19th April 2010 was National Garlic Day, so what better time to learn all about the health benefits? Garlic has been shown to help maintain healthy cholesterol and help maintain a healthy h eart, so try upping your intake today.
Garlic has been known for its wide variety of uses for thousands of years, and although warding off vampires and protecting yourself from the Plague may not be as crucial today, it continues to be one of the most popular ways to flavour food and also has heart health properties. So whether you hate the taste or can’t get enough, the benefits are undisputed.
Research has shown that garlic contains a powerful ingredient called allicin. Allicin is created when two substances in garlic cloves react, which happens when the clove is crushed or cut. It is thought that garlic originated in China, and although it is now grown all over the world, it is Chinese garlic that has the highest allicin content over twice as much as most other varieties. As it is the allicin that provides all the health benefits, try to look out for Chinese varieties when buying fresh garlic.
Dried garlic typically has a higher allicin content than cooked or raw forms, so if you’re not keen on the taste but want the health benefits, taking a supplement may be the easiest solution.
Klosterfrau’s expert herbalist Dr Serene Foster says: “As well as following a healthy diet and lifestyle, for many people garlic is a popular herbal choice due to its long association with heart health. Garlic has been shown to have good cardiovascular effects including helping to maintain healthy cholesterol and blood vessels.”
As garlic is often avoided due to the pungent aroma and lingering aftertaste, one of the easiest ways to benefit from the substantial health properties is to take it in a supplement such as Kwai plus Omega-3, which also provides high quality omega-3 oil, giving you double heart health benefits. | 
