5. Garlic: The Age-Old Healer with Contemporary Relevance
Garlic, often dubbed the stinking rose, offers more than just pungent flavor. Rich in sulfur compounds, particularly allicin, garlic brings a cocktail of benefits to the table. The first thing you should know is that these compounds have potent antibacterial and antiviral properties. That’s particularly helpful because a robust immune system is your first line of defense against any disease, cancer included.
Let’s unravel another layer of garlic’s mystique—the impact on the liver. The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying the body, and this includes clearing out cancer medication metabolites that can be toxic in the long term. Garlic’s sulfur compounds stimulate liver enzymes, ensuring that toxic substances are swiftly flushed out of your system.
The science behind garlic gets even more intriguing when you look at studies that focus on its cancer-fighting capabilities. Research shows that the compounds in garlic can slow down tumor growth and trigger apoptosis—the self-destruct sequence for cancer cells. Not just this, but the compounds also inhibit angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
Now, you may find the pungent aroma of garlic off-putting, but there are ways to include it without overwhelming your senses. Garlic-infused oils can be a great addition to salads. You can also opt for garlic powder if you want a milder flavor. Of course, fresh garlic can be finely chopped and added to stir-fries, curries, and even some baked dishes.
In a way, garlic is a blend of ancient wisdom and modern science. From its infection-fighting properties to its potential to enhance liver function and directly combat cancer cell growth, garlic’s multifaceted benefits make it an invaluable inclusion in your diet when you’re combating lung cancer. (5)
