Well it is that time of year again and already I have patients in the office with colds, sinus infections and bronchitis. Last year I read a great little book by Dr. Benjamin Lau called Garlic for Health. I want to share some of this great information with you. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been long associated with folk lore and superstition but it has also been well studied with over one thousand scientific papers published about the various aspects of garlic most within the past 15 years. The research is broad with papers written by Indian, Japanese, European and American researchers. Research has been done about garlic’s ability to inhibit the growth of molds, fungus, yeast, viruses and bacteria. Pathogens such as ringworm, meningitis, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes, influenza virus and even the AIDS virus have been shown to grow poorly in the presence of garlic. This is fascinating research yet we don’t hear much about it.
Patients that supplement their diets with garlic have fewer colds and recover faster. But the odor is the stumbling block which prevents people from taking garlic on a regular basis. Many companies are now producing an odorless form and it has been show to be equally effective. Garlic interferes with the production of fat or lipids by the microbe. Lipids are important in the production of the cell membrane and so in the presence of garlic, these microbes can reproduce but they cannot build their cell or their body so to speak, so they die. This is interesting because garlic also affects the lipids in our bodies; the cholesterol. A study was done on patients with coronary heart disease which found that garlic initially raised blood lipid level because it moved the lipids or fats from the liver to the blood stream. But with continued garlic supplementation, the blood lipid levels decreased because the excess fats were broken down and eliminated through the intestines. So garlic can lower your blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels but only if taken for at least 3 months on a regular basis. The amount that the patients studied were taken was 4 capsules of Kyolic, an odorless form, per day.
On top of that, garlic also prevents the formation of clots, inhibits platelet aggregation, lowers blood pressure, reduces plaque formation in the arteries and even reverses established arteriosclerosis. Pretty cool for a plant you can grow in your garden.
Garlic has also been shown to regulated blood sugar which is a problem for people with diabetes. It is thought that the plant improves the insulin effect by either increasing the secretion of insulin or by releasing insulin which is bound up elsewhere.
Another interesting benefit in taking garlic is its effects on allergic rhinitis or hay fever. By taking six pills of garlic, you can neutralize the toxic effect of various chemicals. If you live in any urban area, Southington included, you are bombarded by smoke fumes, automobile exhaust, smog and air pollution. Many people are sensitive to these chemicals and their bodies react. Garlic helps to detoxify your body which can help with preventing the development of cancer and other serious life threatening diseases. I encourage you to read this book and start enjoying your flavorful meals.
And as another note, please check my website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com for additional health information as well as other areas on my blog.
