Behold, the wonders of garlic! This powerful member of the lily family, affectionately called “the stinking rose,” has been used medicinally for over 5,000 years. Garlic has earned most of its notoriety for the heart-health benefits it offers. Not only does it help reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides, but the unique sulfur-containing compounds in garlic protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. Including garlic in your daily diet helps the blood flow smoothly and prevents clogging of the arteries.
But that’s not all… garlic also has potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral benefits. Crushed garlic was shown to be effective for preventing infections in burn patients and has the ability to directly attack harmful microbes. Garlic is used therapeutically for yeast infections and overgrowth of intestinal Candida albicans, a form of yeast.
This amazing herb even has some important anti-cancer properties. Research suggests that daily intake of garlic may help lower the risk of most forms of cancer. One of many medicinal compounds found in garlic appears to modify certain cell responses and may play a key role in preventing cancerous cells to form.
With all of these health benefits, garlic could certainly be classified as a Wonder Food and there’s good reason to include it in your daily diet. Chopping or crushing the garlic cloves stimulates the enzymatic process that allows allicin, one of the most active compounds in garlic, to shine. After crushing the garlic, it’s best to wait five minutes before using it to allow for maximum production of the allicin. Enjoy the versatility of this flavorful herb by adding it raw to salad dressing, lightly sautéing it with vegetables or roasting the whole head to make a rich, sweet spread.
Michelle Babb, MS, RD, is a Bastyr-trained dietitian with a private practice in West Seattle. For more information and recipes visit http://www.eatplaybe.com.
This article appeared in the July/August 2012 issue of Northwest Prime Time, the Puget Sound region’s monthly publication celebrating life after 50.
