Garlic is good for you. There’s no doubt about it, eating garlic makes you healthier. Or does it?
There are many claims made about the wonders of garlic in your diet. However, most of these claims come from hand-me-down folklore and not from rigorous analysis. Now that many herbal remedies are being studied in detail, it has become apparent that garlic is not the wonder-food many have believed it to be.
Claims about garlic’s power range from fighting cancer to lowering cholesterol, from relieving headaches to stopping foot odor. While many claims are obviously silly, people tend to believe the cholesterol and anti-cancer aspects. It is these claims that are now being questioned.
Garlic does contain antioxidants, so there are cancer-fighting aspects to its consumption. Additionally, garlic has antibiotic effects, so it will kill many potential sources of illness in your diet. It is also a natural blood thinner, which may or may not be beneficial depending on your current state of health.
Garlic does not, however, decrease cholesterol levels. In fact, it may cause an increase of plaque in the bloodstream. This would actually increase heart-attack risk if it is verified.
Also, consumption of moderate or large quantities of garlic are associated with an increase in susceptibility to the common cold. Yes, eating garlic can cause you to get sick.
As for its cancer-fighting abilities, there are questions as to whether the chemicals in garlic are really anti-carcinogenic. Further study is needed to determine if they are.
About the only things we know for sure about garlic is that it has a strong taste, causes the breath to change odor, and that it makes everything taste better. And even that last point is contentious.
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Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
