Healing Power of Garlic
Garlic, from ancient to modern
Garlic has been used as a supplement to health since the ancient times. Texts from Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Babylonia all point to it being prescribed for different ailments as well as being used to enhance performance in the case of the original Olympians. Science is now siding with the ancient medical texts and explaining the many benefits that have been found with garlic supplementation.
Improved immune function has been one of the focuses for multiple studies. Through 12 weeks, the addition of garlic was found to decrease the number of colds by 63% compared to those taking a placebo. Besides decreasing the number of colds, it was also shown to help decrease symptoms of those with the colds from 5 days to 1.5 days. That’s a 70% decrease in feeling like crap! A second study found very similar results showing 61% fewer incidence of colds. Take this with a grain of salt as another review showed more studies were needed to confirm these changes. Besides assisting with immune function, garlic has been used to help with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Multiple studies showed decrease in blood pressure and in lowering LDL (the bad cholesterol). One study found garlic as effective as a prescription for lowering blood pressure over a 24-week period.
While not necessarily a superfood, garlic does have many benefits that science is just catching up to. Those ancient physicians understood something key to health: food is a great source of letting our body heal and function as it is supposed to. Keep up with your healthy eating habits and enjoy the benefits from adding a little garlic to your life.
Recipe
- 12ounces salmon (cut into 2-3 strips)
- salt
- black pepper
- 1pinch cayenne pepper
- 2tablespoons honey
- 1tablespoon warm water
- 1 1/2teaspoons apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1tablespoon olive oil
- 3cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2lemon (sliced into wedges)
First, season the salmon fillets with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
Next, make the honey garlic sauce by mixing the ingredients together.
The final step is heating up a skillet or pan and cook the salmon with garlic and the sauce.
Serve with the lemon wedges.
References
Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2001 Jul-Aug;18(4):189-93.
Nantz MP, Rowe CA, Muller CE, Creasy RA, Stanilka JM, Percival SS. Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun;31(3):337-44.
Lissiman E, Bhasale AL, Cohen M. Garlic for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 11;2014(11):CD006206.
Our Message
When you are looking for a Chiropractor near you who you can trust, choose one who will not only get rid of your back pain, neck pain, or headaches but who will also guide you to living a healthier lifestyle to keep you out of pain. Our Doctors in Dallas, located near the corner of Mockingbird Ln. and Abrams Rd., will teach you what the research says about how and why we should eat a better diet, move more and have more positive thought