The medicinal qualities of Garlic has been known for thousands of years. Unfortunately, these days garlic is used in cooking more for its taste than its healing qualities.
Garlic for Blood Pressure:
A compound (Allicin) found in garlic helps bring down high blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow less restrictively thus lowering the risk of stroke or heart attack. In some studies, it has shown to be even better than medications for lowering blood pressure.
The best way to utilize garlic for lowering blood pressure is to eat it RAW (uncooked). The best timings are in the morning on empty stomach. Unfortunately, most of these benefits are lost when we cook the garlic.
Garlic for building immunity:
Garlic is great for building immunity and keeping us safe from virus and harmful bacteria. Just before the flu season start or if you are thinking about a trip abroad (especially if travelling to India), its a great idea to start taking a table spoon of chopped raw garlic every morning on an empty stomach for two weeks.
Feed good gut bacteria (Pre-biotic):
Garlic is a pre-biotic and help feed healthy bacteria in your intestines. Garlic is also anti viral and anti-fungal and is great for recovering from persistent cough & mucus. The more worse the infection the higher should be the amount of Raw garlic intake.
How to take Raw Garlic?
Chewing 3-4 medium size cloves of garlic is the best way to use garlic therapeutically. This way it can kill any gum infection as well. However, due to our social interactions this way might not be desirable for most. So the second best way to take it is by chopping the cloves, putting it on the spoon and gulping it with water. This way one doesn't retain the strong smell. You can brush your teeth after words.
Garlic / Olive oil Massage for infections, cold and cough. Another way to use the power of Garlic is to take 8-10 cloves. chop it and keep it aside. Now gently heat a table spoon of olive oil till its warm to touch. Put it aside and add the chopped garlic. mix it well and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Now massage both feet (ankle down) firmly so the garlic infused oil can be absorbed in the skin. Put on cotton socks and cover the feet.
This process is best just before going to sleep so the garlic can do its job. Continue for few days.
Not a Panacea:
As I have mentioned many times, we should never consider one thing as a cure all. Always look at what is causing the health problems in the first place. It is typically one or all of the following - high fat / oily foods, sugary foods, processed foods, animal derived foods, high salt intake and stress. By adding a lot more plant based foods (fruits, salads and vegetables - cooked with least amount of oil), regular exercise, and doing meditation/deep breathing to relieve stress is the best way to ensure you stay away from health challenges. More importantly it will help you stay away from medications (as much as possible).
Note of caution: If you are on blood pressure pills, monitor your blood pressure at least for the first few days of taking Garlic as it will naturally lower your blood pressure. If you change your diet along with taking Garlic you might not even have to take medications down the road to lower your blood pressure.
I also suggest reading the studies done on the various health benefits of Garlic to learn more.
As a side note, my wife recently went to her home in India and as per my suggestions, she was taking raw garlic every morning. As per her, she ate everything and anything during her 3 week trip - not recommended :) but didn't get sick for even one day. Now this could be a coincidence but she had started taking raw garlic one week before her trip to build up her immunity.
Also, this doesn't mean one can eat anything and everything and just take Garlic and be OK. One must use common sense wherever it is required.
Home-made Hummus:
Sometimes we enjoy the benefits of garlic is by making home made hummus. We use boiled sprouted chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and raw garlic (instead of roasted). We also found out that olive oil is not really a necessity and we enjoyed the hummus as is with whole grain crackers.
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