It is good to see
evidence of garlic's health benefits mounting, given that is such a wonderful
ingredient for those who enjoy tasty rather than bland food. This means that
garlic is a multipurpose vegetable that I for one will never be without.
The beliefs about the
powers of garlic go back many centuries. Much of the evidence to support such
claims were anecdotal, but many recent studies have backed up that evidence.
It has been found that the same compounds responsible for causing the strong
aroma of garlic, plus its strong flavou, have been shown to help protect
against some forms of cancer. They apparently do this by neutralizing the power
of cancer causing chemicals, and thus slowing the growth of tumours.
The interest in garlic
of health professionals and scientists has grown steadily over recent decades.
Whe I took an interest in alternative therapies 20 years ago, garlic was
already amongst the most widely talked of alternative medicines.
Garlic has been used in
the past to treat everything from the common cold to the plague. While
garlic is not exactly a universal cure, it is believed to have significant
healing powers. It has been thought, and still is, that the stronger the
odour and flavour of the garlic clove, the greater its medicinal value.
That is because it is the same sulphur compounds, such as allicin, that give
garlic its strong flavour and odour that are also thought to be responsible for
its healing power.
Organically grown garlic
is thought be some to have a stronger sulphur content, and for this reason some
people trust in the power of organic garlic. Others, though, use garlic
supplements to obtain the healing power of garlic, without the unpleasant side
effect of garlic on the breath.
Garlic In The Modern World
While garlic has, for
many centuries, if not millennia, been part of traditional medicine and healthy
eating, modern scientific studies are a recent supporter of the anecdotal
evidence. Those studies have shown some promise, pointing to the powerful
antibiotic properties of garlic. One study also showed garlic's usefulness as a
mosquito repellant, which caused me some personal amusement. When I came to the
Philippines from England, I was aware that mosquitoes did not trouble me here.
I often joked that it was because I ate a lot of garlic, which did seem to be
one possible explanation. Maybe my joke was the genuine reason after all for
mosquitoes not coming too close.
While raw garlic can be
quite a powerful and very useful food, it can also be very strong. Eating
too much garlic has been known to produce unhealthy side effects, such as
irritation or damage to the sensitive digestive tract. In addition, as
with many foods, there are people who are allergic to garlic. While
garlic allergies are rare, they can produce such symptoms as high temperature,
headache and skin rashes. Additionally, it should be noted that garlic
acts as an anticoagulant (blood thinner), so it is important to avoid garlic
supplements and foods rich in garlic prior to surgery. It is also
important to keep your doctor appraised of all medication, including garlic
supplements, that you are taking.
Tips For Buying Garlic
When buying garlic, it
is usually best to buy the freshest, most pungent smelling cloves you can
find. It is this strong smell that indicates a high concentration of
sulphur compounds, and it is these sulphur compounds which are thought to be
responsible for the healthy effects of garlic.
Garlic can be used in a
variety of ways, from raw garlic added to salads to garlic cloves used in a
wide variety of recipes. there are an endless supply of recipes which
include garlic, many from the Mediterranean region. Garlic goes well with just
about any other vegetable, plus meats and fish. garlic, therefore, can be used
to make a weight loss and healthy diet that much more tasteful.
For those who want to
supplement the fresh garlic in their cooking, there are a many manufactured
garlic products and spices, including garlic salt and garlic powder.
These products can be excellent companions to fresh garlic, but it is important
to buy only the top quality brands to ensure quality and a high sulphur
content.
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