Garlic is an herb. It is best known as a flavoring for meals. But over the years, garlic has been used as a remedy to protect against or heal a vast array of ailments and conditions. The fresh clove or nutritional supplement made from the clove are utilized for medical treatment.
There is a lot of variation among garlic products sold for medicinal purposes. The amount of allicin, the active ingredient and the source of garlic’s distinctive odor, depends on the method of preparation. Allicin is unstable, and changes into a different chemical rather quickly. Some manufacturers take advantage of this by aging garlic to make it odorless. Unfortunately, this also reduces the amount of allicin and compromises the effectiveness of the product. Some odorless garlic preparations and products may contain very little, if any, allicin. Methods that involve crushing the fresh clove release more allicin. Some products have a coating (enteric coating) to protect them against attack by stomach acids. Credit
Garlic is low calorie and contains lots of nutrients that will help prevent and reduce the symptoms of the common cold and flu. A high dose of garlic seems to improve blood pressure in people who have hypertension. It also helps to lower your LDL cholesterol, and garlic has antioxidants that protect against cell damage and aging. It may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Garlic was shown to dramatically reduce lead toxicity and related issues in one study. It also seems to have some benefits for bone health by raising estrogen levels in females, but more human studies are needed.
It’s not to hard to incorporate garlic into your diet. Garlic is available in numerous forms, from whole cloves and smooth pastes to powders and supplements like garlic extract and garlic oil. It goes well with most savory dishes, especially soups and sauces. The powerful flavor of garlic can also add a kick to normally boring recipes.
But don’t forget to brush your teeth after you eat garlic, or you will for sure chase people out of the room!
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