Ginger-Garlic Soup Made With 52 Cloves of Garlic Can Help Defeat Colds, Flu and Even Norovirus
Cold and flu diseases are common during the winter season, so everyone should take preventive measures to avoid the risk of them.
People use hundreds of different cold medications and remedies, including over-the-counter, drinking of whiskey, honey, and lemon or FDA-approved drugs. However, the answer to your raspy cough and runny nose could be found on your kitchen counter, too.
Garlic, which can be found in every kitchen does more than just making the food taste great, because it is one hundred times more effective than antibiotics, and works very fast – in half the time.
A History of Medicinal Use of Garlic
Even many different ancient societies used garlic in medicinal purposes. According to the literature, garlic was often fed to the working class in some civilizations, because it was able to maintain and increase their strength and they would be more productive. The written notes about using a clove of garlic are found from Ancient Egypt, where it was used to feed the laborers, who were working on the pyramids.
For the same reason, Jewish people also appeared to use garlic, but they included its consumption for the treatment of infection with parasites and other disorders as well.
In the literature are found similar attitudes of the Ancient Greek and Roman people, and there is evidence that garlic was also used in Ancient China. They all used it as a preservative and for improving male potency.
The Charaka-Samhita, which is the leading surviving medical text from India, two thousand years ago recommended its use for the treatment of heart disease and arthritis.
What are the Healing Properties of Garlic?
Due to the compound called alliin contained in garlic, it has countless potentially disease-fighting benefits.
Allicin demonstrates antioxidant properties that protect against cancer-causing free radicals, as well as benefits against esophageal, stomach and prostate cancers.
Additionally, it has been shown to control populations of pathogenic microorganisms, so it is useful in the prevention of the cold and flu.
Garlic and Immunity
Garlic’s immune-boosting properties are due to the sulfur compounds, which give it its distinct odor. When some types of white blood cells come in contact with viruses, by using garlic they have been shown to increase the disease-fighting response.
From the experience of numerous people and scientists, garlic has even been seen to prevent getting sick in the first place and helps to get better faster, and reduces the severity of the emerged symptoms
How To Take Full Advantage of the Benefits of Garlic
Garlic’s health benefits can be changed significantly by the way of its preparation. For instance, allinase, the enzyme that converts alliin to allicin, can be deactivated by heat. In that case, by crushing the garlic, and letting it stand for ten minutes before cooking these medicinal losses can be prevented.
According to the researchers, the loss of health benefits can be minimized by simply increasing the amount of garlic used.
Ginger-Garlic Soup – Recipe
Ingredients:
– 26 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
– 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) organic butter (grass-fed)
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1/2 cup fresh ginger
– 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
– 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
– 2 1/4 cups sliced onions
– 1/2 cup coconut milk
– 26 garlic cloves, peeled
– 4 lemon wedges
– 3 1/2 cups organic vegetable broth
1) Place 26 garlic cloves in a small glass baking dish in the preheated oven to 350F.
2) After adding of 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle them with sea salt and toss to coat.
3) Covering baking dish tightly with foil, bake until garlic is golden brown and tender (45 minutes).
4) Remove the garlic cloves from the oven and cool them.
5) Squeezing garlic between fingertips release cloves and transfer them to a small bowl.
6) In a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat melt butter and add onions, thyme, ginger, and cayenne powder
7) Cook the mixture until onions are translucent (about 6 minutes)
8) Add in the mixture roasted garlic and 26 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes.
9) After adding vegetable broth cover the bowl and simmer until garlic is very tender (about 20 minutes).
10) Puree the soup in a blender until smooth.
11) After returning the soup to saucepan add coconut milk and bring it to simmer.
12) Season with pepper and sea salt for flavor.
13) Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve.
Due to the lack of extensive research, scientists are still divided over whether garlic is effective in fighting colds and the flu. It is also well known that for various reasons, pharmaceutical companies have little interest in running expensive experiments because it does not earn them big profits.
However, much evidence is incontrovertible that garlic can be very beneficial for maintaining health. So, do not doubt, include garlic as a spice in your regular routine, as it can help you with this year’s cold and flu season!
Sources:
1) preventdisease.com
2) academic.oup.com
3) researchgate.net
4) agris.fao.org
5) lpi.oregonstate.edu