The How and Why of Garlic

With all the publicity that Garlic is receiving I’ve been asked a variety of questions from friends and family as to just what garlic does and how. I hope to answer a few of those questions now.

This wonderful little pungent herb garlic most recognize from the use of the cloves, or root of the plant, although the flowers are an excellent addition to your fresh salad. The healthiest form of garlic is of course fresh. Freeze dried and processed forms of garlic have lost most of their health benefits through the fermentation process.

Through history garlic has been used for a number of cures. History shows us that the Egyptians used garlic to treat wounds and intestinal parasites. Folk remedies use garlic to treat everything from pinworms to dysentery. But in today’s modern fast paced world the emphasis of garlic has been publicized with its values to aid the cardiovascular and immune systems of the body.

Many studies have been conducted on the use of garlic and its healing properties. It has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood stream. The compounds in garlic lower the blood pressure raising hormones therefore lowering your over all blood pressure. It stimulates the gall bladder causing a release of bile and decreases production of cholesterol in the liver. Another compound in garlic also aids in preventing hardening of the arteries and strokes with its blood thinning capabilities.

Garlic’s ability to boost the immune system is another bonus to its use. It stimulates the white blood cells and the T-helper cells which are the center of your immune system. Due to it’s immune building properties and ability to clear mucus from the lungs it is believed to also aid in viral infections in the upper respiratory system.

How does garlic do all this wonderful work? There are two major active ingredients found in the garlic bulb. Allicin, an odorless relative to the amino acid cysteine and Ajoene, the property that aids in the thinning of blood. Allicin is the ingredient that gives garlic its distinct aroma. It’s a sulfur-containing compound and contains most of the healing properties and antibiotic effects within its structure. These compounds are more prominent in fresh garlic than those that are freeze dried or fermented.

It is very important that you read the labels of your garlic when purchasing it. Check the list of active ingredients and compare styles and varieties to benefit the most from your purchase. For convenience sake garlic is packaged in a variety of herbal supplements, even the odorless variety in order to be less offensive to friends, co-workers and family. There is no true proven recommended daily intake amounts. Keep in mind that a low long-term dose would be for a preventive method, while a higher short term burst would be for treatment.

As with any supplement learn all your facts before mixing with other medications. Adverse and serious reactions can occur even though garlic is a natural and herbal product. Precautions on amounts to use during pregnancy are advised, as large doses have been known to stimulate the uterus. And due to the blood thinning properties use cautiously if you take anti-coagulant medications.

There you have a quick overview of the how’s and why’s of garlic’s benefits. Hopefully this will aid in your research and decisions to add garlic to your daily routine.