Garlic: universal medicine within the reach of everyone

The smell of roasted garlic is irresistible. It’s a spice that can be used for everything: in fried foods, in meat, pasta, pizza, salads… it works with virtually anything. Most importantly: it seems to have been used to care for health, to protect against plagues and insects and served as an antiseptic to prevent infections since the earliest times in history. Allicin is a compound that contains sulphur. It appears in crushed fresh garlic, where it’s found in the central part, and has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s also said to help solve or alleviate heart and cancer problems. In any case, its benefits for people are many. It’s worth having in the kitchen and consuming regularly.

And what is really garlic? It’s a plant of the onion family; the bulb, a rounded-bud plant, usually consists of 10 to 20 smaller pieces called cloves. We will now talk about its properties, emphasizing on five very special ones.

1. 1. Flu and colds: Take 2 or 3 cloves a day with hot water as a tea, adding some honey for flavour. It’ll help relieve nasal congestion and cure colds. It also boosts our immune system. Remember that consuming raw garlic always produces better effects than consuming it cooked or fried.

1. 1. Prevention of heart disease: Consuming garlic on a daily basis helps reduce your cholesterol level thanks to the antioxidant properties of allicin. It’s also useful for regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Remember that this compound, which includes sulphur, tends to lose its beneficial properties when consumed cooked.

1. 1. Antibacterial and anti-parasitic: Garlic has been used in many countries for thousands of years to treat bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections. Washing your mouth using a preparation containing garlic can alleviate tooth decay and gingivitis problems, keeping your teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.

1. 1. Cancer prevention: Several studies indicate an association between regular consumption of garlic and prevention of stomach, colon and rectal cancers. Apparently, it supports the immune system in its fight against cancer.

1. For skin and hair: Garlic seems to protect skin against the effects of free radicals and collagen depletion. If applied topically it improves fungal infected skin and relieves eczema. Massaging the skull with garlic has been shown to increase the density of overly fine hair.

1. 1. Avoid consuming garlic before surgical interventions.

1. 1. People who suffer from asthma should not consume garlic, as it can cause side effects.

1. Do not consume more than 2 or 3 cloves of garlic daily without consulting a specialist.