The Power of Garlic

If there is one food that everyone probably has in their kitchen, but do not give it the honor that it deserves, it is garlic.

Dubbed the “stinking rose”, garlic belongs to the lily family and is related to onions, chives, shallots, and leeks. It is cultivated worldwide and has been touted since ancient times as a miracle worker…useful for almost any ailment. Scientific research now confirms the many health benefits of garlic including the treatment of infections , heart disease, cancer to name a few https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7402177/

As a naturopath, I use both fresh garlic and tincture style when helping clients heal from yeasts, fungi, and candida. It also works very well for ear infections, bronchitis, colds, etc. For the ears, add two to four drops of warm liquid garlic extract in each infected ear. Do not use the same dropper for both ears as it can spread the infection. This is very helpful for children as opposed to anti biotics that do not heal the infection…only treat the symptoms. This formula works for pets as well.

If you want to consume garlic for preventive health measures, the recommended minimum is one to two cloves a day. You can choose between aged garlic or fresh. Aged garlic is odorless and tasteless, which can be more appealing if you want to keep your friends happy. Other options are powders or capsules.

Garlic, of course, is also a food that enhances the flavor of any dish. I like to grate it and add it to my salads. Key nutrients in raw garlic include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium. There is also an abundance of vitamins and phytochemical.

Garlic will keep for several weeks when stored in a covered container placed in a cool dry spot, but do not refrigerate.