5 Remarkable ways GARLIC can support your health, according to science
Garlic is a powerful medicinal herb and one of the most used spices in the kitchen. Known for its pungent flavor and many health-supporting properties, garlic is a versatile superfood that your diet cannot do without. Since ancient times, garlic has been revered as a health food with many uses. One of the earliest “performance-enhancing” agents known to man, garlic was used by the earliest Olympic athletes in Greece to enhance their strength, endurance and athletic performance. The ancient Egyptians also believed in the power of garlic and gave it to their workers and slaves to increase their productivity. Ancient Egyptian healers also prescribed garlic for circulatory ailments, parasitic infections and malaise. (Related: Mike Adams Sermon 47: GARLIC as God’s natural medicine against infections and high cholesterol.) In ancient Rome, garlic was used for the same purpose of supporting strength and endurance and was fed to sailors and soldiers alike. Garlic also found use as a natural remedy for stomach disorders, animal bites, joint disease and seizures. In ancient China, historical records show that garlic was typically consumed with raw meat as part of the daily diet of the early Chinese. It was also used to preserve food and treat issues like diarrhea, worm infestation, fatigue, headache, insomnia and even depression. In ancient India, the birthplace of Ayurvedic Medicine, surviving medical texts reveal that garlic was used to treat heart disease, arthritis, various digestive issues, parasitic infections, fatigue and leprosy. It was also used to help heal cuts and bruises, boost libido and to promote physical strength. Today, modern science has found sufficient evidence to support most, if not all, of garlic’s ancient uses. 5 Remarkable health benefits of garlic Here are five ways garlic can support your overall health and wellness, according to science: (h/t to NaturalHealth365.com) Protects against heart disease In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers reviewed existing studies evaluating the effects of garlic on hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, pulse wave velocity (PWV, which measures arterial stiffness), C-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of inflammation) and coronary artery calcium (CAC). They reported that garlic supplementation, particularly with aged garlic extract, can help reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, CRP, PWV and CAC. These findings suggest that garlic has great potential for protecting against cardiovascular disease. (Related: Garlic can protect against heart tissue damage caused by reoxygenation.) Naturally treats metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of conditions that increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. According to a review of clinical trials published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, garlic is proven to be effective against the components of metabolic syndrome, being a natural antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory agent. Studies show that regular garlic intake leads to significant reductions in waist circumference, total cholesterol, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood triglycerides, CRP and other markers of inflammation. (Related: Anti-inflammatory diet helps with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cuts dementia risk by 31%.) Effectively kills cancer cells Garlic and its active components have long been heralded as promising candidates for cancer therapy. In animal and cell culture studies, garlic has shown the desirable ability to effectively kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed — something no anticancer drug has managed to do. Researchers credit the organosulfur compounds in garlic, which include allicin, alliin, ajoene, allyl methyl disulfide (AMDS), allyl methyl trisulfide (AMTS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), S-allyl cysteine (SAC) and S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), for this remarkable feat. These compounds have been shown to kill lung, colon, skin, breast, thyroid, bone and prostate cancer cells by suppressing gene mutation, scavenging free radicals, regulating enzymatic activities, inhibiting protein folding and suppressing cancer proliferation, apoptosis (programmed cell death) resistance and evasion of immunosurveillance. Helps manage osteoarthritis symptoms A study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice reported that compounds in garlic can help with osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis that affects the joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine. Researchers found that overweight or obese women suffering from knee osteoarthritis experienced significant improvements in physical function, join stiffness and pain after taking garlic supplements for 12 weeks. Some experts attribute this benefit to the anti-inflammatory garlic compound, DADS. Because DADS can fight inflammation by limiting the effects of pro-inflamm
newsroom
0
2
Garlic is a powerful medicinal herb and one of the most used spices in the kitchen. Known for its pungent flavor and many health-supporting properties, garlic is a versatile superfood that your diet cannot do without.
Since ancient times, garlic has been revered as a health food with many uses. One of the earliest “performance-enhancing” agents known to man, garlic was used by the earliest Olympic athletes in Greece to enhance their strength, endurance and athletic performance.
The ancient Egyptians also believed in the power of garlic and gave it to their workers and slaves to increase their productivity. Ancient Egyptian healers also prescribed garlic for circulatory ailments, parasitic infections and malaise. (Related: Mike Adams Sermon 47: GARLIC as God’s natural medicine against infections and high cholesterol.)
In ancient Rome, garlic was used for the same purpose of supporting strength and endurance and was fed to sailors and soldiers alike. Garlic also found use as a natural remedy for stomach disorders, animal bites, joint disease and seizures.
In ancient China, historical records show that garlic was typically consumed with raw meat as part of the daily diet of the early Chinese. It was also used to preserve food and treat issues like diarrhea, worm infestation, fatigue, headache, insomnia and even depression.
In ancient India, the birthplace of Ayurvedic Medicine, surviving medical texts reveal that garlic was used to treat heart disease, arthritis, various digestive issues, parasitic infections, fatigue and leprosy. It was also used to help heal cuts and bruises, boost libido and to promote physical strength.
Today, modern science has found sufficient evidence to support most, if not all, of garlic’s ancient uses.
