Garlic Benefits and Information

Juicing For Health - Garlic (Allium sativum)

Name

Garlic (Allium sativum) also known as Allium, Rustic Treacle and Stinking Rose.

Parts Used

Bulb.

Information

Allium sativum (Garlic) is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive. Garlic is one of natures best health tonics and has documented research behind its medicinal benefits. Garlic has been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Garlic contains a substance called Allicin which has many benefits such as anti-microbial, anti-cancer, heart benefits and so on. Allicin has been compared to the natural equivelent of a weak pencillin. Garlic also contains sulfur compounds much like other vegetables in the alliaceae family, these sulfur compounds have many benefits such as improving the detoxification process, boosting immunity, lowering blood pressure, improving circulation and much more.

Traditionally garlic has been used for a wide range of medicinal purposes such as heart disease, high blood pressure, artherosclerosis, colds and flu, stimulating the immune system, circulatory problems, diabetes, intestinal worms, candida, arthritis, cough, catarrh, digestive problems, liver disease, yeast infections, ulcers, sinusitis and h.pylori infections.

Benefits

Atherosclerosis

Studies suggest that garlic may prevent blood clots and the build up of plaque. Blood clots and plaque block blood flow and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Build up of plaque can block proper flow of blood and lead to increase risk of heart attack and strokes which may suggest garlic is helpful in preventing these conditions.

Cancer

Research has shown that garlic has some anti-cancer activity. Studies show that people who eat raw or cooked garlic regularly cut their risk of stomach cancer by about a half compared with those who eat none. They also cut their risk of colorectal cancer by as much as two-thirds.

Common Cold

Garlic is often recommended by herbalists as a way of combatting the common cold. Research suggests that their right, those who take a garlic supplement each day are far less likely to fall victim to the common cold than those who do not. The results showed that garlic reduced the risk of catching a cold by more than half. It also found that allicin-containing garlic supplements were effective in treating infections caused by the hospital superbug, MRSA.

Diabetes

Garlic is traditionally recommended in the treatment of diabetes, animal studies have demonstrated that garlic has the ability to lower blood sugars. People taking insulin should not consume medicinal amounts of garlic without consulting a physician.

Intestinal Parasites

Traditionally garlic was often recommended as a treatment to rid the body of intestinal parasites. It is a common ingredient in alot of herbal anti-parasitical formulas. Studies suggest garlic has anti-parasitical properties against a range of protozoa.

Side Effects/Precautions

Garlic can be irritating to the digestive tract of some if this is the case its generally recommended to give it a miss. Although uncommon, allergic reactions to garlic have been reported.

Garlic has the potential to react with quite a few pharmaceutical medications and thus should avoid mixing them. Antiplatelet, blood-thinning, diabetes and protease inhibitors are generally the usual medications not to mix garlic with.

Buying Information

There are many ways to get garlics many medicinal benefits, you can consume raw garlic cloves but if you dont want the pungent odour then garlic supplements and ages extracts are the best way to go. Below is a list of links where to purchase the best garlic supplements available.

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