Did you know that the ‘lowly’ garlic pod is brimming with healthful benefits? And none of them have the side effects of prescription drugs? (The drug IS the side effect, but that’s a different story!) Yet it’s inexpensive and readily available. What could be sweeter?
So, my son and I are currently doing a 30 day garlic cleanse. And we’re on Day 11 and it’s been an interesting experience so far.
The Benefits of Garlic
There are a myriad of benefits but here are just a few:
> Garlic destroys ‘bad’ bacteria
> Garlic destroys yeasts that are especially hard on women – think candida
> It revs up our metabolism
> It repairs our pancreas
> Makes our skin smoother and helps it to glow
> Even helps us lose weight
And let’s be clear that these are only a few of garlic’s stunning benefits.
How To Cleanse
The directions we’re following state that we need 2 teaspoons per day. For the two of us, that’s about one small clove.
I peel the garlic and run it through a garlic press because it needs to be chopped or minced.
Then the garlic needs to ‘sit’ for 10 minutes so that it needs to develop allicin, which only occurs when the cell is crushed.
How To Eat Your Allicin
My son loves raw garlic and can happily eat it raw. Not me! Ugh. So at first I had a hard time eating it but I’ve since found a way that makes it palatable. I cut a piece of bread in half and put cheese on one half and mustard on the other. In the meantime, I simmer the garlic in some bouillon for just a minute or so which reduces the bitterness.
Important: according to Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, we can heat the garlic for up to 15 minutes – but a microwave is fatal to your efforts. It destroys the allicin so you might as well not bother because you’re defeating the entire point of the cleanse.
Problems With The Cleanse?
Well, yes. The first is the taste unless you’re like my son and like raw garlic. If not, you’ll have to find some way to make it palatable or to just eat it like medicine, which certainly isn’t pleasant.
Secondly, I know that we can literally start smelling like garlic. As in, it oozes from our pores. That can be a benefit in the summer because insects won’t bother us but it isn’t great in cooler weather. So if you notice people edging away from you and you’re on the garlic cleanse, you will know why. Fortunately, it takes a while to build up the garlic smell and this is only for 30 days.
Any Results Yet?
My son thinks he’s a bit thinner but I haven’t noticed anything myself. I will report back when the 30 days are up.
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