Christopher Ranch

I hate being sick.

I rarely come down with anything – knock on wood – but am recovering from a recent case of bronchitis. Apparently, my body does not appreciate it when I don’t sleep, sacrifice food, talk too much and indulge in one too many glasses of wine.

Therefore, I have been trying to ingest as many healthful products as possible, in addition to my 10 bottles of cough syrup and Z-Pak.

Now, numerous studies have indicated fresh garlic’s substantial medicinal value, equipped with antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral properties, but a recent study reaffirmed garlic’s positive health benefits, as a result of its high selenium content.

Selenium is a prominent nutrient found in fresh garlic, and, according to the European Food Safety Authority’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies, selenium could provide “protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage, normal function of the immune system, normal thyroid function and normal spermatogenesis.” (See article – “Positive Selenium Health Claim Opinion Welcomed)

Huh? I was wondering the same thing. So, I did some research.

In layman’s terms, selenium is stimulates the production of antibodies, which the immune system uses to locate and battle bacteria and viruses, and is believed to activate T cells that trigger white blood cells to combat infection. Therefore, the nutrient is believed to help boost the immune system and fight harmful cells and tumors.

With that being said, you better believe I accelerated my intake of fresh garlic in recent weeks.

I’m obviously no doctor, and it’s hard to identify whether it’s my meds, my nightly scotch (soothes the throat) or aggressive doses of fresh garlic (maybe all three?!), but I feel much better.

If you’re looking for a holistic approach to remedy the plethora of sicknesses going around – be it bronchitis, flu, swine flu, allergies, etc. – popping a daily clove of California heirloom garlic definitely couldn’t hurt.