The word ‘panacea’ gets thrown around quite a bit, especially in the realm of nutrition and natural health. But if the word has any import or meaning, it lay in the substance of garlic. Garlic is widely recognized as one of the most important health supplements that can be found in the natural world. It promotes both the heart and immune system, with antioxidant properties, and helps to maintain healthy blood circulation. Indeed, one of garlic’s most powerful heath benefits is its ability to increase the body’s immune cell activity.
The potent aspect of garlic, that is to say its active component, is the sulfur compound allicin, which is produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. Allicin is a strong antibiotic, and a powerful agent which assists the body to inhibit the ability of germs to augment and reproduce.
Garlic also contains Germanium, an anti-cancer agent, and garlic has more of it than any other herb. In lab tests, mice fed garlic showed no cancer development, while those mice which were not fed garlic showed some increase. In fact, garlic has been shown to slow tumor growth in human subjects in some parts of the world.
These are reasons enough to take garlic regularly; but these are merely a few of its desirable qualities. Garlic has proven one of the best immune system boosters, as the presence of all the antioxidants in garlic have a very positive effect on the immune system in general and can therefore protect the body against all types of bacterial and viral attacks, including cold sores, herpes and shingles.
Garlic also acts as a good cold medication, decongestant and expectorant. It is a surprisingly good source of vitamins C, B6 and the minerals selenium and manganese all of which have long been associated with immune system boosting as well as other benefits.
Antibotic, anti-carcinogenic, pro-immune system. And throw in helpful to the heart, and useful in losing weight, as well as other beneficial properties. Garlic is an essential part of a heathful and intelligent diet.