Stinky and Amazing

  When you think of garlic you might envision an Italian dinner or a vampire repellent.  It’s weird looking and it stinks.  But that is the smell of good health.  Results appearing in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry says the optimal dose for reaping the heart-healthy benefits of garlic in this study was equivalent to about 1.25 ounces of raw garlic (or about 12 cloves) per day for a 150-pound person.  That’s a lot of garlic but I think it’s worth it for a health heart.

  Bad cholesterol may worry some of you.  A healthy diet and regular exercise has been recommended to help with this problem.  James Balch, M.D. wrote an article showing how garlic can help.  “Garlic is particularly effective against low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), the "bad" cholesterol that can damage the arteries and threaten the heart.”  He also states that garlic is a great antioxidant and antioxidants help with the prevention of cancer.

  The health benefits that Dr. Balch reported did not end there.  He also sited how garlic could be an alternative to an aspirin regiment.  “Like aspirin, garlic has certain qualities that thin the blood. By preventing platelets from banding together, garlic may keep the circulatory system healthy. Garlic can do this without any of the discomfort or other problems associated with aspirin.”

  We do have to be careful when choosing a diet supplement.  I suggest before you decide to start any health regiment, do some research.  Garlic does seem to yield natural, positive results.  But if you are unsure, ask a physician.  Remember, it is important to be healthy and safe.

  For more information go to these links:

  http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/123/115096

  http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/diet.fitness/9909/14/garlic.bad.cholesterol/index.html