Garlic

GARLIC Pungent Year Round Heavy, Oily

1 medium clove = 1/2 tsp minced

2 medium cloves = 1 tsp minced

1 small clove = 1/8 tsp powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder=1 clove

1/4 tsp garlic salt = 1 clove garlic + 1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp bottled minced garlic = 1 clove garlic

Elephant garlic, Garlic

Go for compact heads with plump, firm cloves well covered in a crisp paper casing, free of soft or moldy spots. Store at room temperature in bowls or baskets

Garlic is mainly pungent but actually contains all the tastes except sour. Its effect is heating, so it decreases Vata and Kapha and increases Pitta. Garlic is considered rejuvenative in Ayurveda. It cleanses undigested food particles and other toxins from the system. It also helps to decrease congestion in the blood and lymphatic system, which is why it is considered to promote cardiovascular health. In excess, however, it can be aggravating, particularly to Pittas. Garlic also can increase mental dullness in some people, but it can be grounding and calming for Vatas.

From University of Maryland Medical Center: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm

Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating as far back as the time that the Egyptian pyramids were built. Later, gravediggers in early 18 th -century France drank a concoction of crushed garlic in wine they believed would protect them from the plague that killed many people in Europe. More recently, during both World Wars I and II, soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene. Today garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, including atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and possibly lead to heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and to improve the immune system. Garlic may also protect against cancer.

Also See:

• Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic
• The Cook's Thesaurus: http://www.foodsubs.com/Garlic.html
• Garlic Central: http://www.garlic-central.com/
• About.Com Home Cooking - Garlic History: http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/garlichistory.htm
• NCCAM, National Institutes of Health Herbs at a Glance: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/garlic/

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