Garlic and Cholesterol

    Garlic has been used for thousands of years to improve health and performance. The armies of ancient Rome, the Egyptian laborers, and the Olympian athletes of ancient Greeks all used garlic to increase strength and endurance. Hippocrates used garlic as a cleansing agent and for abdominal and uterine growths. The chief physician of Nero's Roman army, said that it cleans the arteries, which science has shown to be true!
    In fact, most studies done on garlic proves it lowers high blood pressure and reduces high cholesterol levels! Its amazing to learn just how accurate ancient medicine was! Traditional Chinese Medicine, is no different. It also uses garlic as a medicinal herb.

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     Garlic or xie bai, as it's called in Chinese, also is used for cardiovascular health. According to the Materia Medica of Chinese Herbal Medicine: it unblocks Yang Qi in the chest, disperses turbid phlegm stagnation, and warms the chest. Let me translate the poetry of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• Yang Qi in the chest, is the force behind the circulation of blood and oxygen; the functional force of the heart and lung. Garlic unblocks the circulation of blood flow.
  
• Turbid Phlegm, in this case, is the cholesterol clogging the arteries. Garlic disperses fatty plaque buildup in the arteries.
  
• More people have heart attacks in winter than during any other time. A study on rats showed that cold temperatures increased LDL cholesterol and fatty plagues, giving rise to the possibility of heart attack and stroke. Garlic or xie bai, warms the chest, to help maintain the flow of blood and oxygen. 

    Garlic is full of antioxidants too! It's a great medicine and food, not only for high blood pressure and cholesterol, but also for the prevention of cancer!
    You can increase the number of antioxidant compounds by cutting it up and letting it sit for a few minutes before eating it. The chopped up garlic, which is still alive, begins to regenerate its antioxidant compounds as it attempts to grow and heal itself. You'll be able to cook it and maintain more of it's medicinal qualities with this method.
    Plus, there are so many delicious ways to eat garlic too! Slice it into thin pieces and add it to a sandwich or wrap. Make garlic wine; especially good for the common cold. Or just, dice it up and swallow the garlic raw with your meal. The less you cook your garlic, the greater its health benefits!

Wishing you the Best in Health!

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