"Isn't garlic a panacea?" Uncle Zhang asked the doctor with a confused face.
Garlic, in addition to adding flavor to food, garlic is also known as a natural medicine box, with many medical legends.
Uncle Zhang, a hard-working taxi driver, suffered from stomach problems due to his long-term irregular diet. Frequent stomach pains, stomach ulcers, and gastritis made him miserable, and to make matters worse, he was also diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori infection. Faced with the high cost of treatment, Uncle Zhang chose simple stomach medicine to relieve discomfort.
On this day, Uncle Zhang heard that garlic has powerful antibacterial and antitumor effects, and he seemed to see hope. So, he decided to try eating raw garlic to treat his stomach problems.
Insist on eating a few cloves of raw garlic every day, and he will also eat garlic at mealtimes. However, one day three months later, severe stomach pain left him almost unbearable.
After a hospital examination, the results were shocking - not only did his stomach problems not improve, but showed signs of cancer.
"I ate so much garlic, how could this be?" Uncle Zhang asked the doctor in pain.
The doctor took a deep breath and looked at Uncle Zhang's anxious eyes, and he knew that the next explanation would be crucial. "Garlic does have some antimicrobial effect, but it is not a substitute for formal treatment. Also, the irritation of the stomach from eating raw garlic may aggravate your condition. ”
Garlic has a certain nutritional value, can eating garlic often really fight cancer?
01 Nutritional value of garlic
1. Basic nutrient structure of garlic
Garlic is not just a condiment, but a nutritious ingredient. It contains basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, etc., which provide the body with the necessary energy.
At the same time, garlic is also a good source of vitamins and trace elements, including vitamin C and vitamin B6, which are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and boosting the body's metabolism.
In addition, trace elements such as zinc and selenium in garlic also play a non-negligible role in improving physical function and enhancing resistance.
2. Exploring the active ingredients of garlic
The true value of garlic lies not only in its basic nutrient content, but also in its unique active ingredient. These active ingredients give garlic its special health benefits.
Allicin vs Allicin: This is the most well-known active ingredient in garlic. They have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can effectively neutralize free radicals in the body and reduce cell damage, thus playing an anti-aging and preventive role in chronic diseases.
Sulfides: The sulfides in garlic are the source of its distinctive smell and an important part of its health benefits. These sulfides can help lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, and have a significant positive impact on cardiovascular health.
Volatile oil: The volatile oil components in garlic have antibacterial and antiviral effects, and have a positive effect on enhancing human immunity and preventing common diseases such as colds.
These active ingredients of garlic work together to make it an ingredient with multiple health benefits. However, to maximize these benefits, it is recommended to eat garlic raw or lightly heated, as excessive temperatures may destroy the active ingredients in it.
02Can garlic be an anti-cancer weapon?
1. Garlic's anti-cancer potential
Studies have shown that certain components in garlic, such as allicin and other sulfides, have the potential to reduce the risk of certain cancers. These ingredients have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells under laboratory conditions, thus providing a scientific basis for the anti-cancer effects of garlic.
However, most of these studies are based on cell and animal experiments, and the results are not directly equivalent to the effects in humans.
Garlic is not a single anti-cancer regimen
Although garlic exhibits some anti-cancer potential, it is not intended as a single cancer prevention or treatment. Cancer is a complex disease whose pathogenesis involves a variety of genetic and environmental factors.
Therefore, it is impractical to rely solely on garlic to prevent or treat cancer. Effective cancer prevention requires a comprehensive consideration of lifestyle habits, environmental factors, genetic background and other factors.
Comprehensive cancer treatment
For patients with cancer who have already been diagnosed, comprehensive treatment is crucial. This includes a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other treatments, as well as a personalized treatment plan for the specific situation of the patient. Close supervision and adjustment of the treatment plan by the medical team throughout the treatment process is also key to ensuring the effectiveness of the treatment.
So, while garlic may have some potential in cancer prevention, we can't overstate its effects. When faced with the serious disease of cancer, we should remain rational and follow professional medical advice for comprehensive treatment.