Garlic to the rescue
Garlic has been hailed down the ages as a herb. It has been used as a medicine and as a beauty aid. This little bulb contains calcium, phosphorous, iron, Vitamin C and a small amount of vitamin B complex. Egyptians regularly ate garlic to maintain their health and strength. Researchers during the last half of the century confirmed what ancient herbalists have known all along — that garlic is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasite and antiviral.
THE HEART AND LUNG MACHINE
Garlic has been found to work wonders for the cardiovascular system. It has been found to be very effective at lowering blood cholesterol. Garlic has proved to be effective as decongestant and expectorant for common colds and other diseases of the chest.
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY
Numerous tests, done on animals, have shown that garlic has been effective against tumours. Fresh garlic also fights out breasts’ cancer in mice.
GARLIC FOR SEXUAL DEBILITY
Garlic has been used to treat sexual debility and impotency. The widespread use of garlic in Spain and Italy probably contributes in some measure to the famed libido of the people of these countries.
BEST WAY TO CONSUME GARLIC
Garlic oils, capsules, pills, etc. are they as effective? Some experts say that these works while others say that these pills or compounds have none or very little of the active garlic compounds. As far as possible, use fresh garlic. Raw garlic helps to kill bacteria and boosts the immune system. Fresh garlic is said to thin the blood and lower cholesterol levels. It is a vasodilator for and helps dilate blood vessel and helps lower blood pressure.
TO GET RID OF GARLIC BREATH
Some advice coffee, honey, yoghurt, milk, wine and cloves. The chlorophyll in parsley, some say, masks the strong garlic smell. You could also try chewing mints or gum or maybe cardamom (elaichi). For the past 5000 years, garlic has been used as an anticoagulant, antiseptic, carminative and even as a hair restorer. This pungent herb has been used to treat all sorts of diseases like arthritis dropsy, influenza and tuberculosis. Some recommend just one clove of garlic a day as a maintenance dose for those in fairly good health. If you’re allergic to it then, of course, you should avoid it.
It tastes great in salads, it makes a superb flavouring in bread, it enhances the taste of vegetarian as well as nonvegetarian curries, it tastes delicious in soups, it adds both taste and diseasefighting power to just about every dish made from it.
A FEW HEALTH TIPS
■ Raw garlic may prove to be heaty for some individuals. They may get boils on the back, armpits or on the face. So, begin by eating one chopped raw clove a day. Slowly increase the amount to two cloves a day
■ Raw garlic is found to be more beneficial than cooked garlic
■ Cooked garlic does retain some of its healing properties. So, use it liberally in cooking.