Garlic is a spice that has been used for more than 5000 years. Most often, it is found in Arabic and Mediterranean food, and its healing effects have been recorded in writings thousands of years old. It is unusual that modern medicine is only now discovering garlic. Even though there is a huge amount of evidence for its positive effects, the profession remains cautious. The decision of the German medicines regulator is therefore groundbreaking.

What convinced the Germans of garlic’s health benefits?

In California, USA, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine funded a study on the effects of garlic. More precisely: they wanted to check what kind of effect the unusual folk mixture of garlic and apple cider vinegar has. Records of this folk remedy appear on almost every continent and in different periods.

In the medically-led study, 200 volunteers participated, each receiving 4 grams of garlic extract daily for 6 months. The final result once again surprised the researchers. Those with high blood pressure saw their pressure improve. Those with high cholesterol had improved bloodwork (especially the bad LDL cholesterol decreased). Those with heart problems experienced significant improvement, as garlic is among the best medicines for preventing heart attacks and strokes. And the researchers didn’t overlook another detail: during the test, none of the volunteers developed even the slightest cold.

But all this would not have been enough for the German regulator if the study had not paid special attention to the effect of garlic on the development of cancer and metastases. Not only did the progression of the disease stop in a large percentage of the volunteers, but 23% of the participants recovered completely. As the final report states, this is not yet sufficient proof that garlic cures cancer, but the results are very encouraging.

The mysterious drink

Folk tradition says you need:

• 10 cloves of garlic
  
• 2 dcl apple cider vinegar
  
• 1 dcl honey
  
• juice of one lemon

Mix everything in a blender for a minute and a half, until you get a thick smooth mixture, which you can store in the fridge, but for no more than 5 days. Some people just mix the ingredients well so that the garlic cloves remain whole, but such a drink has fewer medicinal effects. It is true, however, that whole cloves will last up to a month. It is recommended to eat 2 tablespoons at least 10 minutes before a meal (you can dilute it with water or natural juice), but most importantly, to take 2 tablespoons on an empty stomach.

The first health effects will be noticeable already after two weeks of regular consumption.

Honey in this mixture acts as a natural sweetener, but also works as an antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agent. Honey is especially important in winter months, as it strengthens the immune system, protects us from viral diseases, and finally, soothes coughs well.

Lemon gives freshness to the mixture and boosts its antiviral component. Combined with honey, it is a good body cleanser.

Apple cider vinegar should be homemade, as it then contains more medicinal components. The list of diseases it treats is practically endless, starting with all kinds of allergies, diabetes, arthritis, skin problems, even dandruff... Supposedly, Cleopatra already drank apple cider vinegar, as do Hollywood star Megan Fox and models Cindy Crawford and Heidi Klum...

Did you know that garlic is called the Italian perfume? It’s true that our western neighbors season all their dishes strongly with garlic, and for them, the breath, which unfortunately is an inevitable companion to all garlic-flavored dishes, is a synonym for health. Garlic causes the release of hydrogen sulfide, the same gas that creates the smell of rotten eggs.

Finally, a warning: the above mixture is not recommended for people who have problems with stomach acid.