Garlic reduces risk of maternal mortality.

Garlic for years, in movies, it has been
keeping vampires at bay, but according to
mountains of research, vampires aren't the
only things garlic can fend. Joining the
ranks are colds, cancer, heart disease,
hypertension, infection, maternal mortality
and even impotence. Researches in recent
times have revealed various health benefits
of eating garlic.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women benefit a lot
from eating garlic. According to a study
done by doctors in a London hospital, garlic
supplementation may help weight-gain for
babies that may be at risk for low birth
weight. The study also found that the
chance of other birth risk factors could be
reduced, such as pre-eclampsia, which is
associated with hypertension.
Infection: Since 1858 garlic has also been
known for its anti-bacterial properties. At
this time Louis Pasteur discovered that
bacterial cells died when they were
saturated with garlic. Other cases of it being
used as an antibiotic in history include
world war II, when British doctors used it to
treat those wounded in battle, and Albert
Schweitzer used garlic to treat typhus and
cholera. Garlic is known to have not only
antibacterial but antiviral and antifungal
abilities as well. It is effective against
intestinal parasites, recurrent yeast
infections and the growth of candida
albicans is slowed by garlic. With this in
mind, it should be considered only as an aid
to antibiotics in fighting infections, as it is
not enough to replace them. Garlic can help
by stimulating T-cells that help fight
infection.
Recent studies have also shown it to protect
the aorta. The aorta is the heart blood vessel
that maintains blood pressure and flow
while the heart is pumping. Age, poor diet
and environmental factors such as smoking
can damage the aorta, causing it to stiffen.
Studies have also shown that regular
consumption of garlic slows the aging of
the aorta and helps keep it flexible.
Cancer: For years research has been
conducted on the effects of garlic on
cancer. A healthy immune system is
necessary to fight cancer, and we already
know conclusively that garlic supports that
system. Studies have been done on the
population and in animals, as well as in test
tubes. What is determined is that garlic has
the ability to reduce the formation of
cancerous cells. Garlic is shown to actually
block cancer causing compounds from
forming, and slow the growth of tumor
cells. Garlic is especially helpful in blocking
oesophagal, breast, stomach, prostate and
bladder cancer.
Research has proven that compounds in
garlic not only slow the rate of growth in a
tumor, but can reduce the tumor size by
half. When studying the effects on breast
cancer, these compounds can actually
prevent carcinogens from attaching to
breast cells.
These compounds form when garlic is
crushed. Among the sulfur components of
garlic there are some called ajoenes, which
are also noted for their "ant tumor" abilities.
Colds: One of the most common ailments
garlic has been touted to treat is the cold.
Upon the onset of the sniffles, many people
testify that consuming a clove or more of
raw garlic takes them away. How can a
clove of garlic possibly help? Studies have
shown that garlic extract improves immune
function, giving our natural defense system
a boost, and helping it conserve our levels
of antioxidants in our system. It is this
strengthening of the immune system that
aids in its support for other health related
conditions.
Heart Disease: Just as there are many
factors that cause heart disease, there are
many benefits of garlic that aid in
preventing and treating it. So how can garlic
help keep our heart in check? First, it helps
lower our cholesterol levels. It raises our
HDL (good) cholesterol levels, prevents LDL
(bad) cholesterol from building up on
arterial walls. This reduces the chances of
plaque forming in our arteries. It has also
been shown to lower cholesterol levels by
9% in people who ate 2 cloves of garlic per
day.
Hypertension: Another heart benefit of
garlic is its ability to help control our blood
pressure by thinning our blood. Once again
the chemical found in garlic, called ajoene,
thins the blood and keeps clots from
forming. Studies done with general
populations have shown that where there is
more garlic consumed in a population, there
is also a reduced incidence of hypertension
and heart disease. Although garlic�s heart
healthy benefits may be new to some, for
centuries Chinese herbalists have been
using garlic to treat people with angina
attacks and circulatory disorders.