Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Easy to swallow and no odour |
| Disadvantages: |
Cost |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Apart from its traditional use of warding off vampires (and it must work…it’s been ages since I’ve seen one!) what other uses does garlic have?
Well, of course, garlic has many uses in cooking and is delicious. Just imagine…garlic bread, garlic mashed potato; garlic and rosemary roast lamb, roasted veg.with garlic. Scrummy! But here I am more concerned with the use of garlic as a nutritional supplement.
In fact, garlic (or to give it its proper Latin name, Allium sativum) has been used as a natural medicine since the days of Ancient Egypt.It is a natural antiseptic, which was often used to clean wounds and infections. It is also a proven antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral agent. It is also said to be an aphrodisiac! (Hmm?)
Uses in Medicine.
One of the most beneficial uses of
garlic is in the fight against heart disease. Garlic is known to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, especially that naughty LDL type. Garlic is also known to help reduce blood pressure. It is a natural anti-coagulant, and is therefore able to lessen the likelihood of blood clots.
Like onions, garlic is useful in fighting infections of the respiratory tract as it can help to clear mucus. It is therefore of benefit if you have a cold, or even the flu.
The antifungal properties of garlic have been shown to have some effect on yeast infections such as Candida albicans.
It is thought that garlic may play some part in the prevention of certain cancers, in particular, cancer of the stomach, oesophaegus and colon. It is thought to achieve this by inhibiting the growth of tumours. Garlic also boosts the immune system, which may also play a part in cancer prevention.
Garlic is believed to improve blood circulation and may have a beneficial effect on the male erection.
And The Bad News?
The prime active ingredient in garlic which is responsible for these health-boosting properties is allicin. Unfortunately, it is allicin which gives garlic its pungent odour. Moreover, since the production of allicin is inhibited by cooking garlic, it is clear that the best way to get the benefits of garlic is to chew it raw. However, this is a sure-fire way of turning you into Billy No-Mates!
Also, some people may be sensitive to garlic, and can experience digestive problems, such as flatulence, nausea and heartburn. Patients on anti-coagulants should consult their doctor before taking garlic in large quantities. Patients already receiving treatment for existing heart conditions should seek their doctor’s advice before using garlic supplements.
Which Brings Me To Kwai.
Kwai High Strength One-a-Day garlic tablets are made from Chinese garlic cloves and are guaranteed to contain a high level if allicin. (Each tablet contains 100mg of dried garlic and yields 0.6% allicin.) The tablets are coated to help avoid odour.
The tablets are free from salt, yeast, gluten, gelatine and added starch and are recommended as safe for use by diabetics.
I take my Kwai garlic tablet after breakfast with a glass of water. It is preferable to take the tablet with food. Swallow the tablet whole; do not be tempted to chew!
Kwai One-A-Day garlic tablets are available from Boots, Holland and Barrett and
Superdrug.They cost £13.95 for a pack of 100.There is also a Giant Economy pack of 560 tablets for £19.95.I know they seem pricey, and there are cheaper garlic tablets around, but not all are High Strength and you may be asked to take up to six per day, so they probably work out not much cheaper in the long run.
Good Health!
