Six Ways Garlic Can Improve Your Health
By Dr. Joseph Mercola Garlic is a triple-whammy: it's antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day. It is important to note that the garlic must be fresh to give you optimal health benefits. The active ingredient is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless and should not be used. When you use the garlic, compress it with a spoon prior to swallowing it, or put it through your juicer to add to your vegetable juice. Just be careful not to put too much in as it can cause some unpleasant surprises. A single medium size clove or two is usually sufficient. Prevent Cancer Researchers have found that allicin, a chemical found in garlic that gives it its flavor, could be used to fight cancer. It appears that the natural chemical reaction that forms allicin, which occurs when the garlic is eaten or smashed, may penetrate and kill tumor cells. Reduce Risk of Heart Disease Several studies suggest that garlic has many beneficial effects on the heart. Garlic may:
Fight Parasites and Viral Infections Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. And unlike with antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use. Antioxidant Effect Garlic can have a powerful antioxidant effect in the body, which means it helps to protect against damaging free radicals. Reduce Fungal Infections Garlic's anti-fungal properties are excellent for reducing fungal infections, such as yeast infections. Avoid Insect Bites People who eat garlic tend to get fewer bites from insects like ticks, according to research. It also likely applies to mosquitoes as well. One problem with garlic, of course, is the smell, but generally a few cloves a day are tolerated by most people. If you develop a socially offensive odor then all you need to do is slightly decrease the amount of garlic you're consuming until there is no odor present. Garlic is an herb, however, so if you do not like it or it makes you feel sick, this is your body's way of telling you that you should avoid it.
The researchers found that when the women with the highest folate intake were compared to the women with the lowest intake, those in the higher group had a slightly reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer. More striking, however, was the fact that women who had folate-rich diets and who also drank at least two or more alcoholic beverages each week were 74 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer.
Obviously, two drinks a week is a fairly moderate intake of alcohol. But this is one of those cases where more is not better, because excessive alcohol consumption can create a folate deficiency. Other factors that can lead to low folate levels include: smoking, oral contraceptives, high intake of aspirin, general malnourishment, and certain drugs such as the chemotherapy drug methotrexate.
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