The health benefits of garlic as a food and as a medicinal agent have been known widely throughout the world since the start of recorded history. From ancient Egyptians, to slaves, to soldiers, garlic is and has been used for centuries for a variety of purposes, making it one of the most versatile food plants known to man today.
Garlic, as most people already know, is a very powerful and natural antibiotic. It’s always been known to fight off unwanted toxins, bacteria, and even sickness caused by disease or virus. For instance, garlic was eaten with every mean and as a snack in between by those who handled the remains of plague victims, because it was said to be the most powerful and effective way to combat the plague.
Now, I know Garlic is a wonderfully useful food item, but preventing against the plague is a little much. There are many other interesting facts about garlic and many modern uses for it today both in foods and as a medicinal agent., that can prove it’s ancient usefulness a bit more convincingly.
Garlic is also anti fungal as well as antibiotic, and is used in it’s pure, raw form as well as an extract to cute many common things such as athlete’s foot, yeast infections, ear infections, and even help fight and prevent pink eye. Modern day research using the plant in almost all of it’s natural-remedy inspired experiments has shown that Garlic is making some promising headway toward the fight against Cancers. Garlic has been shown to help fight off many types of common cancer cells, including some of the cancer cells present in the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, breasts, and has even been known to aid against prostate and intestinal cancers. (See this Garlic Q & A from the Cancer.gov for more information on Garlic against Cancer!)
More commonly, garlic is used to fight off the common cold and modern flu viruses. It has been known to quickly clear your sinuses, mostly due to it’s strong taste and overpowering smell. In addition to keeping your body fit against the snifflies, garlic is also a major natural preventer of many common heart problems in today’s adults, because it is a natural blood thinner, known to prevent platelet build up in your arteries. Studies in recent years have shown that garlic is effective in lowering your blood pressure as an adult, regulating your cholesterol levels, and maintaining a healthy and fully functional pancreas and liver.
More and more tests and experiments are done each day with garlic to find out just how many (we’re up to the hundreds now) positive effects garlic has on the human body. Medicine has praised and held garlic high on a pedestal since ancient times, and it’s no wonder. It’s been a wonder cure for centuries, as well as one of the the most commonly used spice in American kitchens today. Next time you’re feeling a little under the weather or have a bad case of gym-foot, reach for a clove of garlic and save yourself some trouble – as well as some money!
