 Garlic
(English)
Lasun (Hindi)
Vellai Poondu (Tamil)
Garlic
is one of the oldest herbal cures known to man.
If
garlic had been created in the laboratory instead of by nature, it would
probably be a high-priced prescription drug. That's just how good it really is.
Garlic
is among the oldest cultivated food plants.
Garlic
has a distinctive odor (offensive to some) and penetrating, with a sweetish
taste that is biting and caustic.
It
is a root vegetable, with the bulb growing underground.
It
has irregular roots, condensed, flattened stem and narrow, flat leaves.
A
bulb or head of garlic is composed of smaller cloves.
Crops
are harvested and hung in sheds to dry before it reaches your kitchen.
There
are over 300 varieties of garlic grown worldwide.
Choose
heads that are firm to the touch, with no nicks or soft cloves.
Small
bulbs of garlic can be as much as 20 times as strong as larger bulbs.
Insects
are not happy with garlic but dogs love it. Commercial dog food makers include
garlic in every batch.
Fresh
garlic is more difficult to peel. Fry on hot pan for few seconds peel will come
out very easily.
Digestion:
Garlic
is one of the most beneficial herbs for the digestive system. It is also good in
treating various forms of diarrhea.
Prevents
Heart Attack:
Garlic is an anticoagulant - a natural blood thinner. Garlic helps to break up
cholesterol in blood vessels, thereby preventing any hardening of arteries,
which leads to high blood pressure and heart attack.
Asthma:
Three
cloves of garlic boiled in milk, can be used every night with excellent results
in asthma. This has been found effective in reducing the severity of asthmatic
attacks.
Breast
feeding:
In
India it is believed that garlic increases milk production and it is very good
for breast feeding moms.
Protects
Against Cancer:
Garlic is one of the most
ancient of plants reputed to have an anticancer effect. Researchers have
identified three ways garlic protects against cancer: by directly inhibiting
tumor cell metabolism, by preventing the initiation and reproduction of cancer
cells and by boosting a person's immune system to more efficiently fight cancer
cells.
Nutritional
Value:
Garlic contains vitamins B1, B2, and C, niacin, and a wide variety of minerals
including calcium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, germanium, zinc and manganese.
Whooping
cough:
Garlic
is an excellent remedy for whooping cough. It should be given more often if the
coughing spells are frequent and violent.
Cures
baldness:
Garlic
is a very good food for the hair. Many Commercial hair treatment solution
comprises garlic powder.
It
is very healthy when you eat it raw. Slightly roasted garlic is milder than raw
garlic.
Fry in
olive oil or sesame oil until it becomes golden brown, eat as a healthy
snack.
Garlic
is usually peeled and finely chopped before using in a dish. Use it liberally in
your food.
Add to
soups and stews for a nice flavor.
It's a
great flavoring for pizzas, pasta dishes.
Add Garlic
paste to all veg and nonveg curries, it adds flavor.
Make Garlic
curry, goes very well with rice. |
