Garlic is used to treat diseases and keep fit, dating back more than 5,000 years. According to legend, ancient Roman army doctors used garlic to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases of soldiers; ancient Greek athletes also liked to eat a lot of garlic to enhance their physical strength and endurance; ancient Nordic pirates also stored large amounts of garlic for consumption at sea when they went to sea. It can be used to prevent and eliminate epidemics; Indian doctors also recommended to stage artists that eating garlic can improve intelligence and make the voice loud and round; the British also used tons of garlic to treat soldiers' wounds and epidemics. Garlic may have more effects than we imagine...
Garlic is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family, native to western Asia. It was called "cucurbit garlic" in ancient my country and is said to have been brought by Zhang Qian on his mission to the Western Regions. Came back to plant. As a natural condiment, garlic is essential in the diet, and its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects are well known, but its significance to humans goes beyond that. For more than half a century, many medical research institutions in the world have conducted in-depth research on garlic and found that garlic contains more than 400 active ingredients.
In general, the effects of garlic are reflected in the following aspects -
Vessel "scavenger"
Medical research has proven that low levels of cholesterol in the blood Density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly known as "bad cholesterol"), once oxidized by free radicals, will accelerate the pace of arteriosclerosis, thereby endangering health; another terrible phenomenon in the blood is excessive triglycerides, which can cause slow blood flow. Microthrombi are easily formed, which reduces the blood and oxygen supply to various parts of the body or important organs, resulting in the occurrence of infarct diseases in the corresponding tissues.
The active substance in garlic extract, allicin, can control the synthesis of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides from the source of the liver, and accelerate the decomposition of excess triglycerides. The most significant thing is that allicin can increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly known as "good cholesterol") in the blood, and the special function of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is to eliminate deposits on blood vessel walls.
When blood lipid indicators are normal, blood viscosity is normal, and blood flow is smooth, the overall microenvironment of the body will be improved, and the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases will be greatly reduced.
Smoothly lower blood pressure
Garlic extract can not only improve the quality of blood, but also increase the elasticity of blood vessels, thereby stabilizing blood pressure. Experiments have shown that garlic extract can lower blood pressure, and the effect is stable and safe. It will not have the "elevator-like" blood pressure lowering effect of some drugs (rapid, violent, and repeated after stopping the drug), nor will it produce the effects of antihypertensive drugs. side effect.
Antithrombosis and thrombolysis
Blood viscosity is one of the main causes of thrombosis, and platelet aggregation is an important cause of blood viscosity. The "allicin" in garlic extract and the various sulfides converted from it can prevent platelet aggregation, so it can "anti-thrombosis". What is surprising is that the small thrombus that has formed can be dissolved by the sulfide converted from allicin, so it can "dissolve thrombosis".
Antibacterial and antiseptic
Garlic extract can not only directly sterilize, but is also effective against mold infections and fungal infections. Therefore, garlic is called the "native penicillin". Overuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to develop resistance, which is not conducive to treatment. Garlic extract does not have this problem, has no side effects, and does not produce drug resistance.
Garlic has certain killing or inhibitory effects on many pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, typhoid, cholera, enteritis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, tinea capitis, etc. According to experiments, chewing a clove of raw garlic in your mouth can kill most of the bacteria in your mouth.
It should be reminded that it is appropriate to eat 2 to 3 cloves of raw garlic at a time. Excessive consumption can easily cause strong irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, which is harmful to the body and can even cause hemolytic anemia.
Improving immunity
When the immunity of middle-aged and elderly people declines, they are very susceptible to being invaded by external pathogenic microorganisms and causing diseases. The active ingredients of garlic extract can stimulate immune cells, making them more active and more responsible in "checking" all abnormal substances, bacteria, and viruses mixed into the body. It can also stimulate the growth of the number of immune cells. In this way, there is a strong protection in the body, which is naturally conducive to health and longevity. In addition, because garlic extract contains selenium, germanium and other ingredients, it can also inhibit the growth of tumor cells and resist cancer; at the same time, it has a positive protective effect on the human body caused by anti-cancer methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.