Garlic Allium sativum
This yummy herb is in the onion family and has been consumed for thousands of years as both food and medicine. Garlic is recognized by its distinctive smell, flavor and bulb like appearance.It's use as a culinary herb in a variety of foods from sauce to saute. What is truly amazing about this herb is the fact that it is highly medicinal as well.
So what makes garlic so medicinal? Garlic contain an organosulfur compound called allicin.
Here is the breakdown.
(1)Alliin is a chemical compound derived from the amino acid cystine. When garlic is crushed, allin comes into contact with an enzyme called allinase, which then converts allicin to allicin. Allicin is the reason for the pungent smell of the garlic and also works as a defense mechanism for the plant itself.
(2)Allicin is said to protect against the following health problems. Atherosclerosis; diabetes; high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Garlic also contains antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti parasitic.
Not only is it effective at killing antibiotic resistant bacteria, including MRSA, but it also fights yeast infections, viruses and parasites. Garlic must be fresh for you to receive the optimal health benefits as heating destroys allicin. One of the reasons it works so well in "Fire Cider" is that it is in its raw and fresh form. No fire cider? No problem! Just eat a whole raw clove, chase it with a glass of water and go to bed. It's best to take it at symptom onset in order to head off your cold and shorten the duration. Remember to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat whole foods in order to stave off colds and flu's during winter time!
