Garlic Remedies for You
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
by Yulia Berry
Great Home Remedies
If garlic emailed you a resume, the bullet points would probably read something like this:
- Lowers cholesterol
- Reduces blood pressure
- Balances blood sugar
- Reduces Cancer Risk
- Kills Fungus
- Soothes Bronchitis
- Cures Colds
- Removes Warts
- Boosts Immune System
- Organic Pesticide
Garlic Uses
Garlic is a broad acting antimicrobial and also displays antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It is also effective against flu viruses and herpes simplex viruses (cold sores). During those cold and wet winter months, adding garlic to soups, salads or casseroles may help keep the dreaded cold virus at bay. You can also eat it at the first initial signs of a cold, cough or flu coming up. Garlic can also ease congestion and help expel mucus in cases of bronchitis. In fact, taking garlic might make it hard for someone to ever call in sick to work.
Garlic can also be used to treat infections. It can be taken internally to help curb a recurrent yeast infection. A garlic infusion can be used topically to help with athlete's foot. You can also add garlic to oil to help treat a middle ear infection.
Garlic studies also suggest that garlic can boost immunity by stimulating the body's natural immune cells. Clinical trials have indicated that garlic may help prevent breast, bladder, skin, and stomach cancers. A study done in Iowa also showed that women who eat garlic on a regular basis show a lower risk of colon cancer,. Garlic is also thought to be effective at inhibiting cancer compounds that are formed by nitrates which are used as preservatives in meat.
Garlic is also thought to be beneficial to people who have high blood pressure. It relaxes the veins and artery walls which keeps platelets from clumping together thus improving blood flow and reducing the risk of stroke. Garlic also combats cardiovascular disease by helping decrease the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
Garlic also helps increase the level of insulin in the body resulting in lower blood sugar making it an excellent supplement for diabetics. Please note: garlic is not a substitute for insulin injections or a good diet but it may help reduce the need for additional insulin by reducing glycogen release from the liver and increasing the effectiveness of insulin.
Why garlic helps
The large number of unique sulfur containing compounds within garlic are thought to be the may reason why garlic is so good for you. The reason why garlic starts to give off that familiar pungency once it is crushed or cut is because the chemical compound alliin is transforming into the odorous compound allicin. In turn, Allicin turns into the other compounds ajoene, allyl sulfides and vinyldithiins. These are the sulfur containing compounds that are potent antimicrobials and are thought to be a vital in garlic's role as a lipid reducer and cancer preventer.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)A well written wonderful article about an undervalued herb.Garlic(fresh) cut up into small pieces and placed around the room and near one's bed in small dishes is a highly successful herbal repellent against intrusive harassing bedroom interdimensionals, one often recommended as a passive defense by many knowledgeable demonologists.(As well, chewing or eating many raw cloves just before leaving work, has the prowess to get you a seat with plenty of extra elbow room in a crowded metropolitan subway car during rush hour.)
Hi Yulie - I appreciate this article and am going to print it out. My favorite treat lately is a green olive stuffed with a garlic clove! I put some in our fresh ham today (did a turkey Nov 1st) Marijo
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