For a small vegetable, garlic sure has a big, and well-deserved reputation. Although garlic may not always ward off vampires, it is guaranteed to transform any meal into a bold, aromatic and healthy culinary experience.

Garlic Bio

Garlic is a member of the Lily family and is cousin to onions, leeks and chives. Garlic is arranged in a head, called a “bulb” and consists of numerous small separate cloves. The taste of garlic is like no other – and enjoys lingering in your mouth for several hours!

Garlic Benefits

Garlic has been recognized as a healing agent by many different cultures for thousands of years. In Greece, they use fresh, raw garlic to help heal eczema. Currently, garlic’s principle medicinal uses are to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure, and as a preventative agent for cancer.

Garlic and Cancer

The role of garlic in cancer risk reduction is due to the presence of diallyl sulphide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) and s-allycysteine. These potent compounds are not present in garlic, but rather are formed when garlic is crushed: the enzyme allinase is released and it converts the allin to allicin, a compound that quickly rearranges into more stable compounds of DAS, DADS, and DATS. Research in animals has proven that compounds in garlic not only slow the rate of growth in a tumor, but also can reduce the tumor size by half.  Garlic is most strongly associated with reducing the risk of esoophagal, breast, stomach, prostate and bladder cancer.

To get the maximum benefit from these anti-cancer properties, try to eat crushed garlic raw!  Another option if you really don’t like the taste or smell (or if don’t want to offend your friends, or the public) you can consume garlic as a supplement.

What to look for in a garlic supplement

If you are looking to buy garlic in supplement form, you want to make sure that the company you purchase from is reputable and that their sources are reputable as well.

Make sure that there is sufficient Allicin in the product, or that it contains Ajoenes, which is formed from a chemical reaction involving 2 Allicin molecules. Vinyldithiins is another compound to look for on the bottle. This compound is usually formed in the breakdown of allicin from crushed garlic.

Come into NutriChem to talk to a qualified Health Counsellor regarding which garlic supplement will work best for you.