Treating with Garlic Is More Than a Myth

With regards to myths and legends, the use of garlic has been known in fighting off vampires and other related elements. But in reality, garlic does more than that.

A series of careful studies and researches headed by John A. Milner, head of the Department of Nutrition at the Pennsylvania State University College of Health and Human Development, indicates that eating garlic is an effective prevention or greatly helps reduce the incidence of breast cancer. Aside from that, eating garlic has several other health benefits that are considerably highly beneficial to persons of all age groups. These benefits include stronger immune system, significantly lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Further studies of Milner also revealed that garlic also acts as an anti cancer agent. Being such, garlic can slow down the growth of tumors and acts as a shield from any damaging effects caused by free radicals, oxidation, and nuclear radiation.

The use of garlic as a medical remedy has been well known since the ancient times. Ancient civilizations in Egypt, China, Greece, and Sumer have manuscripts that have been recently discovered containing detailed information regarding the use of garlic for treating almost everything under the sun, from snake bites to epilepsy.

In numerous studies and publications of Milner, garlic has been highly emphasized as an anti cancer agent. In such studies, it has been found out that regular intake of powdered garlic helps suppress the fusion of the potent carcinogen 7,12 dimathylbenz anthracene and the mammary cell DNA in the rats. Moreover, six organosulfur compounds found in garlic have all impressive effects on the canine mammary tumor cell's growth. Specifically, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl trisulfide have sharply curbed the proliferation of tumor cells.

However, Milner, with the help of Kun song, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Nutrition, has discovered that there are certain ways in preparing the garlic that must not be practiced for they can completely strip off the cancer-fighting benefits of it. One example is by heating the garlic in microwave or conventional oven. But then, if the garlic has been either crushed or minced and allowed to stand for at least ten minutes, the health benefits of the garlic are preserved. This is due to the fact that the standing period before heating allows the production of allyl sulfur compounds which possess cancer fighting properties.

A garlic a day may keep the doctor away but, it can also make other people stay away from you as well.

Too much intake of garlic is known to have several adverse effects such as bad breath, gastrointestinal bleeding, and stomach upset. Like any other herbal medicines, eating garlic should also be well regulated. With the help of the 21st century technology, health professionals have formulated garlic preparations that will help us enjoy taking the herbal medicine.