Garlic: An Ancient Superfood



A popular ingredient in many cuisines, garlic has taken the title as one of the oldest medicinal plants ever recorded. It has touched so many parts of history that tracing its origin has become a strenuous task. Records on clay tablets of early civilizations have shown the usage of garlic in both everyday diet and medicinal use. Some go as far back as 3000 B.C.E [1]

Today, garlic is considered native to central Asia yet it has wild plants flourishing in Italy and southern France.[2] This doesn't mean that all of our available garlic is imported. The US is ranked the tenth largest global producer of garlic; many of which are grown in California.


 Properties  

Garlic has been used to treat such a broad spectrum of ailments as a result of its many properties that it contains. It is a known antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Thus, it has the potential to treat anything from athlete's foot to bronchitis. With it being nutrient dense, this superfood can be an excellent supplementary plant.[3]

We can't really speak about garlic without mentioning one of the star compounds within it: Allicin. It is responsible for the many of the properties of garlic and the main culprit for the sulphuric stench. Allicin is actually not in fresh garlic when whole but rather it is converted from present enzymes after being chopped or crushed.[4] Allicin is destroyed by cooking so its best to eat raw garlic to attain maximum benefit.


Benefits at Work

Let's take a deeper look and see what these properties of garlic can handle.

1.Infections
Crushed garlic can be added to foot soaks to treat athlete's foot or used as an antibiotic to kill other infections such as a sore throat, ear infections, and certain strands of staph.[5]


2. Blood health
Garlic improves circulation of blood and widens the arteries resulting in lower blood pressure. It has also been proven in a study to lower lipids in the blood; translating into lower cholesterol levels. [6,7]

3.Anti-inflammatory 
Including garlic in your diet can help alleviate inflammation in the joints (commonly known as arthritis), [8] the skin and other affected areas caused by inflammatory based illnesses.

4.Immunity boost
Garlic is packed with antioxidants, vitamin B6, vitamin C and other minerals which makes it a favorite go-to of mines when I feel like I need a pick-me-up for my immune system.[9]
Here is my Immunity Booster tea recipe that I love to use whenever it is "flu-season" or when feel like I may be coming down with a little bug:


Yields: 1 Serving 
1-2 cloves of sliced or crushed garlic
1/4 of a teaspoon of turmeric 
1/8 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 Teaspoon of raw honey
Slice of lemon (optional)
Pinch of pepper

Add all ingredients to a pot or cup and add boiling water. Let steep for at least 3 mins before drinking. You can strain into another cup or drink as it is. (Tip: parsley or lemon can be used to inhibit garlic breath after drinking.) 

Disclaimers

  • All product reviews are based on my experiences. Please be advised that everyone may not have the same experience. I am not affiliated with any product or marketing unless otherwise noted. Please check with manufacture disclaimers prior to use of any product.
  • All advice, information, and remedies should be taken into severe consideration. Please contact your health practitioner or holistic practitioner if you are struggling with a disease or currently taking any form of medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.





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