Scientists discover the key to medicinal benefits of garlic
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered the key to benefits of garlic. Garlic has a compound called Allicin which breaks down into sulphur compounds. These compounds then interact with red blood cells and create hydrogen solphide which relaxes the blood vessels and keeps the blood flowing. Garlic has been considered a key medicine by traditional systems such as Ayurveda and TCM for thousands of years and it is nice to see western medicine join the crowd finally.
Read the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7045557.stm
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This reminds me of my grandmother, who would on a daily basis chop and eat small amounts of raw garlic and ginger. I guess she was finding benefits from this. Although I'm not sure why she ate it raw and not cooked. ( I tried the tiniest bit and it was so awful) Does anyone know if the helpful compound in garlic is broken down when cooked?
Dominique,
I was advised to eat raw garlic to deal with an upper respiratory infection. While I felt like my chest was burning for the first 15 minutes I ate the 3 cloves of garlic, my fever went down and my symptoms went away within an hour or so.
The symptoms returned the next day, and I should have repeated the garlic treatment. I just couldn't bare to handle it, so I opted for the symptoms of the infection over another dose of garlic.
Now, I don't know if 3 cloves were really necessary, but that is what I took. The symptoms were not as strong, however, even though they did return.
There are medicinal properties of garlic in raw form that are not there in full potency if the garlic is cooked.
I heard a piece on the radio with Dr Andrew Weil (friend of Oprah, author of cookbooks and big health nut), who told the interviewer that garlic is a natural antiseptic. He told the interviewer (Dr Mehmet Oz) that when he first feels a hint of a cold, he eats diced up raw garlic with bread. The bread is just to mellow out the flavor of the garlic since it's so pungent.
Dr Weil said the same thing -- that when it's raw, it's medicinal properties are much greater.
I did try this the next time I had a cold, and it seemed that my cold lasted a shorter time than what I expected. More than that, however, I realized how much I *love* garlic and I'm now hooked. Beware to anyone who comes to my house for dinner!
Dominique-your grandmother was right on. Ginger (and tumeric) are very effective anti-inflammatories.
I got the garlic tip from Dr. Weil. I do it a bit differently, though.
I peel and cut up a clove into 4-5 small pieces and toss them to the back of my mouth. This is followed by a glass of water. It can cause a bit of heartburn, but the water helps to moderate that, and some crackers or bread can help. I may get 1 cold a year, but that's about it.
well, i gave it a shot tonight and it wasnt that bad! i cant believe the first time I tried it I actually tried to chew the raw garlic. your way is much better. i did the same tonight...just cut up one clove into tiny bits then swallowed them with water.
hopefully it will help me fight my cold.
I also tried the ayurvedic remedy posted for sore throat - fresh ginger juice mixed with honey. I grated and then squeezed out the juice from the ginger (about 1/2 tsp) then mixed in 1tsp of honey. I warmed it slightly over the burner. It was hard to eat it all...but i did it twice today. we'll see how i feel tomorrow.