Tuesday 28 June 2016

Garlic, How To Eat It And It's Importance To Your Body

Garlic has a strong taste that enlivens most dishes (if correct  amounts are used)
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium.
Garlic has been used as both food and medicine for thousands of years. Today, garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, including atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries (plaque buildup in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and may lead to heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and to boost the immune system. Eating garlic regularly
may also help protect against cancer.
Garlic can be consumed in its raw form. It can also be found in powder and tablet forms. Garlic is a powerful agent in controlling cholesterol,as well as lower LDL cholesterol in the blood. If  eaten regularly, garlic's properties make dispensing of waste much easier. It can also help the body fight the effect of nicotine and ageing.
                                           
                                                     How To Eat Garlic

Eating large amounts of garlic un - chopped are not  beneficial and can cause bloating and a sore stomach. It must be finely chopped or ground into a pulp to work correctly.

                                                   Types Of Garlic
     Garlic has two (2) main types  namely :
» Hard neck (ophioscorodon) - This  have flower stalks, bigger cloves, are easier to peel.
» Soft neck (sativum) - This have smaller cloves, are harder to peel.
        
                                 The Importance Of Garlic To The Body
                 
Garlic is rich in antioxidants. In your body, harmful particles called free radicals build up as you age and may contribute to heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer disease. Antioxidants like those found in garlic fight off free radicals, and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause over time.

The conditions for which garlic is showing the most promise include the following:

Heart disease:

Garlic is most often mentioned as an herb for heart disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). But evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest that garlic may help prevent heart disease. It may slow down atherosclerosis and lower blood pressure a little, between 5% and 8%. Most of the studies on high blood pressure use a specific formulation called Kwai. One study that lasted 4 years found that people who took 900 mg daily of standardized garlic powder slowed the development of atherosclerosis. Garlic also seems to act as a blood thinner, which may help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Common cold:

Early evidence suggests garlic may help prevent colds. In one study, people took either garlic supplements or placebo for 12 weeks during cold season, between November and February. Those who took garlic had fewer colds than those who took placebo. And when they did get a cold, the people taking garlic saw their symptoms go away faster than those who took placebo.

Cancer:

Garlic may strengthen the immune system, helping the body fight diseases such as cancer. In test tubes, garlic seems to kill cancer cells. And population studies, ones that follow groups of people over time, suggest that people who eat more raw or cooked garlic are less likely to get colon and stomach cancers and cancer of the esophagus. In fact, researchers who reviewed 7 studies found a 30% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer among people who ate a lot of raw or cooked garlic. Garlic supplements do not seem to have the same effect.

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