Not only does garlic help keep the vampires away, it can also help keep colds and flu viruses away. A daily dose gets your viral-fighting abilities in high gear, giving your immune system a little boost to help keep you safe.
This culinary mainstay belongs to the same family as onions, chives, leeks, and scallions, but garlic is extra special because it has lots of sulfur, which is what makes it so stinky (and tasty!). It also contains a number of nutrients that have been shown to be good for your health - arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and selenium.
So here are a few quick ways that garlic can help boost yuour immune system to ward off bugs and viruses.
T-Cell Boost
Eating garlic can boost the number of virus-fighting T-cells in your bloodstream -- important because colds and the flu are caused by viruses. Nutrition scientists from the University of Florida reported in the journal Clinical Nutrition in 2012 that taking aged garlic extract reduced the severity of cold and flu symptoms and that the symptoms went away faster in those who took the garlic extract than among those who didn't The scientists speculated that the garlic extract worked by boosting participants' immune cell function.
Reduction of Stress Hormones
It's no coincidence that you always seem to catch a cold or the flu when you're overworked or stressed or run down. A research team from the National Academy of Sciences found that the body loses its ability to fight off infections when it's constantly under stress. That's where garlic comes in - it can affect your adrenal glands' response to stress! When your body processes the garlic, it helps your adrenals produce less stress hormones and thus reduce your level of fatigue. Armed with garlic, your body is more alert and in a better condition to fight off foreign invaders.
Garlic helps your body absorb zinc
Garlic's high sulfur content explains the bulb's benefit as a cold and flu fighter. The sulfur in garlic helps your body absorb the trace element zinc, which is an immunity booster. You can find zinc in whole grains such as brown rice and whole-wheat breads. Here's a fast recipe to keep you healthy: Saute some minced garlic in heart-healthy olive oil and then drizzle it sparingly on a slice of whole-grain bread.
Garlic is a natural blood thinner
Keeping your body oxidated is great for keeping your circulatory system flowing. This in turn means that your body and immune system is in optimum position to fend off against or fight bacteria and viruses. It also helps reduce your risk of circulatory diseases - garlic increases the body's production of nitric oxide, which helps the smooth muscles to relax and the blood vessels to dilate, reducing your risk of hypertension.
So there we have it! Some great reasons to have garlic in your diet. Not only does it boost your immune system, it can also promote a healthier circulatory system. But like all good things, have garlic in moderation in your meals.
Stay safe & thanks for reading,
The Slim Transformation Team
0330 311 0008