Garlic is a member of the onion family—related to the shallot, leek and other plants in the genus Allium–and, as a dried root, is native to central Asia. However, it should be interesting to note it was widely used more than 5000 years ago. This herb was fed to workers who built the Great Pyramid at Giza. In addition, Greek athletes ate it to build their strength. In the United States, it was first cultivated in New Orleans by French settlers and, subsequently, missionaries brought it to California where it is grown today and made into garlic supplements.  In addition, fresh garlic cloves have been used for thousands of years and their use has been recorded in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Japan, India, Russia and Europe. Known as Russian penicillin, garlic has been used to treat ear infections, cholera typhus, and intestinal worms/parasites.   As a natural antibiotic, garlic was used during both world wars as a disinfectant as well as cleansing the intestines (colon).

Benefits of Garlic Supplements:

Studies suggest that garlic prevents heart disease; for example, the cells involved with blood clotting (platelets) are less likely to clump and stick to the artery walls.  The over-abundance of plaque on the artery walls is what causes heart attacks. In turn, with the widening of artery walls (garlic supplements dissolving clot-forming proteins) blood pressure is reduced.   Garlic can also inhibit the metabolism of cholesterol in the liver, whereas reducing the amount of cholesterol released into the blood: medical researchers are seeing 12% reductions of cholesterol levels after a minimum of 4 weeks of treatment with garlic supplements.

Particularly effective with regard to preventing breast, stomach and prostate cancers, garlic supplements seem to detoxify what triggers cancer-forming elements, such as the level of enzymes involved in this process.  By blocking the formation of nitrates that are linked to stomach cancer, garlic supplements stimulate the immune system in this manner.

Prevention of the common cold and lower incidence of symptoms related to such has been widely reported by using garlic supplements.  By blocking the ability of organisms their ability to invade and damage tissue, garlic supplements can ward off viral, bacterial and fungal infections (athlete’s foot.)  Garlic supports healthy ear function.   Garlic is great for the lungs.  You can say that garlic is nature’s best decongestant.

Garlic supplements

The essential benefits of garlic are in the 100 plus sulfur compounds it contains–allicin being its primary chemical.  Garlic supplements stressing allicin, are what to look for when shopping.

While consuming the garlic clove is best, it is not practical due to its rather strong and hot taste; therefore, garlic supplements bridge the gap concerning this.  Allicin is produced when garlic is finely chopped or crushed.  The finer the chopping and the more intensive the crushing, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.

While the myth of garlic warding off evil spirits may prevail, a daily dose may not be such a bad idea after all.