The fact about garlic is all over the place. Certainly, there are myths also linked with garlic, about how it can avert vampires. In today's society, if it can help ward off the many diseases that we seem to be getting, it's nothing short of a magic herb. What's interesting is that it's been around from a period of time as well.
Garlic has been used since the ages for good health. But scientists are discovering new and interesting uses of this herb and the goodness it can provide. Here is a look at some of the ways in which garlic can benefit you.
* Managing cancer - Yes, you heard it right, garlic can really help in curing cancer. Scientific studies have shown that certain components in garlic such as diallyl disulfide can help you in developing a strong immune system and kill the cancer cells. Garlic is also known to minimize papillary lung tumors. Eating a clove of raw garlic is furthermore known to minimize the occurrence of cancers in the first place.
* High blood pressure - Amazing, but true. Traditional Asian medicine acknowledges garlic as an effective hypertension controller and this fact is being corroborated by researchers all over the world today. Garlic can help in monitoring your blood pressure so that the high levels can come down to normal levels. For garlic to help you in controlling your hypertension, you can simply take one clove every day or consume its fresh juice, smash a clove in hot milk.
* Garlic is known to even cure ear infections, especially in small children who are very susceptible to them. Garlic works as nature's own antibiotic with out the hazardous effects as it has strong anti bacterial and anti microbial qualities. Juice from the cloves of raw garlic diluted with water can be placed in the ear directly. Do note that this can cause plenty of pain as the garlic starts acting on the microbes that have caused the infection. The pain however lasts for just a short while and along with it the infection also goes away.
* Garlic as antibiotic - Garlic is mother nature's own antibiotic and the best part about it is that it does not get rid of healthy bacteria at the same time. More and more people are turning to garlic as an effective antibiotic.
* Raising antioxidant levels - Garlic helps in pushing up the total antioxidant levels of the body and this in turn has its own chain of actions resulting in reduced serum glucose levels as well as reduced blood pressure.
* Garlic flushes out the toxins from the body so it's a great way to clean up your body.
* Garlic has allicin, a strong compound that acts as an antibiotic and helps heal skin infections also. It's interesting to know that allicin doesn't occur on its own but is formed when garlic is chopped or crushed.
* In the olden days garlic was known not only as a vampire repellant but furthermore because it helped in curing wounds and bruises. It was also a popular treatment for indigestion and flatulence.
* Garlic is not simply healthy for your you, but it is also great for your skin. Regular intake of garlic tones the skin, making it soft while also making your nails stronger. One more great benefit is that it controls dandruff related problems too.
There are certainly some unwanted effects that you have to think about before you liberally begin consuming garlic to get all those benefits. Everything in moderation works nicely but if you overdo it, which is, eat a lot more garlic than you should, the following are the most likely side effects that you might probably undergo -
* Body odor - If you eat too much garlic, you'll notice that you have began smelling just like garlic. This is because the garlic is released through your pores and this lasts until all garlic is eliminated from your body. The body odor can be humiliating and can cause a lot of distress.
* Garlic breath - Eating too much raw garlic can cause lots of bad breath and this could hinder your self confidence. The only way to counter it would be to eat raw garlic together with your food and to preferably eat it before you go to sleep.
* Digestion problems - Too much of a good thing can only be bad. So also with garlic and studies have shown that if you eat too much garlic, it can burn the lining of your stomach and cause you plenty of pain.
* Allergies - For many people who suffer from garlic allergy, there might be rashes, fever or vomiting. It might also kick in adversely with some anti-coagulants as well.
* The sulfur in garlic could result in botulism, which can cause severe stomach upset or even death.
If you've chosen to make garlic an important part of your healthy lifestyle, ensure that you get organic garlic which has all the amazing benefits built in in garlic. In your regular shops, you might come across chemically treated garlic which can be of no use. If the garlic bulb has sprouted, it indicates that the garlic has aged and has lost most its valuable compounds.
The best way to ensure that garlic maintains all its beneficial compounds is to crush it finely and add it to food. Some people also choose to have garlic juice while others hate its taste and smell. For such people, there are plenty of garlic based supplements which work precisely fine and can be like your daily dose of vitamins.
Physically speaking, a bulb of garlic might resemble an onion bulb but metaphorically also, there's a significant similarity. Just as you peel the different layers of an onion, with garlic, each day new and more potent uses are being discovered.
Garlic has been used since the ages for good health. But scientists are discovering new and interesting uses of this herb and the goodness it can provide. Here is a look at some of the ways in which garlic can benefit you.
* Managing cancer - Yes, you heard it right, garlic can really help in curing cancer. Scientific studies have shown that certain components in garlic such as diallyl disulfide can help you in developing a strong immune system and kill the cancer cells. Garlic is also known to minimize papillary lung tumors. Eating a clove of raw garlic is furthermore known to minimize the occurrence of cancers in the first place.
* High blood pressure - Amazing, but true. Traditional Asian medicine acknowledges garlic as an effective hypertension controller and this fact is being corroborated by researchers all over the world today. Garlic can help in monitoring your blood pressure so that the high levels can come down to normal levels. For garlic to help you in controlling your hypertension, you can simply take one clove every day or consume its fresh juice, smash a clove in hot milk.
* Garlic is known to even cure ear infections, especially in small children who are very susceptible to them. Garlic works as nature's own antibiotic with out the hazardous effects as it has strong anti bacterial and anti microbial qualities. Juice from the cloves of raw garlic diluted with water can be placed in the ear directly. Do note that this can cause plenty of pain as the garlic starts acting on the microbes that have caused the infection. The pain however lasts for just a short while and along with it the infection also goes away.
* Garlic as antibiotic - Garlic is mother nature's own antibiotic and the best part about it is that it does not get rid of healthy bacteria at the same time. More and more people are turning to garlic as an effective antibiotic.
* Raising antioxidant levels - Garlic helps in pushing up the total antioxidant levels of the body and this in turn has its own chain of actions resulting in reduced serum glucose levels as well as reduced blood pressure.
* Garlic flushes out the toxins from the body so it's a great way to clean up your body.
* Garlic has allicin, a strong compound that acts as an antibiotic and helps heal skin infections also. It's interesting to know that allicin doesn't occur on its own but is formed when garlic is chopped or crushed.
* In the olden days garlic was known not only as a vampire repellant but furthermore because it helped in curing wounds and bruises. It was also a popular treatment for indigestion and flatulence.
* Garlic is not simply healthy for your you, but it is also great for your skin. Regular intake of garlic tones the skin, making it soft while also making your nails stronger. One more great benefit is that it controls dandruff related problems too.
There are certainly some unwanted effects that you have to think about before you liberally begin consuming garlic to get all those benefits. Everything in moderation works nicely but if you overdo it, which is, eat a lot more garlic than you should, the following are the most likely side effects that you might probably undergo -
* Body odor - If you eat too much garlic, you'll notice that you have began smelling just like garlic. This is because the garlic is released through your pores and this lasts until all garlic is eliminated from your body. The body odor can be humiliating and can cause a lot of distress.
* Garlic breath - Eating too much raw garlic can cause lots of bad breath and this could hinder your self confidence. The only way to counter it would be to eat raw garlic together with your food and to preferably eat it before you go to sleep.
* Digestion problems - Too much of a good thing can only be bad. So also with garlic and studies have shown that if you eat too much garlic, it can burn the lining of your stomach and cause you plenty of pain.
* Allergies - For many people who suffer from garlic allergy, there might be rashes, fever or vomiting. It might also kick in adversely with some anti-coagulants as well.
* The sulfur in garlic could result in botulism, which can cause severe stomach upset or even death.
If you've chosen to make garlic an important part of your healthy lifestyle, ensure that you get organic garlic which has all the amazing benefits built in in garlic. In your regular shops, you might come across chemically treated garlic which can be of no use. If the garlic bulb has sprouted, it indicates that the garlic has aged and has lost most its valuable compounds.
The best way to ensure that garlic maintains all its beneficial compounds is to crush it finely and add it to food. Some people also choose to have garlic juice while others hate its taste and smell. For such people, there are plenty of garlic based supplements which work precisely fine and can be like your daily dose of vitamins.
Physically speaking, a bulb of garlic might resemble an onion bulb but metaphorically also, there's a significant similarity. Just as you peel the different layers of an onion, with garlic, each day new and more potent uses are being discovered.
SHARE
