The Health Benefits Of Garlic

By Ameera Rahim

For as long as I have been cooking I've enjoyed the taste of garlic. The smell when cooking it, brings such a delight to me and it enhances my meals. Not only does it make foods taste better, it's good for you! I have read to get the most from garlic before cooking it “To maximize the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. That triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic. “
In the winter time especially, my family uses garlic for it's medicinal purposes. If you didn't know garlic has many benefits.
Studies have shown that a garlic enriched diet may in fact protect people against different cancers, such as breast, prostate and colon cancer. SubhanAllah! Allah has given us many foods and herbs, and we can either treat our foods like medicine and make good use of it, for the sake of our lives and out family's lives. Food, however can also act as a poison and we are often heedless of what we eat and how we eat.

As a breastfeeding mom I have read that babies who taste garlic in the milk, tend to nurse for a longer period of time. When my recent son was born a couple weeks ago, I wanted to make sure that our breastfeeding experience from the beginning would be nutritionally packed and done properly. Wanting to know different foods that would help increase milk, I ran into an article mentioning garlic and talked to people who have tried it. My husband made me a drink that was infused with garlic and yes I can say it is tried and true. Longer nursing helps with the increase in milk supply.

If you happen to have a newborn baby or a slightly older child that you are breastfeeding and they get sick with cold , you would want to intake more immune boosting foods like garlic. With older children, blending garlic and adding it in foods helps. With my older children I make, what I like to call an “Immune Boosting Spaghetti” especially in the winter. We add blended garlic, vegetables and flax seed/ wheat germ and put it in the sauce. The children enjoy it and do not notice they are eating a very immune boosting dish, Alhamdulilah.

Besides garlic being a means to possibly prevent cancer and helps to boost the immune system, it also has anti-fungal properties which studies have shown helps to prevent or eliminate yeast infection.
Also studies have shown it helps with the well being of the heart and promotes healthy blood circulation. Alhamdulilah for the blessings in having a healthy halal and delicious food.

I love to make garlic bread with fresh garlic. Here is a recipe for cheese garlic bread:

Garlic and Cheese Bread In Under an Hour:
Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup cheese
2tbs sugar
3 teaspoons of garlic powder or your choice of how many cloves
¾ cup milk
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 egg

1. Mix together the flour, sugar, garlic powder and cheese in a large mixing bowl.
2. Whisk together the vegetable oil with the milk and egg.
3. Stir the wet mix into the dry ingredients.
4. Pour the mix into a greased 1lb loaf pan.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted near the middle comes out clean

Alhamdulilah garlic bread is good with spaghetti, lasagna, and as a snack. The children love to eat it for lunch, I have to stop them before its all gone! Garlic is something every family should have in their home. I really prefer the garlic cloves instead of the powder, Alhamdulilah I think you can taste it more in your foods. Plus its fresh!

The next time you go grocery shopping dont forget the fresh garlic. Your body will thank you for it!

Positively Parsley!

(photo by Michelle Meiklejohn)


Parsley has great benefits and health-boosting properties. These little leaves really pack a punch. Parsley helps to build up the blood because of its rich iron content, while the vitamin C helps in the absorption of that iron. Parsley’s high iron content also helps to boost energy. It’s high in antioxidants, provides anti-bacterial support, boosts the immune system, subdues bad breath, purifies the blood, dissolves cholesterol in the veins, and strengthens the blood vessels. Parsley also aids in digestion, certainly one reason why it is often used to embellish the food served in restaurants. A drink of parsley tea will help to ease a case of diarrhea; it acts as a diuretic, which helps in mild cases of edema; and it helps to dissolve gall stones. Parsley helps to improve the functions of the liver, spleen, and kidneys, and is very effective at reducing liver congestion. Parsley also helps to regulate menstruation, reduces menstrual pain, and it’s a uterine
tonic.

Generous Ginger!

Ginger is another one of those herbs that we know to be a “cure-all”, documented as such in Aruveydic, Chinese, American folk and Islamic medicine. Ginger acts as an anti-nausea remedy, stimulates circulation and aids digestion, and reportedly is an aid against cold and bronchial symptoms. This food is so special that it is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. Allah says: “...and they will be given to drink a cup of wine mixed with ginger” (76:17). According to The Medicine of the Prophet, ginger is hot in the second degree and wet in the first degree. It heats the body, helps the ingestion process, softens the stomach mildly, helps open the clogs of the liver that are caused by coldness and wetness, and helps against the wetness that causes sight impairment. Ginger is also said to strengthen sexual power and decompose the thick gases that accumulate in the intestines and stomach. When taken with hot water and sugar or honey, it works as a laxative that will rid the intestines of harmful bacteria. Ginger also makes an effective ointment to dissolve phlegm.

Chinese Parsley (Cilantro)

Cilantro/Coriander - Cilantro, also known as Chinese parsley, produces both cilantro leaves and coriander seeds. Cilantro leaves are rich in calcium, iron, carotenes, and vitamin C. Eaten in large daily amounts, cilantro is said to mobilize mercury and other toxic metals out of the central nervous system. Cilantro also guards against skin cancer, increases HDL (good cholesterol) levels and decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and stimulates the endocrine glands. It’s a good source of iron and magnesium, thus is helpful in relieving anemia. Cilantro is also good in helping with flatulence, liver health, nausea, and urinary tract infections; it eases hormonal mood swings, and helps to reduce menstrual cramping. It also reduces bad breath. This is by no means an exhaustive list of benefits; the list of healing properties goes on and on. To learn more about cilantro’s healing properties, search the net for “benefits of cilantro”.

Cure All Cardamom!

Cardamom- Cardamom is known as the queen of spices, second only in reputation to black pepper, often called the king of spices. Cardamom is most helpful in relieving indigestion and heartburn issues. It also increases the appetite and soothes mucous membranes. Cardamom also helps to relieve bad breath, and urination problems, such as scant urination and burning urination. Cardamom tea can relieve depression, and it helps with such male sexual dysfunction as impotence and premature ejaculation.

Bravo For Basil!

Basil is a wonderfully fragrant herb that has many benefits. Its leaves aid in digestion, and help control flatulence, nausea, and stomach ache. Basil has flavonoids that provide protection on a cellular level. The volatile oil in basil provides antibacterial properties. This useful herb has anti-inflammatory properties as well, which can provide relief from such ailments as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions. Basil also contains a generous amount of vitamins A and antioxidants.