The Miracle of the Garlic Clove

The Miracle of the Garlic Clove

Garlic is widely believed to be one of the world’s greatest super-foods. Garlic is relatively easy to grow in most climates, adds superb taste to a wide variety of our favorite dishes, and the consumption of garlic is also believed to have a number of different health benefits.

Laurie Burrows Grad once famously proclaimed "Oh, that miracle clove! Not only does garlic taste good, it cures baldness and tennis elbow, too" (20 Quotes About Garlic, 2007). While I'm not too sure about the accuracy of the two particular health claims she made, I think she is definitely right about the miracle of that little clove!

Garlic's Health Benefits

Some of the health benefits said to be associated with garlic consumption, with varying degrees of scientific literature behind each, include lowering cholesterol levels, decreasing blood clotting, boosting the immune system, and protecting against various types of cancers like breast, prostate and colon cancer (Parker-Pope, 2007). The consumption of garlic is also said to have variety of antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal benefits. In addition, garlic has also been found to help improve symptoms associated with insomnia, fatigue, and anxiety; which could all be part of the reason garlic helps improve your mood.

Contradicting long-held popular beliefs, there has been a lot of debate within the scientific community recently about whether or not garlic consumption actually benefits cholesterol levels or not. Even in the studies that suggest garlic doesn't help lower cholesterol levels, the researchers are still compelled to point out that "garlic may still have an effect on other health and disease processes that were not addressed in this study, such as inflammation, immune function or cancer. But those potential benefits also need to be studied in rigorously controlled trials" (Herman, 2007). 

 

Maximizing Garlic's Health Benefits

No matter what method you choose to use for your garlic consumption, your sure reap some of the amazing health benefits associated with garlic consumption; although, many studies suggest that cooking garlic at high temperatures deactivates the most beneficial enzymes naturally found in garlic (cooking garlic at low temperatures is said to be safe, as long as the garlic was lightly crushed, minced, or chopped first). (Also note, studies have shown that cooking garlic in the microwave kills all the enzymes and deactivates garlic's medicinal properties.) To maximize garlic's health benefits, it is recommended that at least one clove of garlic be consumed per day and that it be crushed at room temperature and then allowed to sit for about 15 minutes prior to consumption; which "triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic" (Parker-Pope, 2007). 

Growing Your Own Garlic

 

From my own experiences I'd say that garlic is relatively easy to grow, and it is said to grow in a variety of climates. Sprouts usually come up during the cool seasons. Around here, in the central New York area, it is recommended that garlic bulbs be planted in mid-November for the best crop picking in late May.  Don't worry about it if you don't have the space outdoors to plant garlic... garlic can easily be grown in containers!

Check back here frequently for more information on the health benefits associated with garlic consumption. My next posting will be a follow-up to this one, featuring some of the more specific garlic intake recommendations to maximize certain specific health benefits. 

Resources

20 Quotes About Garlic. (2007, November 12). Retrieved June 28, 2013, from Eat This!: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-quotes-about-garlic.html

Herman, C. (2007, February 26). Stanford-UAlbany-Utah Study Refutes Claim that Garlic Consumption Lowers Cholesterol . Retrieved June 30, 2013, from University at Albany - Releases: http://www.albany.edu/campusnews/releases_267.htm

Parker-Pope, T. (2007, October 15). Unlocking the Benefits of Garlic. Retrieved June 29, 2013, from New York Times: Health and Science: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/unlocking-the-benefits-of-garlic/?_r=1