Health, Taken Seriously

I have been taking garlic as a supplement when I am sick for over a decade. I really truly believe in the health benefits of it. Here are some of the amazing things garlic has been found to do:

• It can reduce the number of colds you catch. A 2001 clinical trial showed that when 146 people received either a garlic supplement or a placebo, the garlic group reported only 24 colds as compared to 65 reported by the placebo group.
• Garlic powder has been shown to significantly reduce the buildup of arterial plaque. It may also lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
• Aged garlic extract has been found to lower homocysteine levels (high levels indicate inflammation).
• Garlic juice acts as an antibiotic, even against some antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
• Garlic is antifungal too.
• A garlic rich diet may reduce the risks for colorectal and gastric cancers. Doctor and author Steven G Pratt says that eating one clove of garlic daily may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

The best way to get your garlic is to eat one medium clove each day. You can also take a supplement of 600-900 mg of powdered garlic or 4 mL of aged garlic extract. For more info on garlic, see the Whole Foods Market Jan/Feb 2008 magazine.

Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Immunity, Supplements on January 26th, 2008