WHAT A GARLIC??!!

Other than just writing down recipes, I would also like to share other information regarding the ingredients and its usefulness. Ingredients in most cooking play the vital part of the taste and the authenticity of the foods prepared. Most ingredients has its uniqueness and if used or not used in the cooking, will determine the originality of certain foods. Some of the ingredients are common to everyone throughout the world and some of it only known to certain people in certain countries. Let us start out with the most common ingredient used in almost all parts of the world; GARLIC!

Be it in Italian food, western food, Indian or Chinese food, and especially the Malay food, garlic is the most used in all dishes in those countries.


GARLIC or its scientific name ALLIUM SATIVUM is a plant food used in therapeutic effect, especially for its antibacterial effects and wound healing properties. Garlic contains ALLIIN, a sulphur compund when the garlic is not crushed and it releases ALLICIN, which is when broken down (crushed or pounded), responsible for all the health benefits of a garlic. Garlic is best used with OLIVE OIL...especially when garlic is consumed raw! They both works well with each other.

Important garlic facts:

• The active component in garlic is called allicin which is activated when garlic is crushed
• While the whole plant is beneficial, the bulb contains the most flavour and healing effects
• Cooking garlic can break down and destroy some of the allicin therefore reducing some of garlic's therapeutic effects
• Garlic powder may be the most effective form of supplementation due to the way it has been processed - leaving much more of the allicin available when ingested
• Garlic has excellent (and proven) anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties
• In ancient times, people who ate garlic seemed to have more resistance to disease

Garlic and health

• Heart disease - garlic prevents the blood cells required to clot blood (platelets) from sticking to each other and from sticking to artery walls, thus preventing artery blockages. Another effect of clotting prevention is protection against strokes and coronary thrombosis (blood clots within coronary artery)

• Cholesterol - there is evidence, in numerous studies, that garlic lowers blood levels of harmful fats - triglycerides and "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, as well as raising the levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol. Other studies have shown that garlic prevents LDL cholesterol from being oxidised, thereby preventing LDL from sticking to artery walls and causing heart problems
• High blood pressure - garlic acts as a vasodilator, by widening the blood vessels and lowering blood pressure
• Cancer - a study by the National Cancer Institute has shown that people that have a diet high in garlic, onions and other plants from the allium family have lower rates of stomach cancer than those that do not consume as much of these foods. Other studies have shown garlic is effective on other types of cancers
• The immune system - garlic contains sulphur compounds which act against bacteria and prevent infection by enhancing the actions of the immune system. In various studies, garlic has been shown to be effective against the following microbes: Candida albicans, Cryptococca meningitis, Streptococcus and Staphyloccocus. The allicin in garlic blocks the enzymes that allow organisms to invade and damage body tissues

CAUTION for those taking the garlic supplements!

• People having surgery - garlic supplements should be avoided two weeks prior to and one week after any surgery due to possible complications with bleeding. The anti-clotting properties of garlic can prolong bleeding
• People taking warfarin - garlic may increase the risk of bleeding in people taking Warfarin
• People taking saquinavir - garlic supplements have been shown to impede HIV/AIDS medication. Studies have shown the garlic supplements can reduce the blood levels of the medication Saquinavir, thus making the medication ineffective
• People on certain medications - garlic may inhibit or nullify some medications, seek medical advice prior to taking garlic supplements
• People with medical conditions - garlic's anti-clotting properties may be a problem for some people, seek medical advice prior to taking garlic supplements
• People with stomach conditions - people with ulcers or other stomach conditions such as gastritis, should be cautious when taking garlic supplements as the garlic could cause further irritation

(Source: www.vitalhealthzone.com)