Difference between revisions of "Use Garlic Against Stress and Toxins for a Better Mood"
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| − | {{fa}}Garlic is a hardy plant that grows all over the world and has a very long history of use as a food and as a medicine. Garlic has been used medicinally since at least ancient Egypt. It has been used to treat high blood pressure, high blood lipids, diabetes, vaginal infections, stomach infections with ''H. pylori'', as well as various skin infections. It is also used to increase the circulation of blood and may be useful to increase circulation to various organs, such as the kidney and liver. In general, garlic is considered very safe as a food and as a supplement, even for long-term use.<ref>You WC, Brown LM, Zhang L, et al. Randomized double-blind factorial trial of three treatments to reduce the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:974-83.</ref><ref>Anim-Nyame, N., Sooranna, S. R., Johnson, M. R., Gamble, J., and Steer, P. J. Garlic supplementation increases peripheral blood flow: a role for interleukin-6? J Nutr.Biochem. 2004;15(1):30-36.</ref> | + | {{fa}}Garlic is a hardy plant that grows all over the world and has a very long history of use as a food and as a medicine. Garlic has been used medicinally since at least ancient Egypt. It has been used to treat high blood pressure, high blood lipids, diabetes, vaginal infections, stomach infections with ''H. pylori'', as well as various skin infections. It is also used to increase the circulation of blood and may be useful to increase circulation to various organs, such as the kidney and liver. In general, garlic is considered very safe as a food and as a supplement, even for long-term use.<ref name="rf1">You WC, Brown LM, Zhang L, et al. Randomized double-blind factorial trial of three treatments to reduce the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:974-83.</ref><ref name="rf2">Anim-Nyame, N., Sooranna, S. R., Johnson, M. R., Gamble, J., and Steer, P. J. Garlic supplementation increases peripheral blood flow: a role for interleukin-6? J Nutr.Biochem. 2004;15(1):30-36.</ref> |
[[Category:Conditions and Treatments]] | [[Category:Conditions and Treatments]] | ||
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#Prepare garlic for cooking. Remove the skin by first placing the bulb on a cutting board or hard surface. Then gently, but firmly, apply pressure with the palm of your hand at about a 20 – 30 angle. This will cause the layers of skin that hold the bulb together to separate. Garlic cloves are best either chopped or crushed and then allowed to sit for 10 – 15 minutes to allow for the activation of the allicin in the garlic. You can use a garlic crusher or the side of a large knife to crush the garlic. | #Prepare garlic for cooking. Remove the skin by first placing the bulb on a cutting board or hard surface. Then gently, but firmly, apply pressure with the palm of your hand at about a 20 – 30 angle. This will cause the layers of skin that hold the bulb together to separate. Garlic cloves are best either chopped or crushed and then allowed to sit for 10 – 15 minutes to allow for the activation of the allicin in the garlic. You can use a garlic crusher or the side of a large knife to crush the garlic. | ||
#*Always buy fresh garlic to use in food. | #*Always buy fresh garlic to use in food. | ||
| − | #*Garlic added to food can relieve nasal congestion when taken daily.<ref>Reader's Digest, Allergic Rhinitis, in ''Curing everyday ailments the natural way'', p. 82, (2000), ISBN1-876689-78-1</ref> | + | #*Garlic added to food can relieve nasal congestion when taken daily.<ref name="rf3">Reader's Digest, Allergic Rhinitis, in ''Curing everyday ailments the natural way'', p. 82, (2000), ISBN1-876689-78-1</ref> |
#Cook the garlic over low heat. To maximize garlic’s effects, use it as close to raw as possible. If nearly raw garlic is “too much” for you, add the garlic near the end of the meal’s cooking time. Don’t overcook the garlic, because it loses some of its potency with high and prolonged heat. Add it to sauces, rub it over meats and poultry, or add it to vegetables, mixing it in well. | #Cook the garlic over low heat. To maximize garlic’s effects, use it as close to raw as possible. If nearly raw garlic is “too much” for you, add the garlic near the end of the meal’s cooking time. Don’t overcook the garlic, because it loses some of its potency with high and prolonged heat. Add it to sauces, rub it over meats and poultry, or add it to vegetables, mixing it in well. | ||
| − | #*Garlic can be added to taste to just about any meal. In food, it is safe for children and pregnant or nursing women.<ref>http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/garlic</ref> | + | #*Garlic can be added to taste to just about any meal. In food, it is safe for children and pregnant or nursing women.<ref name="rf4">http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/garlic</ref> |
| − | #*Avoid high-temperature stir frying of garlic.<ref>http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60</ref> | + | #*Avoid high-temperature stir frying of garlic.<ref name="rf5">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60</ref> |
| − | #*Don’t use a microwave when cooking with garlic. This reduces the allicin produced.<ref>Cavagnaro, P. F., Camargo, A., Galmarini, C. R., Simon, P. W., Effect of cooking on garlic (Allium sativum L.) antiplatelet activity and thiosulfinates content, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1280-1288, at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17256959 nih.gov</ref> | + | #*Don’t use a microwave when cooking with garlic. This reduces the allicin produced.<ref name="rf6">Cavagnaro, P. F., Camargo, A., Galmarini, C. R., Simon, P. W., Effect of cooking on garlic (Allium sativum L.) antiplatelet activity and thiosulfinates content, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1280-1288, at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17256959 nih.gov</ref> |
#*For a quick meal sauté garlic with vegetables. For example, sauté some fresh spinach and add the crushed garlic when the spinach is nearly done. Remove from heat and sprinkle lemon juice over the spinach-garlic mixture. | #*For a quick meal sauté garlic with vegetables. For example, sauté some fresh spinach and add the crushed garlic when the spinach is nearly done. Remove from heat and sprinkle lemon juice over the spinach-garlic mixture. | ||
#*You can add a variety of leafy greens in addition to spinach. | #*You can add a variety of leafy greens in addition to spinach. | ||
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===Making Garlic Tea=== | ===Making Garlic Tea=== | ||
| − | #Make garlic tea with honey. Making garlic tea is a simply way to use garlic medicinally. Place three whole, peeled cloves of garlic into a saucepan with 3 cups (710 mL) of water. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat.<ref> http://www.food.com/recipe/garlic-tea-139436</ref><ref>http://healingnaturallybybee.com/garlic-tea/</ref> | + | #Make garlic tea with honey. Making garlic tea is a simply way to use garlic medicinally. Place three whole, peeled cloves of garlic into a saucepan with 3 cups (710 mL) of water. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat.<ref name="rf7"> http://www.food.com/recipe/garlic-tea-139436</ref><ref name="rf8">http://healingnaturallybybee.com/garlic-tea/</ref> |
#*Add ½ cup (118 mL) honey and ½ cup (118 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice. | #*Add ½ cup (118 mL) honey and ½ cup (118 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice. | ||
#*Mix, drink half, and refrigerate the extra tea. | #*Mix, drink half, and refrigerate the extra tea. | ||
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#*Place back on the heat and simmer at low heat for 20 minutes, then strain the mixture. | #*Place back on the heat and simmer at low heat for 20 minutes, then strain the mixture. | ||
#*Refrigerate the extra tea. When you want more, warm up ½ cup (118 mL) at a time and sip it four times a day. | #*Refrigerate the extra tea. When you want more, warm up ½ cup (118 mL) at a time and sip it four times a day. | ||
| − | #Make garlic and saffron tea. Saffron is used in traditional Persian/Iranian medicine to treat depression and lift the mood.<ref>Akhondzadeh, S., Tahmacebi-Pour, N., Noorbala, A.-A., Amini, H., Fallah-Pour, H., Jamshidi, A.-H. and Khani, M. (2005), Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother. Res., 19: 148–151.</ref> Place three whole, peeled cloves of garlic into a saucepan with 3 cups (710 mL) of water. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat. | + | #Make garlic and saffron tea. Saffron is used in traditional Persian/Iranian medicine to treat depression and lift the mood.<ref name="rf9">Akhondzadeh, S., Tahmacebi-Pour, N., Noorbala, A.-A., Amini, H., Fallah-Pour, H., Jamshidi, A.-H. and Khani, M. (2005), Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother. Res., 19: 148–151.</ref> Place three whole, peeled cloves of garlic into a saucepan with 3 cups (710 mL) of water. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat. |
#*Add 1 teaspoon of saffron. Saffron has to be hand-picked so it can be expensive. Fresh saffron is best but choose the dried saffron over the powdered saffron. | #*Add 1 teaspoon of saffron. Saffron has to be hand-picked so it can be expensive. Fresh saffron is best but choose the dried saffron over the powdered saffron. | ||
| − | #*Saffron can cause uterine contractions, so pregnant women should not use saffron except under the advisement of a physician.<ref>http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/saffron.html</ref> | + | #*Saffron can cause uterine contractions, so pregnant women should not use saffron except under the advisement of a physician.<ref name="rf10">http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/saffron.html</ref> |
#*Add ½ cup (118 mL) honey then mix and refrigerate extra tea. | #*Add ½ cup (118 mL) honey then mix and refrigerate extra tea. | ||
#*To drink the extra tea, warm up ½ cup (118 mL) at a time and sip it three times a day. | #*To drink the extra tea, warm up ½ cup (118 mL) at a time and sip it three times a day. | ||
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#*Garlic oil does not contain allicin because of the processing necessary to produce the oil | #*Garlic oil does not contain allicin because of the processing necessary to produce the oil | ||
#*Some products may indicate on the label an “Allicin potential”or “Allicin yield.” This is an attempt to standardize, but studies have indicated that this value is not exact or stable. | #*Some products may indicate on the label an “Allicin potential”or “Allicin yield.” This is an attempt to standardize, but studies have indicated that this value is not exact or stable. | ||
| − | #Add garlic to preparations to ease coughs and [[Get Rid of a Sore Throat|sore throats]]. Raw garlic can be added to a number of homemade remedies to reduce the severity of throat infections and coughs. For example, make a throat gargle by pouring 1 cup (237 mL) of boiled water over two chopped garlic cloves. Allow to steep for three hours, then strain and gargle.<ref>James Wong, ''Grow your own drugs'', p. 170, Garlic, (2009), ISBN 978-1-60652-119-9</ref> | + | #Add garlic to preparations to ease coughs and [[Get Rid of a Sore Throat|sore throats]]. Raw garlic can be added to a number of homemade remedies to reduce the severity of throat infections and coughs. For example, make a throat gargle by pouring 1 cup (237 mL) of boiled water over two chopped garlic cloves. Allow to steep for three hours, then strain and gargle.<ref name="rf11">James Wong, ''Grow your own drugs'', p. 170, Garlic, (2009), ISBN 978-1-60652-119-9</ref> |
| − | #*For a cough, peel and crush two garlic bulbs and leave exposed for 15 minutes (this allows allicin to form). Crush in a mortar and pestle after the quarter hour has passed and stir into a small pot of runny honey. Allow to infuse overnight. One teaspoon of this mixture can be taken for coughs, colds, and sore throats when needed.<ref | + | #*For a cough, peel and crush two garlic bulbs and leave exposed for 15 minutes (this allows allicin to form). Crush in a mortar and pestle after the quarter hour has passed and stir into a small pot of runny honey. Allow to infuse overnight. One teaspoon of this mixture can be taken for coughs, colds, and sore throats when needed.<ref name="rf11" /> Be sure to label the honey for clarity of contents and purpose. |
#Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any supplementation. Garlic can interact with a number of prescription medications including blood pressure medicines (these include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others); oral contraceptives; anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin (coumadin); various other medications. Talk to your physician about the medications you take and if garlic could interfere with these. Since garlic can increase bleeding, it should be discontinued one to two weeks before surgery. | #Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any supplementation. Garlic can interact with a number of prescription medications including blood pressure medicines (these include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others); oral contraceptives; anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin (coumadin); various other medications. Talk to your physician about the medications you take and if garlic could interfere with these. Since garlic can increase bleeding, it should be discontinued one to two weeks before surgery. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
| − | * Increased dietary and supplemental use of garlic has been associated with lower risk of colon and stomach cancer and lower blood pressure.<ref>Ried, K., Frank, O. R., and Stocks, N. P. Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. Maturitas 2010;67(2):144-150.</ref><ref>Dhawan, V. and Jain, S. Effect of garlic supplementation on oxidized low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients of essential hypertension. Mol.Cell Biochem. 2004;266(1-2):109-115</ref><ref>Tanaka, S., Haruma, K., Kunihiro, M., Nagata, S., Kitadai, Y., Manabe, N., Sumii, M., Yoshihara, M., Kajiyama, G., and Chayama, K. Effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on colorectal adenomas: a double-blinded study. Hiroshima J Med Sci. 2004;53(3-4):39-45.</ref> | + | * Increased dietary and supplemental use of garlic has been associated with lower risk of colon and stomach cancer and lower blood pressure.<ref name="rf12">Ried, K., Frank, O. R., and Stocks, N. P. Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. Maturitas 2010;67(2):144-150.</ref><ref name="rf13">Dhawan, V. and Jain, S. Effect of garlic supplementation on oxidized low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients of essential hypertension. Mol.Cell Biochem. 2004;266(1-2):109-115</ref><ref name="rf14">Tanaka, S., Haruma, K., Kunihiro, M., Nagata, S., Kitadai, Y., Manabe, N., Sumii, M., Yoshihara, M., Kajiyama, G., and Chayama, K. Effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on colorectal adenomas: a double-blinded study. Hiroshima J Med Sci. 2004;53(3-4):39-45.</ref> |
| − | *Garlic has also been shown in a number of studies to reduce cholesterol and serum lipids and decreases blood clotting, possibly reducing the risk of heart disease.<ref>http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/garlic </ref><ref>Superko HR, Krauss RM. Garlic powder, effect on plasma lipids, postprandial lipemia, low-density lipoprotein particle size, high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution and lipoprotein(a). J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;35:321-6.</ref><ref>Warshafsky S, Kamer RS, Sivak SL. Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol. A meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:599-605.</ref> | + | *Garlic has also been shown in a number of studies to reduce cholesterol and serum lipids and decreases blood clotting, possibly reducing the risk of heart disease.<ref name="rf15">http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/garlic </ref><ref name="rf16">Superko HR, Krauss RM. Garlic powder, effect on plasma lipids, postprandial lipemia, low-density lipoprotein particle size, high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution and lipoprotein(a). J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;35:321-6.</ref><ref name="rf17">Warshafsky S, Kamer RS, Sivak SL. Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol. A meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:599-605.</ref> |
== Warnings == | == Warnings == | ||
* Allergy in some persons: rarely may develop, after frequent contact with garlic, an inflammatory condition of the skin (eczema) or other allergic reactions. | * Allergy in some persons: rarely may develop, after frequent contact with garlic, an inflammatory condition of the skin (eczema) or other allergic reactions. | ||
| − | *Speak with your doctor about possible interactions with medications such as blood-thinners, protease inhibitors and anti-platelet medications.<ref>University of Maryland Medical Center, Garlic, http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm</ref> | + | *Speak with your doctor about possible interactions with medications such as blood-thinners, protease inhibitors and anti-platelet medications.<ref name="rf18">University of Maryland Medical Center, Garlic, http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm</ref> |
* Do '''not''' use garlic in significant amounts (or avoid it entirely): | * Do '''not''' use garlic in significant amounts (or avoid it entirely): | ||
** If you have inflammation of the stomach (gastroenteritis) or an ulcer. | ** If you have inflammation of the stomach (gastroenteritis) or an ulcer. | ||
