Garlic has long been the go-to herb of cooks and health advisers for its health benefits. Garlic contains organosulfur compounds that research has shown stimulate white blood cells (fight disease and infection) and have anti-tumor properties.

Can’t deal with the smell or the digestive consequences of raw garlic? You are not alone! Fortunately, garlic extract supplements provide odor-controlled alternatives. You should also look for a high allicin content. Allicin, is a powerful compound in garlic that is released when it is crushed. As well as having antibiotic properties, allicin is an excellent anti-fungal; garlic preparations have been used in folk medicine to treat skin infections such as athlete’s foot.

Dosage varies according to individual needs, but 500mg of garlic is great for supporting your immune system.

Tags: allicin, garlic, immune system, pathway

This entry was posted on Monday, September 13th, 2010 at 11:16 am and is filed under Health Concerns, Nutritional Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Support Your Immune System: Garlic”

1. Elizabeth Davis says:

   September 17, 2010 at 12:25 am

   What is the difference between eating garlic raw (or roasted and raw), eating it crushed and cooked in a sauce (bottled crushed garlic OK or need to crush cloves oneself?) and taking garlic tablets??
2. Paula Gallagher says:

   September 17, 2010 at 11:46 am

   Crushing garlic, brings out the allicin potential, which is one of the most important chemicals in garlic. You can eat it raw or cook it lightly to bring out the flavour, but make sure not to overcook. The healthiest way to use garlic is to buy garlic and crush it when you use it. The prepared crushed garlic found in stores is packed in oil, and has the potential to go rancid. A good supplement will tell you its allicin content and is a good alternative to raw garlic.