NY Times recently posted a short article checking this claim: “Garlic Can Be Helpful in Warding Off a Cold.” The good news is that there are some promising studies to support the claim. For example, a 2001 double-blind study found that healthy adults who took daily garlic supplements were less likely to get a cold and recovered faster when they did get sick.
Clearly, further research needs to be completed before the claim can be truly proven. But the Times reached this bottom line: “Research is limited, but it suggests that garlic may indeed help ward off colds.”
From my point of view, I’m a big garlic fan. Of course, I love the taste, but I also believe in its power to keep the immune system strong, lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of cancer, lower blood pressure, and heal candida or yeast infections.
Here are some of the easy ways to get garlic into your diet:
—Try this Roasted Garlic Spread recipe (mmmmm)
—Saute a clove of garlic with your daily serving of greens or other vegetables
—Add cloves of garlic to sauces, soups, stews, and chili
—Take a daily garlic supplement (especially during flu season)
—Have garlic for breakfast by adding a little to your eggs
See also my previous posts on garlic:
Chop or Crush Garlic Before Cooking
