Garlic (Allium sativum)

I don't know about your town or city but know that our small town has been combating some pretty nasty colds and flu.  This is just a reminder that an ounce of prevention IS worth a pound of cure.  The ounce of prevention that I would like to talk about is GARLIC.

Not only is it incredibly yummy but it is also an anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and overall immune booster.  The reason for this plants super powers lies in the fact that fresh garlic has many active compounds including, alliin, allicin, and unique sulphur compounds.  As a matter of fact some of the first anitibiotics were sulphur based.  Garlic also contains significant amounts of the trace minerals selenium, as well as vitamin C.

You may have noticed that I put the word fresh in bold as this is obviously ideal.  Second choices would include garlic in its dried/powdered form or a commercially prepared form.  When you have to use a second choice be a little more liberal, use a little more often, and be a little more patient if waiting for results.

There are many ways to get garlic into a body.  If all of my family is sick I find it easy to crush a whole bunch of cloves (at least two per person for the day) and put them in a little custard/ramekin dish then pour honey over the whole thing.  That way it is simple to dole out as the day progresses.  An adult can easily consume up to eight cloves of garlic in a day.  Here is a common sense reminder about children.  They are proportionally smaller than we are so they can use proportionally less with the same results.

It is best given with after there is food in the stomach or mixed with food.  Here are a few simple suggestions.  Mix with applesauce. (It's actually pretty tasty.)  Make garlic toast, easy on the butter.  Try mixing the garlic with vegenaise, little tomato, and some lettuce for a garlic sandwich.  One of our family favorites is garlic popcorn.  Puree the garlic and mix with a small amount of butter or cold pressed oil.  Pour over the popcorn and mix thoroughly.  Cooking detracts from the effiency of garlic.   Crush/dice/slice it and put it into a dish after you have turned off the stove or in the last three minutes of cooking.  That way you will get the most benefit but without as much heat.

Garlic is a simple and effective way to stay well!  Enjoy the season by staying healthy.