Garlic's Disease Fighting and Nutritional Properties

Down through the centuries, garlic has been added to soups and meals as a home remedy for the common cold and other aliments. But, did you know that a simple clove of garlic has antibacterial and antifungal benefits as well? That's right, the garlic you put in spaghetti, salsa, chili and more could actually be good for you. Eating garlic on a regular basis is not only nutritional but a healthy food option for you and everyone in your family.

Of course, not all forms of garlic offer this disease fighting or health and wellness potential. Cooking garlic will take some of the pizazz out of garlic's incredible disease fighting properties. Garlic loses a lot of its healthy benefits if canned or processed.

To make sure you're getting all the health benefits you can from your garlic bulbs, try these simple solutions:

Use raw, fresh garlic. Fresh garlic has more health promoting qualities than garlic that has been processed, canned or bottled. Fresh garlic offers all the health benefits you need to fight the common cold and more.

Crush or chop raw garlic before using. By chopping the garlic before ingesting, you release the allicin that's found in garlic. Allicin is reported to have enormous antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitical and other health benefits to fight disease and promote overall health and wellbeing.

Eat lots of garlic. You don't get the disease fighting properties of garlic unless you make it part of your everyday diet and health routine. Small amounts will minimally impact your overall health and wellbeing. To advance your health, put garlic in salads, in spaghetti, in salsa, on toast, and more.

Only take garlic in pill form as a last resort. Raw, fresh garlic is a wonderful, alternative medicine. But, given its odor, some people don't like to eat it raw. If this is the case, try garlic in pill form. Make sure you guy your garlic pills from reputable dealers. Buy supplements that use organic garlic, if possible.

Like anything else, talk to your doctor and health care professionals about including garlic as a central part of your daily diet. Garlic, like ginkgo and other supplements, is thought to have blood thinning properties which should be avoided in advance of medical procedures and surgery. Eating significant quantities of garlic or garlic on a daily basis may cause side effects, like gastrointestinal upset or distress, for some people. Exercise caution in undertaking any new dietary regimen.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE RESOURCES

WebMD
www.webmd.com

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/garlic

Natural Solutions Magazine
www.naturalsolutionsmag.com

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Garlic: Effects on Cardiovascular Risks and Disease, Protective Effects Against Cancer, and Clinical Adverse Effects. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 20. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2000.