Garlic

How Garlic Helps the Body and Brain

Garlic can be found in just about any home, but most probably don’t know just how many health benefits it actually has, ones that might even help you live longer! 

Garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, it was actually given to Olympic athletes as a way to enhance performance and reduce fatigue. Today, studies in people with heart conditions have shown that garlic can lower peak heart rate and improve endurance during exercise.

One well known use is as an immune system booster and combatant of the common cold. It has been known to reduce the length and severity of cold symptoms, making it a great additive to a nice bowl of soup. But the most significant benefits of garlic are ones that you most likely haven’t heard yet, and this little plant could do you a lot of good in the long run.

Did you know you can use raw garlic to treat cold sores? Yup! Garlic has anti-viral, anti-fungal and antibacterial enzymes that help combat the blisters.

There are several cold sore remedies using garlic but one of the more popular ways to get the benefits is by using the clove.

Peel the clove and slice it in half.  Then just place the garlic on the cold sore for 5-10 minutes at a time, 3 to 4 times per day.  Some say it’ll cut your recovery time by three days.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S, and garlic has a surprising amount of ways to help prevent it. Garlic is naturally anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help reduce blood pressure. It even helps regulate cholesterol and in preventing plaque build up in arteries. And that still isn’t the most impressive thing garlic can do.

The Chinese CDC did a study that saw a reduced risk in lung cancer with regular consumption of garlic. Garlic has strong antioxidant properties that help fight against brain damage and free radicals. The Medical University of South Carolina even studied how some compounds found in garlic could actually help eradicate brain cancer cells! What could be better than a wonderfully flavorful vegetable that can help lower blood pressure and fight cancer cells and cold sores? Oh wait, one that is also easy to grow almost anywhere!

HOW TO GROW

Garlic is a simple plant to grow. It needs well drained soil and a lot of sun. Bulbs can be purchased from a garden center or online. Once you’ve received your bulbs, put them in the fridge for approximately six weeks before separating the cloves and planting 3-4 inches deep in the soil. When harvesting you can use the smaller bulbs in the kitchen, and break up the biggest and healthiest to repeat the process. Bonus: they are also a natural pest repellent so the rest of your garden will thank you too.

My favorite type of garlic is Society Garlic.  The flavor is AMAZING!

Garlic is delicious, easy to grow from home and has incredible health benefits. If you’re like me you put garlic on every other meal, but maybe now you’ll put it on everything. If for some reason you aren’t a fan of the pungent flavor, no worries, you can still get the health benefits by taking garlic extract supplements. Help your heart, your brain and your dinner by adding a little more garlic to your life!

Don’t forget, whatever ailment you have, I’m sure there are several natural remedies that can help!  We have an entire section of natural remedies on our page.