4 HEALTHY REASONS TO LOVE GARLIC The stinking rose, as garlic is known, is more than just smelly. Garlic is known as one of the oldest medicinal plants and is widely recognised for its beneficial health properties. Health Benefits of Garlic 1. Garlic is an Antioxidant Researchers have widely believed that the organic compound in garlic, allicin, which gives garlic its aroma and flavour, acts as the world’s most powerful antioxidant. Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating back to when the Egyptian pyramids were built. In early 18th-century France, gravediggers drank crushed garlic in wine believing it would protect them from the plague that killed many people in Europe. During both World Wars I and II, soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene. Today garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, including atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries (plaque build-up in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and may lead to heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and to boost the immune system. Garlic is rich in antioxidants, which help destroy free radicals -- particles that can damage cell membranes and DNA, and may contribute to the ageing process as well as the development of a number of conditions, including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause over time. 2. Garlic Is An Antibiotic The allicin in garlic is also a powerful antibiotic, which fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks. The garlic takers were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who eat more than six cloves a week have a 30 percent lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50 percent lower rate of stomach cancer. Garlic helps to open clogged sinuses. 3. Garlic Reduces Cholesterol In a 2012 study from the Institute of Toxicology at Shandong University, researchers analysed data from 26 well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the effects of garlic on cholesterol levels. Overall, the researchers found that garlic was more effective than placebo in reducing cholesterol. The authors noted that when compared to control groups, garlic significantly reduced both total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There are many additional studies confirming that garlic in several forms can reduce cholesterol. 4. Garlic Is An Aphrodisiac Garlic has the ability to increase and improve circulation and it is thought that it can stir up passions! Tibetan monks were forbidden from entering the monasteries if they had eaten garlic.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:58:58 +0000
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