Garlic is a plant food used all over in the world. Many ancient and modern cultures, garlic has been considered a potent medicinal herb, effective in combating heart disease, infections, cancer. Recent studies support this traditional uses for garlic, making it is medicinal properties better recognized and accepted in the United States. Reason garlic contains many active vitamins B and C, amino acids, germanium, and selenium.
Cardiovascular Disease
Study has shown that garlic protects against heart disease- and, in some cases, treats existing cardiovascular problems-in a number of ways. For instance, garlic prevents platelets, the blood cells needed for clotting, from sticking to one another to artery walls. By preventing excess clotting, garlic may protect against strokes, coronary thrombosis. It may also deter the development of atherosclerosis by reducing the chance that blood clots will adhere to artery wall.
Report that garlic consumptions may decrease the progression of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is associated with several factors, including raised serum total cholesterol, raised low density lipoprotein, and increased LDL oxidation, increased platelet aggregation, hypertension, and smoking. Garlic may help decrease LDL and total cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterols (high density lipoprotein), decreasing platelet aggregation (helps the blood flow more easily), decreasing blood pressure.
Cancer
Animal and human study suggests that garlic may prove to be a potent weapon against cancer. A National Cancer Institute study fotind that people whose diets are rich in garlic and it is relatives, such as onions, have a lower incidence of stomach cancer than do people who consume less garlic.
Garlic may strengthen the immune system, helping the body fight diseases such as cancers. Laboratory study's suggest that garlic may have anti-cancer activity. Study that follow groups of people over time suggest that man who have more raw or cooked garlic in their diet are less likely to develop certain types of cancer, particularly colon and stomach cancer. In fact, a review of 7 studies researchers found a 30% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer among man who had a high intake of raw or cooked garlic. Dietary garlic may also protect against the development of breast, prostate, laryngeal (throat) cancers.
Liver Disorders
Garlic appears to defend the body from certain toxins. In laboratory, animal studies, garlic extract was able to protect the cells in the liver from the damaging effects of potent chemicals like carbon tetrachloride. The researchers pointed out that each day, we come in contact with a variety of harmful chemicals, microorganisms, and that, as a result, the incidence of liver disorders seems to be rising. In the ongoing search for substances that prevent cure liver conditions, perhaps garlic will provide at least part of the answer.
Food Sources: Consumption of fresh garlic is the least costly means of benefiting from this nutrient. Many studies either used fresh raw garlic, examined diets that were rich in garlic and related vegetables, such as onions, leeks, and green onions. Although cooking seems to reduce garlic's effectiveness, most people prefer cooked garlic over raw, eating cooked garlic is certainly preferable to eating no garlic at all.
Supplements
Garlic preparations are available as liquid extracts, oil-filled capsules, tablets. The supplements generally contain 100 to 250 milligrams at each pill. Many of these forms are deodorized. Luckily, deodorized garlic seems to be just as effective as the fresh aromatic form. Many studies-such as those showing garlic's effectiveness in reducing cholesterol and protecting the liver-used Kyolic, odor-modified garlic extract, Kwai, a nonodor-modified product.
