GARLIC...HOW I LOVE THEE

There is really nowhere else to start this post except by saying" I LOVE GARLIC!" I eat it with my breakfast egg, rub it on toast, add it to my homemade mayo, always add it in soup, it's the most essential ingredient in any marinade and the list goes on.Raw or cooked, it's all the same to me, I love it either way and it thrills me a great deal to be telling you about the extraordinary benefits this commonly available bulb carries within itself.

Garlic is truly a health booster and medical remedy in its own right. Besides its usual culinary use and aromatic profile it also comes in handy for so many ailments from the common cold,flu, cough, bites and stings, to high blood pressure,wounds, yeast infections, bacterial infections and more, reasons why it has been the subject of more that 1000 pharmacological studies. Isn't that amazing !?

HEALTH & HEALING BENEFITS

*CARDIO-VASCULAR HEALTH

Study showed that platelet clumping dropped anywhere from 10 to 58% in men who consumed 6 cloves of garlic/day. It can be as effective as aspirin in inhibiting blood clot formation.

Garlic also reduces cholesterol production. Research has shown 9-12% reduction of cholesterol levels in individuals who consumed garlic daily.

Garlic improves arterial flexibility and it is a vasodilator , attributes that contribute to promoting blood circulation.

*CANCER FIGHTER

Garlic blocks cell changes that lead to cancerous growth.

Some studies conducted have shown:

#1 Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer by 50% in men who consume at least 1/2 clove/day.

#2 Individuals who consumed garlic on a weekly basis were 1/3 Less Prone to Colon Cancer

#3 High garlic intake ( roughly 20 g /day) Reduces Incidence of Stomach Cancer by 92 %

Garlic is also thought to block the formation of cancer causing compounds, neutralize free radicals that cause cell aging, DNA damage and initial carcinogenic cell changes, inhibit formation of nitrites and boost the immune system.

*ANTIBIOTIC/ANTISEPTIC/ANTI-FUNGAL

Topical application of garlic on wounds, athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infections, ear infections kills microbes.

Garlic is also known to kill tuberculosis, E coli and UTI causing bacteria, as well as being effective on antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

Some therapeutic use suggestions:

* Garlic is best consumed fresh or pickled. For best results bruise the cloves and leave for 10-15 minutes before consuming, this allows alliin to be transformed by enzymes in to allicin, which scientists believe is responsible for the antibiotic and heart benefitting properties.

* If consuming fresh is too difficult, try pickling it covered in vinegar for 6 weeks, add honey (half as much as vinegar used and leave to pickle for further 6 weeks. Prepare this pickle in advance of flu season and consume regularly.

* To help with your garlic breath consume fennel or parsley after eating garlic.

* Rub garlic on insect bites to reduce inflammation

*Crush a clove of garlic in 1 tbsp water, put 10 drops in each nostril twice a day to ease nasal congestion within 3 days

*Eat raw garlic while suffering from ear infections, UTI, sore throat, styes, to encourage babies to breastfeed, to reduce blood cholesterol and risk of clotting

*Consume garlic daily 2-3 days prior to camping to benefit of it's insect repelling effect

With such an array of pleasant and useful applications garlic wins the prize for the most effective and enjoyable health booster. Start today and try to incorporate it in your diet more to reap its amazing benefits bot short and long term.

Caution!Do Not Consume Therapeutic Quantities simultaneously with blood thinners or cholesterol medication.Consult your general physician beforehand.