Today, April 19th, is National Garlic Day and celebrations are certainly in order. What to do though? We first thought day off, but that seemed a little extreme. We could go out for a big garlic-ey lunch, but it’s almost the weekend and that’s not exactly the ideal time to reek of garlic. We decided to keep it clean and pay homage to the stuff that is believed to ward off heart disease, cancer, vampires and the flu by sharing with you some of our favorite facts about it.

  1.  Garlic can both strengthen the immune system and rid it of toxins. The sulfur compounds in garlic, responsible for it’s
  strong order, have the ability to remove metallic toxins and provide antioxidants.

  2.  Builders of the ancient pyramids were said to eat garlic daily for enhanced endurance and strength.

  3.  Garlic is a good natural source of iodine.

  4.  Garlic acts as a blood cleanser and by thinning the blood slightly, can lower blood pressure. Studies have found that
  garlic relaxes your arteries, increases blood flow and reduces blood clots.

  5.  Garlic remains the most popular aphrodisiac of modern day Greeks. On Corfu, widowers who marry are feted before
  the wedding with an assortment of dishes, all of which are heavily seasoned with garlic. Many Greeks believe that chewing
  six raw heads of garlic each day will help them conceive.  Since it improves blood circulation and shows antibiotic
  properties, it has been generally accepted to be a potent aphrodisiac. Studies have recently shown that garlic in certain
  forms can stimulate the production of NOS particularly in individuals who have low levels of this enzyme. The enzyme
  called nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is primarily responsible for the mechanism of erection.

  6.  The consumption of garlic lowers blood cholesterol levels and reduces the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

  7.  The smell of garlic can be removed by running your hands under cold water while rubbing a stainless steel object.

Happy National Garlic Day to all our favorite vampires, lovers and friends.

xoxo,
The F-Factor Office