Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician known as the father of medicine, said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Food such as garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Many great civilizations such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese all used garlic to remedy different ailments. Modern research is now starting to prove the natural healing power of garlic. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of garlic. 

 

The Natural Healing Power of Garlic

 

Boosts Immune system

Garlic has been used as a natural antibiotic for thousands of years. Recent research has shown this to be true, and has proven that garlic can be effective against a multitude of different bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Garlic extract is even used to combat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in developing countries. 

 

Helps detox heavy metals from the body

Garlic used in high doses has been shown to help protect against organ damage from toxic heavy metals. A study conducted with patients with lead poisoning who worked at a car battery plant found that garlic reduced levels of lead in the blood by 19%. Patients were separated into two groups and treated for 4 weeks. One group received 3 doses of garlic each day, while the other group received 3 doses of d-penicillamine. Each method was equally effective in reducing the symptoms associated with lead poisoning. However, the d-penicillamine group suffered a higher rate of side effects compared to the garlic group. Garlic was thus proven to be just as effective as d-penicillamine, but without the harmful side effects. 

 

Improves cardiovascular health

Garlic has been used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. Scientific literature shows that garlic has a significant effect in lowering blood pressure, preventing plaque build up in the arteries, and reduction in cholesterol. In one study conducted with 47 patients, garlic was shown to lower blood pressure by 12 mmHg over the course of 12 weeks compared to the placebo where no significant changes occurred. None of the patients treated with garlic suffered from any harmful side effects. 

 

Anti-cancer properties

Garlic has been found to have anti-cancer properties, and it is possible that it could lead to preventing cancer. A study tried to figure out which foods prevent cancer the most, and subsequently, garlic was found to be the most potent cancer preventative food. In fact, garlic inhibits the growth of tumor cells. Researchers found that garlic inhibited the development of chemically induced tumors in rodents. 

 

Garlic is a delicious way to help prevent illness, and boost your immune system. To get the most out of garlic, avoid cooking it at temperatures higher than 140 degrees. Eating garlic raw is the best way to get the most out of it. Cooking it over 140 degrees changes the Ph, and subsequently, changes it’s potency. Everyone can benefit from the natural healing power of garlic. It can help boost your immune system, help to detox your body, and may even help to prevent cancer. To learn more about about how to better boost your immune system, schedule an appointment with Midvale Chiropractic today! 

 

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22194081/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22151785

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2083170/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic#section5