Our bodies are incredibly well-designed machines, and the answers to many of our health challenges lie within each of us. Our lifestyle decisions, the foods we eat, the liquids we drink, and the way we exercise and move our bodies are all important factors in our well-being.
Often however, external forces, such as the chronic stresses brought on by our faced-paced lives, environmental pollutants, or poor nutrition leave our internal doctors tired and frail. Don't despair: Rejuvenating our immunity is within reach; garlic, fresh or in supplement form, is easily accessible and has proven to be a natural immune booster. Here's how and why it works and some tips on what to look for when choosing a garlic supplement.
"The secret to garlic's efficacy lies in its complex composition," said Rob Blais, director of branding for Purity Life Health Products Ltd., Canadian distributors of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract (AGE). Since garlic oil was first isolated in the late 1800s, more than 100 compounds have been identified as constituents of garlic.
Of these elements, the most important are organosulfur water soluble S-allyl compounds, including S-allyl cysteine and other sulfur amino acids that are increased by aging garlic extract. Stable, odorless and safe, with high antioxidant activity, S-allyl cysteine easily gets into the circulatory system from the stomach (highly bioavailable), with an absorption of close to 90 percent. These stable organosulfer compounds have been shown to be the most critical in fighting sickness, building immunity and creating overall well-being, according to Blais.These sulfur-containing amino acids are active on four key fronts:
