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"Garlic - the Wonder Food"
In addition, the Egyptian laborers that built the ancient pyramids ate it. In fact, it was considered worthy of being worshiped, with clay models of it placed in King Tut's tomb. However, in the 20th century, we began to discover its medicinal qualities as Louis Pasteur credited it to be an effective germicide. Pasteur added it to a petri dish containing bacteria, which promptly killed these bacteria. What is it about this food that makes it such a valuable home remedy? For one thing, whenever cloves of it are chewed, it releases a chemical called allicin. This chemical is responsible for its strong smell and taste. Furthermore, this chemical is thought to give it its medicinal qualities. It has numerous therapeutic benefits, including the following:
Inside the body, it works to prevent infections by stimulating white blood cells and other immune system cells. These cells help the body to fight viral and bacterial infections as well as kill cancer cells. Studies On Garlic One of the first studies of its' Cancer connection was done in the 1950s. In this study, laboratory rats with Cancer were injected with allicin. Those mice given the injection survived an additional six months, whereas those that didn't receive it only survived two months. According to the British tabloid the Sun, research done by the University of East London has used Garlic to cure the 'super bug' MRSA. The MRSA infection is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and is resistant to the antibiotics used to treat it On the other hand, studies regarding its ability to lower blood pressure have been mixed.
Indeed, while it has long been known for its cholesterol lowering capabilities, a 2007 study says otherwise. In this six-month study, individuals with moderately high levels of cholesterol were given either one of three types of Garlic or placebo. Moreover, their cholesterol levels were checked each month during this six-month study. In conclusion, the end result was none of the three forms of Garlic lowered total cholesterol or other blood fats in these individuals at all. Indeed, researcher Christopher Gardner stated the study was large enough and long enough to have detected any cholesterol changes. The researchers concluded it may be ineffective in lowering cholesterol levels in those whose bad, or LDL, cholesterol levels are already high. And yet, in an editorial published along with this study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers stated "the jury is still out" on whether it has any effect on lowering the risk of heart disease. Cardiovascular Benefits? Despite recent research indicating it does little to lower cholesterol levels, earlier research from the University of Alabama indicates it may have cardiovascular benefits after all.
Another study, released by the American Heart Association, suggested it might help to maintain the elasticity of aging blood vessels. As we age, blood vessels typically lose their elasticity. That would explain why the elderly typically have high blood pressure. Other Health Benefits It may also function to make you smarter as well. Researchers have found that a sulfur compound in it called sallylcystein prevents degeneration of the brain's frontal lobes. While no food can claim to be a 'miracle' cure-all, Garlic comes about as close as you can get. Do your cardiac and immune systems a favor by eating it frequently. I'm sure they'll be glad you are. Subscribe to the Home Remedies Blog by clicking on this link:  Return From Garlic to Home Page
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Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as a food for thousands of years. In Old Testament times, in Numbers 11:5, we discover the ancient Israelites ate this food before leaving Egypt.
In one three-month study, individuals who were given it saw a slight reduction in their blood pressure levels. Conversely, another study found it was ineffective in lowering blood pressure.
They found that eating two cloves daily caused the release of a chemical called hydrogen sulfide into the blood. This chemical then interacts with red blood cells thus causing a chemical to be released resulting in relaxation of blood vessels.
