raw garlic and cholesterol etc

Question
Dear Karen

I would like to know whether by eating one or two cloves of raw garlic a day helps in reducing cholesterol, also act as antitoxin plus boosting your immune system etc? Is this true or not?

Thank you. Your reply is very much appreciated.

Sincerely

Eddie

Answer
Hi Eddie,

According to WholeHealthMD.com, there is good evidence that garlic has the following benefits:

-Garlic benefits the heart in numerous ways. By making blood platelets less likely to clump and stick to artery walls, it lessens the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and a subsequent heart attack. The latest findings indicate that the clot-busting compound ajoene, a derivative of allicin, discourages the development of artery-hardening plaque.

-A mounting body of research indicates that garlic also works to lower high cholesterol by interfering with its metabolism in the liver, the organ that releases cholesterol into the bloodstream. Cholesterol levels may fall as a result. Various trials have found that garlic supplements can lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels while raising the level of HDL ("good") cholesterol. While not all trials report such positive results, it may be worth trying garlic along with other cholesterol-lowering supplements.

-In addition, garlic may promote heart health by maintaining the flexibility of the aorta, the major artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body and one that tends to stiffen with age. In a small, placebo-controlled study involving 70-year-olds, those who took garlic for two years ended up with much more flexible aortas than those who were given a placebo. In addition, by widening blood vessels so the blood can circulate more freely, garlic may slightly lower blood pressure.

-Fight colds, flu, sore throat, and other types of infections. Garlic's antiseptic and antibacterial abilities were actually recognized centuries ago. Modern research confirms that, at least in the laboratory, the herb fights the germs responsible for causing the common cold, flu, sore throat, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Findings indicate that one of garlic's therapeutic constituents, allicin, blocks key enzymes that aid bacteria and viruses in their effort to invade and damage tissues.
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1-2 cloves of raw garlic per day should be enough to provide these benefits. You can also purchase garlic supplements in pill form, which have also been shown to be effective.

There are more details on benefits of garlic and suggested doses for a variety of health conditions here:

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,786,00.html

Karen
www.getfitwithkaren.com

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