Garlic is one of the essential ingredients in the kitchen. Especially in Asian countries, garlic is often used in almost every dish possible. Perfect to use in sautés, its mild spiciness completes the tastes of several delicacies such as Garlic Lemon Shrimp Pasta, Garlic-Dill Soda Bread, Greek Garlic Chicken, and Garlic Grilled Steaks. But did you know that garlic can also be used as a medical agent too?
The very first time garlic was used as medication was traced back before 2000 BC. It was then when Egypt, Rome, China, India, and Greece were able to see how this herb can be a powerful tool that can cure several diseases. Greece even declared the herb as their earliest "performance-enhancing agent," which Olympic athletes used as they do sport, as reported by OXFORD Academic.
Several years after, because of how garlic captures the heart of a lot of people, several medical experts decided to dig deep into the healing capability of the herb. After thorough researches, they were able to unveil several truths about it.
GARLIC CAN REDUCE LUNG CANCER RISKS
Researchers behind the study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research were able to prove how eating raw garlic at least twice a week can reduce a person's risks of acquiring lung cancer. Throughout the seven-year period of the study, the experts from Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China found out by consuming garlic, participants were able to reduce their risks of suffering from cancer by 44 percent, according to Medical News Today.
GARLIC CAN HELP COMBAT BRAIN CANCER CELLS
Glioblastomas is one of the deadliest forms of brain tumor. But a study conducted by the scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina explained how a simple herb as garlic could have the ability to destroy it.
Garlic can be very effective in combating these cancer cells because of the organo-sulfur compounds found in it. Though the study was considered a breakthrough, experts behind the study are still currently researching more about the effects of it before applying this strategy to people who are already suffering from such disease.
GARLIC IS A NATURAL ANTIBIOTIC
One of the chemicals found in garlic is the diallyl sulfide. This chemical is considered a very popular and powerful antibiotic that could defeat several bacteria such as the Campylobacter bacterium, which often cause intestinal infections.
Given these reasons, garlic is indeed one of the best natural medications our nature has to offer. Just make sure to talk to your doctor first before consuming it for medical purposes as doing so can also pose some negative effects. Side effects include nausea, heartburn, gas, diarrhea, and vomiting.
