Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious about your heart, or about the possibility of contracting cancer? If so, you are not alone, and your concerns are quite valid. Cancer and heart disease are today's major killers, and as of now, we are yet to find a safe and effective drug, that can prevent these diseases. Some will argue that taking one or two aspirins a day can reduce the risk of heart disease, and it saddens me to see how many people are doing this, because I know the problems brought by aspirin over use, if these people knew about the long term damage caused by this drug, they would think twice, before popping another one into their mouths. Maybe they would give up that harmful habit if they learn that there is a better answer to preventing these and other diseases. What is the answer? The herb called Garlic, but don't just take my word, even scientists are supporting its properties.
A lot of people use garlic in cooking without knowing that this herb has quite a few medicinal uses. Although Garlic has been around for several thousands of years, its origins are quite obscure. It is thought to have come from Russia making its way to the Mediterranean countries. Garlic was known to be used in the diets of ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. Garlic is known to aid digestion, ward off colds, infection, expel worms, ease chest congestion, help alleviate rheumatism and cleanse the intestines. In World War I, garlic juice was used on the sterile bandages to prevent infection. Garlic has also been known to help hardening of the arteries, sinus problems, skin complexion, and hay fever if taken in capsule form on a regular basis.
This herb has been study, and the results are amazing, garlic contains a large number of sulphur compounds. One of these compounds is diallyl disulphide, which has remarkable anti-cancer properties. This compound prevents two early stages of carcinogenesis, initiation and promotion, from developing. The anti-initiator activity is the result of two complementary mechanisms:
- diallyl disulphide prevents certain carcinogenic substances from being activated
- moreover, this molecule stimulates enzymes capable of neutralising the activity of carcinogenic substances
These two mechanisms reduce the toxicity of carcinogens to cell DNA. Diallyl disulphide is metabolised in the liver into an oxide compound that may be behind the effects described.
In both cases, these studies have dealt with cancer prevention in rat liver, but the mechanisms brought to light give reason to believe that their scope is much wider: effects on other cancers, potential extrapolation to humans.
As fruit and vegetables are rich in minor constituents, nutritionists have increasingly shown an interest in their role in the prevention of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases over the last decade.
One the most interesting stories of the properties of garlic, came to me from South Africa, Professor Sid Cywes, a former paediatric surgeon at University of Cape Town was having trouble hybridizing his orchids seeds. The trouble was a fungal infection in his culture medium. Mr Peter De Wet, a chief research technologist and Prof Cywes hatched a plan that entailed a dose of garlic. To their astonishment administering garlic to their orchid culture medium killed the mould. They then went on to test garlic's ability to combat the yeast Candida. At that time one of Prof Cywe's patients, a baby at the Red Cross Hospital had a serious Candida infection down the entire length of its oesophagus and gastro-intestinal tract. A garlic solution added to the baby's milk cured the child within 48 hours.
Since then about thirty very sick infants, where broad spectrum antibiotics failed to bring improvement, have been given fresh allicin enterally. The allicin treatment brought about a significant success. However, this was not a controlled clinical study.
One of the active ingredients in garlic is a compound called allicin. On crushing fresh garlic, an enzyme called alliinase is released which rapidly converts the odorless compound alliin into allicin bearing the typical odor of garlic. Allicin is highly unstable and rapidly converts to other sulfur-compounds such as ajoene. It is however allicin and ajoene which have been the main subject of research. These compounds block the enzymes which are necessary for metabolism of the micro-organisms. They have been shown to inhibit the growth of more than 23 organisms. A very interesting point is that no resistance to allicin has been found up to date.
Garlic and its compounds, have been tested against the bacteria Helicobacter pylori and it had tremendous success. Allicin has also been shown to inhibit Campylobacter- universally recognized as the most common cause of gastro-enteritis in very young children of low-income families. These findings are of much interest as bacteria including Helicobacter and Campylobacter are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
I just hope that more people are exposed to this information, so they can make a wiser decision when it comes to preventing diseases like the ones we discussed here. Please send this article to your friends and loved ones, share with them the information you have, help them keep their health.
Until next time,
Charles Silverman N.D.
Is the author of ?The Homemade Medicine e-book First Edition? and owner of http://www.homemademedicine.com
e-mail: http://www.homemademedicine.com
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
Looking for an easy and natural way increase your vitality... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
Please feel free to comment, so that the article may... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
For a natural and tasty way to improve your health... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Arlington Heights ..Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
Coconut oil is less known compare to olive oil, corn... Read More
Nails are a protective horn at the end of our... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
Many low carb dieters fall victim to "carb creep," which... Read More
After WLS we must concentrate on eating nutrient rich food.... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
"You are what you eat."Does it sound familiar? You probably... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
To research the health risks Sweet 'N Low and other... Read More
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
We come from a society where growing organic and just... Read More
With the release of the new dietary guidelines, in the... Read More
I'm always amazed at how many people seem to know... Read More
Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
Nutrition |