Garlic, Yeah it’s real healthy stuff!!
By Caryle Regan
Did you know that garlic dates back almost 3,000 years? Yes, that is right. Cloves of garlic were found in King Tut’s tomb. Medical texts from the ancient civilizations of India, Rome, Greece, Egypt, and China all mention garlic.
What makes garlic beneficial to your health? Well, it has enzymes and unique compounds that have the potential to help your heart. It has antibiotic properties that can possibly help fight disease. And, it has possible anticancer properties.
In mouse studies at the Emery University School of Medicine they found that there is a component of garlic oil that helps to protect the heart after heart surgery and following a heart attack. Mice receiving this treatment had 61% less damage to their heart tissue following a heart attack than mice which were untreated. But more research is needed to evaluate the effects in humans.
According to WebMD aged garlic extract has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure in individuals who suffer from elevated blood pressure. It seems to do this by preventing the narrowing of blood vessels thus allowing a greater amount of blood to flow to an area. The article goes on to state that “while garlic’s effects are comparable to standard blood pressure drugs, it has been found that people who have inadequate levels of vitamin B may not experience this benefit.
Another positive effect of consuming garlic is that garlic helps to slow down a problem that comes with age known as hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. This condition results in arteries losing their elasticity and thus their flexibility.
According to WebMD some studies have shown that garlic supplements are the most effective and raw garlic may be more effective than cooked garlic. Eating raw garlic may increase the risk of bleeding if you are on blood thinners. Further, it is recommended that you stop eating garlic two weeks before surgery because of the potential bleeding risk. Check with your doctor.
Avoid applying garlic directly to your skin as it can cause damage similiar to a burn. It is not recommended that you use garlic supplements during pregnancy or breast feeding.
(Information for this article was obtained from Webmd.co.).