HIBISCUS CATERING

Garlic has long been credited with providing and prolonging physical strength, and was fed to Egyptian slaves building the giant pyramids. Garlic is a member of the lily family, a cousin to leeks, chives, onion and shallot. Some of it's medicinal value includes 'cures' for toothache, lowering blood high pressure and cholesterol among others. The down side is, because its essential oils permeate the lung tissue, it remains with the body long after it's been consumed , affecting breath and even skin odor. Chewing chlorophyll tablets or fresh parsley is healpful but, unfortunately, modern-day science has yet to find the perfect antidote for residual garlic odor...

 Garlic is used to prevent certain types of cancer, including stomach and colon cancers. In fact, countries where garlic is consumed in higher amounts, because of traditional cuisine, have been found to have a lower prevalence of cancer. Animal studies, and some early investigational studies in humans, have suggested possible cardiovascular benefits of garlic. A Czech study found garlic supplementation reduced accumulation of cholesterol on the vascular walls of animals.Another study had similar results, with garlic supplementation significantly reducing aortic plaque deposits of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Another study showed supplementation with garlic extract inhibited vascular calcification in human patients with high blood cholesterol.The known vasodilative effect of garlic is possibly caused by catabolism of garlic-derived polysulfides to hydrogen sulfide in red blood cells (RBCs), a reaction that is dependent on reduced thiols in or on the RBC membrane. Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous cardioprotective vascular cell-signaling molecule.

Although these studies showed protective vascular changes in garlic-fed subjects, a randomized clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007 found the consumption of garlic in any form did not reduce blood cholesterol levels in patients with moderately high baseline cholesterol levels.  In 2007, the BBC reported Garlic (Allium sativum)  may have other beneficial properties, such as preventing and fighting the common cold.[39] This assertion has the backing of long tradition in herbal medicine, which has used garlic for hoarseness and coughs.[40] The Cherokee also used it as an expectorant for coughs.