How to stave off that heart attack

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In the UK, 2.6 million people have coronary heart disease, a figure that is rising dramatically - a frightening fact.

Apart from people who die from heart attack, there are many thousands who are permanently disabled, unable to work, unable to enjoy life. The dismal reality of heart disease is a family in tatters.

What can be done? Whether the disease is brought on by adverse credit remortgage, whether your benchmark lending went wrong, or whether your lifestyle is rubbish, the answer is, plenty. By now, after the hype on TV, we all know we should exercise more, eat less fatty foods, cut down on red meat, and eat more fruit and veg.

Eat garlic.... Include garlic in your diet and you'll be doing yourself a massive favour - and you won't need an egg credit card to buy it. Garlic is cheap....

Garlic. Heady, strong tasting, love it or hate it; whatever your standpoint, its benefits are now beyond doubt.

That garlic has been exploited for several millenniums is a sure indication there's something serious to it, but there is an increasing amount of formal research backing those claims. There is scientific indication that garlic can be useful for staving off heart conditions, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. It fights infection, fungus and virus, and even reduces the risks of various forms of cancer.

Along with a wholesome diet and moderate exercie, a measure of garlic can provide a foundation for good health and a body that can fight infection when it comes your way.

Perhaps the most recognized benefit from garlic is its coronary protective effect. In 2006, researchers from Liverpool University found that garlic extract can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, even in those with an existing coronary condition.

Researchers said, “Garlic has been shown to have an anti-thrombotic effect in that it stops clotting and may have a role in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease”

Garlic seems to decrease blood platelet ‘gooeyness’ thereby keeping the platelets portable and averting needless congealing.

Researchers have discovered that the compound allicin, found in garlic, is metabolised in the body into hydrogen sulphide which signals blood vessels to relax, increase blood flow and boost heart health.

Garlic has also been shown in research papers to reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol and increase ‘good’ cholesterol.

Topical research has also discovered evidence of an association between garlic and the reduction of colon, prostate, larynx, oral, ovary, and kidney cancers. An Iowa Women’s Study shows that women with a high intake of garlic have up to 50% less chance of colon cancer.

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For thousands of years the anti bacterial qualities of garlic have been recognized and exploited but it is only recently that scientists have proven that garlic fights infection.

It has been assessed against three different types of bacteria: E. faecalis, which causes urinary tract infections, N. gonorrhea, which causes the sexually transmitted disease, and S. aureus which is responsible for various categories of infection that are common in hospitals. They found that allicin was successful in eliminating the bacteria.

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Garlic has also been used effectively against disease and parasitic infections of the gut and intestines and against the spread of candida. It has been used in poultices against respiratory infections and shown to lessen the incidence and severity of colds.

Garlic cloves are not medically active until crushed or sliced - so get out that garlic press and give yourself the biggest health boost you can. Include it in several dishes a week and you'll be amazed at the subtle difference it brings. It doesn't have to be overpowering - just use it.

Long live king garlic.

If you're wondering how to add garlic to your life, take a leaf out of the way the folk around the Mediterranean enjoy it. Allioli is found in numerous countries in various guises (and spellings - ie. aioli, ajioli, ajjioli,). Here in Spain, restaurants often serve it with bread-rolls, as a tapas prior to a meal.

In Italy it can be found with seafood and fish soup, and sometimes with potatoes, in Provence it is served with vegetables and boiled fish. It might be a complex mixture including mustards, egg white, olive oil and vinaigrette - but it can be made quite simply too. This recipe is the one used by a popular sea-front restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca, not too far from my home.

A simple recipe for allioli

1. 2 tablespoon of mayonnaise
2. 2 large clove garlic, crushed
3. Pinch salt
4. Pinch crushed black pepper
5. A good squeeze of lemon juice

Stir ingredients together in a small container and serve.

Allioli is very tasty served on crisps, crispbread, on bread rolls, served with fish, poultry,