Allicin has been studied on more than one occasion due to its amazing anti-bacteria properties. Some studies have found this chemical can help fight infections and even prevent the onset of dangerous conditions such as food poisoning. The point of this research is that the chemical Allicin is quite delicate and disappears easily. Researchers are wondering whether long-term storage (bottled garlic) affects the levels of Allicin within the garlic.

The researchers within this project found that fresh garlic offers higher levels of Allicin than bottled garlic and therefore more healing and health properties to offer as well. Although the research did find that if you are going to use bottled garlic it is best to find a brand, which preserves their garlic in water versus vegetable oil. Their studies found that garlic kept in vegetable oil lost more levels of Allicin than in water. This study provides you a great deal of information so you can make a well-informed decision about the garlic you use during the creation of your recipes. Now let’s go through the health benefits of garlic to give you a better idea of what you are missing.

· Treatment of the common cold.
· The strengthening of our immune system to fight conditions such as cancer.
· Battles heart disease.
· Lowers high blood pressure.
· Anti-bacterial properties to fight infections.

This is just a small list of conditions that garlic can help to improve. If you are someone who is constantly battling high blood pressure and taking pills several times a day to control it, why not give the natural healing powers of garlic a try? The one benefit of this natural form of medication people today cannot overlook is the lack of side effects. When you choose a natural healing power like garlic there are no side effects to fear, only great results.

As far as supplementation, there’s only one garlic supplement I use and highly recommend: Kyolic by Wakunage of America. This is a high-quality organic garlic supplement, which is aged. It contains the health-boosting compound Allicin. I take 1800 mg of Kyolic every single day.

Clinical tests at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, have indicated tension within blood vessels were reduced by 72% when exposed to crushed garlic juice. The reaction takes place in the cells of the blood vessel lining and causes them to dilate.

This month’s journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences featured a laboratory test that showed red blood cells beginning to emit hydrogen sulphides – a biological messenger that stimulates vessels to open – when exposed to garlic juice. As a result of this reaction, blood pressure is reduced and the oxygen going to various parts of the body which are especially important for vital organs is increased, while pressure on the heart is reduced. These results further solidified findings by researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine earlier this year which suggested that hydrogen sulphide actually prevented heart muscle damage in the event of a heart attack.

While poisonous in high concentrations, a safe amount of hydrogen sulphide is produced naturally by the body. As people get older however, production of Hydrogen Sulphide begins to dissipate. Dr David Kraus, Ph.D., a UAB associate professor in the Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Biology and the study’s lead author said,

“Our results suggest garlic in the diet is a very good thing. Certainly, in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the Mediterranean and the Far East, there is a low incidence of cardiovascular disease. It is, however, important to know that large amounts in supplement form may interact with blood thinning drugs and could increase the risk of bleeding.”

The fresh garlic used in the study was the equivalent of eating two cloves of garlic, which is more than most people who do not live in the Mediterranean or the Far East, consume each day.

Dr. Kraus suggested that before cooking with fresh garlic, let it stand for 15 minutes after crushing as this activates the enzyme to raise the healthy constituents of the garlic and so it maximizes the health benefits.

Frank Mangano’s Commentary:

It may cause bad breath and in some cases body odor, but at the end of the day, the Allicin in garlic when digested, causes blood cells to release sulphur compounds which have countless benefits on one’s health. If bad breath and body odor become an issue, consider supplementing with Kyolic, which is an odorless organic high-quality garlic supplement. I take this on a daily basis.

I can’t say enough good things about garlic. Not only is garlic beneficial to cardiovascular health, but it’s also good for infections, cancer, diabetes and many other conditions. I consider garlic to be a superfood and so should you. Make it your business to make garlic part of your daily regimen and bask in its rewards.