Garlic is from the flowering woody plant family of Allium.

Related to the onion, garlic is known to help prevent Atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries”.

Atherosclerosis is caused by a fat build up on the artery walls.  When this fat hardens it becomes plaque, which leads to heart disease. Studies have show that regular garlic consumption lowers risk of Atherosclerosis by 10 percent.

Garlic’s healing benefits come from Allicin, which is only released when the garlic is crushed.  Allicin’s healthy properties go away though if cooked.

When using garlic, add it right at the end of your recipe so that it will retain as many healthy benefits as possible.