Garlic Is As Good As 10 Mothers (Indian Proverb)

by Deborah English — January 16, 2008

Who needs a mom when you've got garlic?! This heart-warming and humorous health proverb is one of my favorites. Free from propaganda and ulterior motive, it is created from a foundation of elemental truths, and passed down from generation to generation. Garlic is a flavorsome addition to numerous cuisines throughout the world. As well, many cultures use garlic as a medicinal food, believing it to prevent and even cure various ills.

Now, even modern science supports many of these claims. Garlic contains manganese, Vitamins; B6, B1 (thiamin), and C, protein, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, potassium, copper, and fiber. Studies on humans have concluded that because of these important nutrients, regular consumption of garlic can:

• Lower and stabilizes blood pressure
• Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels
• Help to regulate blood sugar
• Help to prevent blood clots from forming, thus lowering the risk of strokes and heart attacks
• Help prevent cancer, particularly of the digestive system
• Regulate proper stomach function by promoting the secretion of digestive juices
• Cure both constipation and diarrhea
• Help the liver to remove lead and mercury from the body
• Is anti-fungal and anti-viral - garlic has proven to markedly reduce Candida yeast infections
• Is anti-inflammatory, thus helps to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and can help to protect against severe asthma attacks
• Is a powerful antibiotic, even proven effective against some drug resistant strains of bacteria
• Improves blood circulation, improving metabolism and overall body function

One thing garlic will never be able to do though, is replace a cuddle from mom.