Garlic has by many, been esteemed, as a very powerful source of nutrition. It has since long been connoted with medical characteristics such as lowering cholesterol, fighting against virus and bacteria as well as alleviate some risk of cancer pathologies.
Garlic is still a medical nutrition. However its pretended therapeutic benefits towards cancer are no longer concrete facts.
Dr. Oran Kwon, researcher at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, says that garlic pretended ability to cope with cancer risk can be subjective. There are few scientific evidences that certify that garlic can reduce the risk of all types of cancers.
Kwon and his research team conducted a meta-analysis, which resulted in 19 published studies focusing mainly on garlic intake, and its ability prevents certain types of cancers. U.S food and Drug Administration’s review system was used to scrutinize health attributes claimed concerning the foods.
The criteria made it inconclusive that garlic intake had a ruling preventive characteristic against lung, gastric, breast and endometrial cancer. Yet, there was slight evidence found that garlic consumption addressed the risk of prostate, laryngeal, ovarian, oral, renal cell, colon and esophageal cancer.
The research made it appealing that garlic probably has very little influence on the protection against these various cancers. (Prostate, laryngeal, ovarian, oral, renal cell, colon and esophageal cancer)
Nonetheless, Kwon speculates that garlic may nevertheless have some preventive attributes against cancer. To better understand benefits of garlic, its association to oxidative stress and the presence of ‘Free Radicals” that can cause cancers as well as many other pathologies, further research is required.
According to Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, proclaims that there is few evidence proving that garlic is an appropriate food intake to reduce the risk of cancer. Yet, it might have some influence on cancer areas.
Garlic might not be as magic as proclaimed previously. Conversely, it is still a great nutrition to fight bacteria and viruses. There are also other benefits. Garlic might not be saving ‘you’ from cancer but it contributes to a balanced diet which itself is positive. Plant-based diets are all associated with lower risk of cancers. Garlic is good for healthy but not necessarily a protection against cancer.
Source: American Cancer Society
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Supplements, Bioscience, Gerontology