Post by Rik Wallin on Apr 6, 2007 10:44:27 GMT -6
WHAT IS GARLIC?
Garlic belongs to the Allium or lily family. Onions, leeks, scallions, and shallots are also members of this family. The garlic plant is unusual in that the bulb is actually a collection of small bulbs which are called cloves. The average clove contains seven calories, vitamins B1, 2 and 3 and vitamin C, plus the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, manganese, zinc, germanium and copper. According to an article in Natural Foods Merchandiser' it contains all eight essential amino acids and the highest sulfur content of all the vegetables.
It is the more than 18 sulfur compounds found in garlic which give it that characteristic pungency. At least one of these compounds is water soluble. This means that when large quantities of raw garlic are consumed the odor of the "stinking rose" is carried in perspiration and on the breath.
When garlic is crushed alliin, a sulfur containing amino acid, is affected by a particular garlic enzyme and becomes allicin. Allicin is believed to be largely responsible for garlic's anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. The Merck Index, a nationally respected encyclopedia of chemicals and drugs lists allicin as an anti-microbial.
Besides sulfur garlic also contains the highest level of the mineral selenium of any plant. It is believed that this high level of biologically active selenium may account for garlic's anti-atherosclerotic property. Although selenium has long been recognized as necessary for livestock health, it was not until the late 70s that some researchers began to believe that selenium might also protect against human heart attack, stroke, hypertension and cancer.
Garlic is also one of the best natural sources of germanium. Germanium is the latest discovery on the mineral hit parade. It is found in any natural substances famous for their healing effects. Along with garlic these include ginseng, comfrey and aloe vera. Dr. Kazukhiko Asai has devoted years of his life to germanium research and has hailed it as a miracle cure for everything from headaches to life threatening conditions.
About fifteen years ago the late Paavo Airola reported the work of a Russian electrobiologist, Professor Gurwitch. The professor discovered that garlic emits a peculiar type of ultraviolet radiation called mitogenetic radiation. Now called Gurwitch rays these emissions "have the property of stimulating cell growth and activity and have a rejuvenative effect on all body functions."
It seems likely that a naurtal substance as complex as garlic still holds many mysteries for science to unravel.
petesams@nutra.com
Garlic belongs to the Allium or lily family. Onions, leeks, scallions, and shallots are also members of this family. The garlic plant is unusual in that the bulb is actually a collection of small bulbs which are called cloves. The average clove contains seven calories, vitamins B1, 2 and 3 and vitamin C, plus the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, manganese, zinc, germanium and copper. According to an article in Natural Foods Merchandiser' it contains all eight essential amino acids and the highest sulfur content of all the vegetables.
It is the more than 18 sulfur compounds found in garlic which give it that characteristic pungency. At least one of these compounds is water soluble. This means that when large quantities of raw garlic are consumed the odor of the "stinking rose" is carried in perspiration and on the breath.
When garlic is crushed alliin, a sulfur containing amino acid, is affected by a particular garlic enzyme and becomes allicin. Allicin is believed to be largely responsible for garlic's anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. The Merck Index, a nationally respected encyclopedia of chemicals and drugs lists allicin as an anti-microbial.
Besides sulfur garlic also contains the highest level of the mineral selenium of any plant. It is believed that this high level of biologically active selenium may account for garlic's anti-atherosclerotic property. Although selenium has long been recognized as necessary for livestock health, it was not until the late 70s that some researchers began to believe that selenium might also protect against human heart attack, stroke, hypertension and cancer.
Garlic is also one of the best natural sources of germanium. Germanium is the latest discovery on the mineral hit parade. It is found in any natural substances famous for their healing effects. Along with garlic these include ginseng, comfrey and aloe vera. Dr. Kazukhiko Asai has devoted years of his life to germanium research and has hailed it as a miracle cure for everything from headaches to life threatening conditions.
About fifteen years ago the late Paavo Airola reported the work of a Russian electrobiologist, Professor Gurwitch. The professor discovered that garlic emits a peculiar type of ultraviolet radiation called mitogenetic radiation. Now called Gurwitch rays these emissions "have the property of stimulating cell growth and activity and have a rejuvenative effect on all body functions."
It seems likely that a naurtal substance as complex as garlic still holds many mysteries for science to unravel.
petesams@nutra.com