GARLIC WISDOM

MEDICINAL

Scientific investigation has shows that garlic has a variety of medicinal qualities including:-

Acting as an antiseptic
Fighting infection
Containing chemicals that prevent cancer
Preventing clotting by thinning the blood
Lowering blood pressure
Reducing cholesterol
Preventing heart disease
Controlling blood sugar
Fighting asthma

Raw garlic or lightly cooked garlic has better medicinal qualities than the normally cooked garlic.

MEDICINAL BREAKDOWN OF GARLIC

While it is a vitamin and mineral rich food, it is the high concentration of sulphur compounds, notably allicin, that truly sets it apart as a renowned health food. Garlic is also noted for its high levels of the trace elements selenium and germanium which are believed to offer some significant health benefits.

Garlic (Allium sativum: Allii sativi bulbus)is possibly the world's most popular spice and flavouring in cooking.

RECIPE TIPS

Roasted whole garlic - as a vegetable:-

Place whole bulbs of garlic in the baking dish with your other vegetables for approximately 15 to 30 minutes (depending on taste). Break off the cloves and squeeze the contents into your mouth - delicious! Fresh garlic can be used to embellish any cooked meal. Whether you crush it, chop it or cook it whole, you cannot surpass the resulting aroma and flavour.

GARLIC FOR PETS/ANIMALS

Garlic is widely used in the diet of racehorses, for treating fleas and allergies in cats and dogs and for eliminating worms in sheep. It is best to use fresh raw garlic if possible - grated into pet food at every meal about one third of a clove to 3 cloves depending on size of animal.

PEELING TIPS FOR GARLIC

If you only want to use a few cloves, press them between the thumb and forefinger to loosen the skin first, then press down on them with the flat side of a heavy kitchen knife. For larger quantities, you can drop cloves into boiling water for a minute then drain, the cloves will then peel easily.

GARLIC BREATH

'Garlic Breath' is created by the essential oils in the garlic which enter your blood stream and which make the garlic work its therapeutic wonders. Garlic odours on the breath can be controlled by eating fresh parsley or chewing on a coffee bean or two after eating garlic.