Heart health, good strong blood, cardiovascular protection, liver strengthening, immune boosting, nature’s number one food medicine. Get a love affair going with Garlic this winter.
Flu Fighting Qualities
Garlic contains Allicin, which contributes to its antimicrobial, antifungal, expectorant and immune stimulant qualities. Research has shown that garlic is an effective immune stimulant and when you exercise aerobically and consume garlic in your diet, clinical trials has shown garlic increases the quality, quantity and killing power of natural killer cells tenfold! This certainly is reason enough to take garlic from the beginning to the end of flu season.
Modern Research
Garlic is a broad spectrum antimicrobial, with clinical studies displaying its effectiveness against a wide range of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In addition to its direct effect on a wide range of pathogensgarlic has a direct effect on the immune system. It increases the activity of T cells, neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells and is also known to increase the secretion of interleukin. Garlic can be used topically to fight infections, help heal wounds and many skin fungus conditions respond well to garlic. Teenage acne can be combated much faster if they will rub raw garlic cloves into their pimples each night before bed, but ouch, it hurts and it stinks.
How To Use Garlic
Taken daily you could feel the health benefits throughout the winter season keeping you stronger and less prone to any seasonal illnesses. One of the best things about garlic is that it is commonly available. Make sure you source Australian grown Garlic as there is a lot of imported garlic available which has traveled a long way to get here. The local garlic will be fresher, tastier, more medicinal as a result and also cheaper. Grow some yourself this year. The tops of garlic are delicious in salads and stir fries.
Juice several bulbs of garlic and place in a jar in the fridge. Simply add a teaspoon of this aging garlic juice to bowls of soup and casseroles. Marinate your tofu or meats with 1 clove of garlic per person and some tamari, honey and ginger for a delicious meal.
Roasted garlic is easy to make and good to have on hand. Simply take 1 kg garlic bulbs. Place these on a baking dish and coat with olive oil. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and cook in the oven for 1 hour at 170 degrees C. roasted garlic salad is delicious combined with rocket, parmesan cheese, cherry tomato, avocado and lots of roasted garlic cloves. Once the cloves are roasted there is a sweetness and deliciousness to them which makes them very edible as a vegetable. If you are making a good garlic winter salad dish add some apple cider vinegar, sea salt and olive oil for a perfect gall bladder and liver cleansing dressing.
Raw garlic is beautiful medicine, once you slice the garlic open you release the active constituents that are very medicinal. Try to incorporate raw garlic into your diet. Slice a clove and add it to your salad or stir fry once the cooking is completed. Mix raw garlic with parsley and add to light cream cheese for a topping over hot potatoes, pumpkin or winter soup.
Don’t forget good old garlic bread. Take about 125gms butter a couple of cloves of garlic, a handful of parsley and mix well. Then spread on fresh bread and either bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or place bread under the grill.
Once you start your healthy love affair with garlic this winter you will find new and innovative ways to incorporate this basic medicine into your day.