Bad Reputations Should Not Interfere with Health
By Tom Herrin
What people hear about some things is not always correct. The real facts are often left out in favor of those things that may seemingly matter most. There are plenty of things that have a reputation that precedes them only to end up hiding those things that may really make a difference. In the case of garlic, many people seem to try to stay as far away from it as possible only to later discover that it is not as bad as they have heard. It can have some great benefits to health while doing some interesting things to food in terms of adding flavor. It is used in places throughout the world with what seems like a lot of success.
It May Help Boost Immunity
Even though there are those who believe the odor in garlic is what keeps away illness, the truth is quite different. First of all, garlic supplements are available in odorless forms. Second is the fact that it has some properties that can actually help to fight some diseases or simply keep others away. The allicin in garlic seems to be very effective in protecting against these possible disease-causing agents.
It May Help in the Cholesterol Battle
Many people have problems with cholesterol. This is generally high levels of bad cholesterol. Garlic has shown the ability to reduce bad cholesterol, or LDL, by 10 to 15 percent. While it has no apparent effect on good cholesterol or triglycerides, this may be a major help for a lot of people who tend to have problems with bad cholesterol. This much reduction could be enough to dramatically improve the cholesterol in some.
It May Help Limit or Reduce Asthma
I have mild asthma myself, and while I may not rely entirely on garlic to prevent it yet, it is certainly worth trying to see if it can have some positive effects. It is believed to reduce the incidence of sensitivity in some people to environmental stimuli. My asthma is really too mild to be able to tell, but for those who have it to a greater extent, it may be worth adding to your diet to see the results. When it is used to enhance the flavor of foods, you may as well get all you can out of it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Kennesaw, Ga.