Garlic: The ultimate answer for tasty and healthy food
Garlic has been handed down for generations as a particularly potent herb. It has been used as a medicine and 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 anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasite and antiviral. Here’s the low-down on the benefits of making ginger a part of your diet, and other handy tips:
THE HEART AND LUNG MACHINE
Garlic has been found to work wonders for the cardiovascular system. It has been found to be very effective in lowering blood cholesterol. Garlic has proved to be effective as decongestant and expectorant for common colds and other diseases of the chest.
RESEARCHERS DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE CENTURY CONFIRMED WHAT ANCIENT HERBALISTS HAVE KNOWN ALL ALONG — THAT GARLIC IS A BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTIC
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY
Numerous tests done on animals have shown that garlic has been effective against tumours. Fresh garlic also fights out breast 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 IT
Are garlic oils, capsules, and pills as effective as the raw stuff? Some experts say that these work, while others say that they have none or very little of the active garlic compounds. One should use fresh garlic, as it helps to kill bacteria and boost the immune system. Raw garlic is said to thin the blood and lower cholesterol levels. It is a vasodilator and helps lower blood pressure.
TO GET RID OF THE PUNGENT 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 5,000 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 such as 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.
Garlic also tastes great in salads, and makes for a superb flavouring in bread. It enhances the taste of vegetarian as well as nonvegetarian curries and 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.
Anjali Mukerjee