
In a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, allicin powder was found to reduce the incidence of the common cold by over 50%.
 
Garlic and onions are toxic to cats and dogs.
 
Garlic can thin the blood similar to the effect of aspirin.
 
Drinking lemon juice or eating a few slices of lemon will stop bad garlic breath.
 
It is traditional to plant garlic on the shortest day of the year. Whether this is for symbolic or practical reasons is unclear.
 
GARLIC FOR HEALTH
Today, we know garlic is an excellent herb for creating and maintaining overall health, but it also has many lesser known, but powerful qualities. For example, many people don't know that it's a naturally powerful antibiotic. This natural antibiotic is effective against toxic bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Available in pills, capsules, liquid and actual raw cloves, garlic is one of the most popular healthy herbs around today.
 
Garlic helps platelet stickiness or aggregation to help reduce blood coagulation and promote heart health.
The antioxidant properties of garlic help scavenge harmful free radicals, which can damage LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood stream.
 
Garlic also promotes increased bile production to help reduce levels of fat in the liver. Garlic pills also help ward off coughs and colds.
 
GARLIC AND YOUR HEART
The positive effect of garlic on your circulatory system is extremely well documented and it has been proven to:

• Lower blood pressure
• Decrease platelet aggregation
• Lower serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol (the bad type) levels
• Increase serum HDL-cholesterol (the good type) and fibrinolysis (the process through which the body breaks up blood clots.)

Plus, it stimulates the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessel walls, a substance that helps them to relax.
 
As a result of these beneficial actions, garlic helps to prevent arteriosclerosis and thereby reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.
 
Two or three cloves a day have cut the risk of subsequent heart attacks in half in heart patients.
 
One reason for these beneficial effects may be garlic's ability to reduce the amount of free radicals in the bloodstream. According to a study published in Life Sciences, a daily dose of 1 ml/kg body weight of garlic extract for a period of 6 months resulted in a significant reduction in oxidant (free radical) stress in the blood of arteriosclerosis patients. Its positive effect on the circulatory system improves blood flow throughout the body so has even been hailed as a cure for impotence!
 
Source: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/garlic-benefit.shtml
 
 
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The information given here is for educational purposes only. It is meant to be used as a guide towards health and does not replace the evaluation by and advice of a qualified licensed health care professional. For detailed interpretation of your health and specific conditions, consult with your physician.
 
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