The Gift of Garlic
-not just to your loved ones after eating copious amounts of garlic or it’s purported ability to ward off vampires. Though with Halloween coming up, that may come in handy. In Taoist mythology, six clove black garlic can give you supernatural powers and immortality. Another handy thing to have…
Native to Asia, garlic has been revered in culinary and medicinal circles for over 5000 years. Believed to enhance strength and endurance – those who built the pyramids ate it, the Olympians ate it and so did the Roman conquerors.
Garlic is a nutritional powerhouse – perhaps not so much in vitamin and mineral content but in it’s numerous sulfur containing compounds. These sulfur compounds are also what gives garlic it’s pungent aroma and flavor – thus earning it’s nick name “The Stinking Rose.”
and what a rose it is…
Not to overlook the vitamin and mineral category…
garlic has a fair amount of vitamin C (a great antioxidant) and B6 (helps lower the blood vessel damaging homocysteine)
along with minerals manganese and selenium – both work to support our natural antioxidant systems.
No small wonder that much research shows garlic can play an important role in heart health.
But wait, there’s more…
research into garlic’s sulfur compounds – allicin and diallyl disulphide among others have been found to*:
- lower blood pressure
- reduce artery clogging platelets
- inhibits calcification of blood vessels
- improve blood flow (via blood thinning)
- lower cholesterol
- reduce inflammation
- improve the symptoms of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and asthma
- antibacterial, antibacterial, antiparasitic and antifungal
- used to support the body’s immune system against bacterial infections, colds, flu and yeast infections
- reduce risk of cancer
- used in WW I and II topically to prevent gangrene
- prevent some complications of diabetes
I’m convinced this is one must have for the garden and wouldn’t you know it –
Now is the time to plant those little cloves which will grow into full sized bulbs for harvest in late Spring early Summer.
Tomorrow, some garlic planting pointers.
*Be advised that any nutrition information suggested is not intended as a treatment for any disease. The intent of any nutritional recommendation is to support the physiological and biochemical processes of the human body, and not to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease or condition. Always work with a qualified medical professional before making changes to your diet, prescription medication, lifestyle or exercise activities.
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