National Garlic Day:
Garlic Deserves Its Own National Day
by Mira Dessy
April 19th is National Garlic Day. This tasty bulb, Allium sativum L., a member of the onion family, is easy to grow and has both medicinal and culinary applications. As part of the allium family garlic is related to chives, onions, leeks, and shallots. Garlic can refer to the bulb, which is large and covered in a paper-thin skin, or the cloves, the individual sections from the bulb. When growing garlic the cloves are what is used as seed, each clove will grow into a bulb of garlic. Native to Central Asia, garlic is now grown all around the world although primarily in Asia with the largest producer being China, followed by India and then South Korea.
Nutritionally garlic is an excellent source of manganese, an essential trace mineral that is important for skin, bone, and cartilage formation as well as pituitary gland function and glucose tolerance. Garlic is also a very good source of Pyroxidine, a B vitamin, and Vitamin C. Although garlic is available in powder, flake, and chopped form, to gain the most nutritional benefit it is best to start with fresh, raw garlic.
Culinarily garlic is used around the world in many different cuisines; it is frequently paired with onions and tomatoes. Cooking the garlic helps to mellow the flavor. The scapes, or green shoots, are also edible and often added to stir fry dishes. Even the flowers are edible and can be used in salads for a mild flavor similar to chives. Many people like to flavor oils with garlic, if doing this at home it is important to note that the oil should be refrigerated and used within a week as otherwise there is a risk of botulism. Commercially sold oils with garlic are treated with acids or other chemicals to prevent the possibility of botulism. The distinct taste and smell of garlic comes from the sulfur compounds allicin, alliin and ajoene. When metabolized these compounds form Allyl methyl sulfide, a gas which is passed into the blood and disbursed through the lungs and the skin. A temporary way to cleanse the breath is to eat fresh parsley but this will not remove the odor from the skin and only works for a short time.
Medicinally garlic is considered to be antibiotic, anti-histaminic and anti-parasitic in nature. It is believed to help reduce cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and provide other cardiovascular benefits. In 2007 the BBC reported that it may have benefits for preventing or fighting the common cold. I know that when we feel a cold coming on in our house the remedy is to chop up a clove of garlic and swallow it down with a large glass of water. It does seem to be effective. Other medicinal uses include treatment for acne, food intolerance, candida, respiratory tract infections, diabetes, and gastrointestinal problems. A recently study published from the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center, University of Leipzig in Leipzig, Germany found that garlic reduced platelet aggregation, a condition where blood platelets stick together to form a clot.
Very tasty with lots of health benefits it is nonetheless important to note that garlic may interfere with anticoagulants, calcium channel blockers, and hypoglycemic drugs so use caution and work with a health care professional if you are taking garlic capsules or eating large quantities of it. Large quantities of garlic are also contraindicated during pregnancy as it may stimulate the uterus and during menopausal hot flashes as it is considered to have a thermal nature which could further increase body heat.
About the Author
Mira Dessy is a certified Nutrition Educator, a member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals and a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation. She does individual and group consultations with clients and provides lecture services through her business, grains & more; you can find her blog at http://grainsandmore.blogspot.com.Bibliography
http://www.garlic-central.com/garlic-growing.html, “Growing Garlic in the Home Garden”, Garlic Central, Trevor Mendham, 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic, “Garlic”, Wikipedia.com, April 12, 2009
http://www.evitamins.com/healthnotes.asp?ContentID=2881000, “Manganese”, eVitamins.com, 2008
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http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-manganese.htm, “What is Manganese?”, WiseGeek.com, Malcom Tatum, 2009
Murray, Michael, ND, The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Revised 2nd Edition, Atria Books, New York, 2005, pp 201-202
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Wood, Rebecca, The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, Penguin Compass, New York, 1999, pp 141
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