Garlic: The Herbal "Wonder Drug"

We made some more steamed Brussels Sprouts for dinner last night and smothered them in garlic, mustard, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. We also made some mashed sweet potatoes and threw in some garlic and butter, AND we sauteed a little bit of salmon in olive oil and brushed a garlic, freshly chopped cilantro, and lemon juice mixture over both sides. Oh, and we tossed a little into homemade guacamole too. I think I've met my garlic quota for the rest of the month, and probably no one should get near me for a couple of days, but I must admit it was a great meal. Good thing my dinner partner loves garlic too, I imagine we were a stinky pair afterwards.

I want to express my adoration for garlic, firstly because it adds a wonderful flavor to anything - cooked veggies, salsas, guacamole, meat, stir frys, spaghetti sauces, salad dressings, etc etc etc. More importantly, garlic is a natural antibiotic and is known as an herbal "wonder drug". Regular intake can help prevent flus and colds, lower high cholesterol, and regulate blood pressure. It can also act as a natural mosquito (and vampire) repellent. Garlic can be anywhere from mild to very strong and spicy, depending on how much sulphur is present in the bulb. The more sulphur in the garlic, the stronger the flavor, and the more medicinal value it has. Here are some different types of garlic:

                                                        http://www.snowmountaingarlic.com/Garlic%20Types.JPG

A compound in garlic called allicin is responsible for most of these effects. Allicin is a medicinal compound produced when garlic is finely chopped, or minced. It has antioxidant and anti-fungal properties, making garlic a reputable treatment for skin infections such as athlete's foot. However, be aware that the benefits of allicin peak just after the garlic is chopped - the compound degrades with time, and also with cooking. Microwaving garlic can completely eliminate the allicin produced. Garlic provides the most health benefits in its raw, chopped form.

Using garlic is nothing but good for you: it makes your food taste great, its cheap (usually less than 50 cents a bulb) and your body loves it, too (although have a mint handy for after the meal, as you may experience garlic breath, wah wah wahhhh).

Here is one of my favorite garlic recipes.

Carrot Beet Salad   

2-3 large beets, shredded

3-5 carrots (depending on size), shredded

shredded cabbage (optional)

cilantro, chopped

walnuts, chopped

golden raisins

  

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup sesame oil (if you don't have sesame oil, 1/2 cup of olive oil is fine)

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

as much garlic as you can handle, minced

as much ginger as you can handle, shredded (optional)

  

just toss the dressing with everything and enjoy! And check out those beautiful colors!

Here's an easy recipe for garlic mashed potatoes:

Ingredients:

8 potatoes, peeled or unpeeled and quartered

1/2 c milk

1/4 c butter

2 cloves of garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp sesame seeds, optional

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to boil; add potatoes and boil until soft (about 20 minutes or so). Drain the water and place potatoes in a large bowl. Add all other ingredients to the bowl except sesame seeds, and mash together with potato masher or electric mixer. When finished, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve. Serves 4-6. YUMMMM.

A couple more links about garlic that might spark your interest....

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60

http://www.garlic-central.com/garlic-health.html