Garlic, Cancer and You

Garlic - that oh so deliciously pungent bulb fromsome role in cancer prevention.
the lily family that has been around humankindIt is important to note that these studies are
since the invention of writing, has been valued forobservational: comparing the incidence of cancer
its ability to spice up a meal, whet the appetiteamong garlic and non-garlic consuming populations.
and to help cure a host of different ailments.Clinical studies are still needed for further
Now, today's researchers are taking a secondverification, but unfortunately government funding
look at garlic and are finding out that it not onlyfor garlic research is limited and pharmaceutical
helps makes things taste good, it might also playcompanies are reluctant to study widely available
a role in preventing certain types of cancer.plants that might have health benefits since there
Garlic and canceris no profit in it.
A number of studies have been done focusing onA complicated chemistry
garlic's organic allyl sulfur components and theirGarlic's chemistry is extremely complicated and
ability to effectively inhibit the cancer process.how garlic products are manufactured and
These compounds make cells more vulnerable toprocessed greatly effects the medicinal value of
the stress which is created when cells divide.its various chemical constituents. Peeling garlic and
Since cancer cells divide more rapidly than normalthen turning into an oil or powder can actually
cells, they are susceptible to these specificincrease the number and variety of active
stressors. Therefore, cancer cells have a muchcompounds. The peeling process releases the
greater potential to suffer damage from the allylenzyme allinase and kick starts the process that
sulfur compounds that are found in garlic.leads to the chemical reaction that produces diallyl
The studies on garlic have revealed that garlic'sdisulfide. Diallyl Disulfide is also formed when garlic
benefits are not limited to any specific species, tois crushed or chopped, however if it is cooked
any particular tissue or even to a specific type ofimmediately after peeling and chopping the cancer
carcinogen. However, there is a strong linkfighting benefit of this sulfide is lost. Some
between garlic and the prevention on prostatesecientis have recommended that you let the
and stomach cancers. 37 different observationalgarlic sit for 15-20 minutes after it has been
studies have been done on people exploring thepeeled in order to allow the allinase reaction to
use of garlic and cancer prevention. Of the 37, 28occur.
of the studies have revealed that garlic does play