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It is often heard that “food is the best medicine”, but is this statement reliable?
When it comes to the debate surrounding the anti-inflammatory effects of garlic, the discussion seems to be more intense. Garlic is not only an indispensable seasoning in cooking but also has a wide range of medicinal value legends in folk medicine.
So, can this common kitchen ingredient really play a role in medical treatment?
In order to help everyone better understand and add a bit of popular science interest, I will combine clinical cases and use a specific story to explain.
That day, Uncle Zheng and a few old friends were leisurely walking in the park, chatting as they walked.
Just when Uncle Zheng mentioned that he had been feeling a little pain in his knee recently and was unsure if it was a recurrence of an old injury, a friend suddenly mentioned a “secret remedy.”
“I saw on TV the other day that eating garlic regularly can reduce inflammation. Shouldn’t you give it a try?”
Uncle Zheng was half-believing of this statement. He also loves to put garlic in his dishes, but it’s just because he likes the taste. As for the medical effects, he didn’t really pay much attention to them.
Today, coincidentally, he had to take his wife to the hospital for a check-up, thinking about asking the doctor on the side to see if this matter was reliable.
At the hospital, Uncle Zheng’s family was assigned to Dr. Li, an experienced internal medicine physician.
After his wife’s examination was over, Uncle Zheng told Dr. Li about the “garlic anti-inflammatory statement” he had heard.
Dr. Li asked Uncle Zheng to sit down and began to explain carefully, “Garlic does indeed contain some compounds that can help with inflammation relief, such as allicin. However, to achieve noticeable therapeutic effects in the clinic, the amount of garlic consumed in daily diet alone is far from enough.”
After listening, Uncle Zheng was quite interested and asked further, “So doctor, are you saying that for someone like me who occasionally has knee pain, eating garlic is not useful at all?”
Dr. Li explained in detail, “For mild inflammation, increasing the intake of garlic in moderation may be somewhat helpful because garlic also helps to enhance the body’s immune system. However, if the pain is due to serious diseases such as arthritis, dietary changes alone are not enough.”
Seeing Uncle Zheng’s interest, Dr. Li also added some suggestions for daily dietary adjustments, such as increasing the intake of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and nuts, which are recognized anti-inflammatory foods.
On the way back home from the walk, Uncle Zheng thought about Dr. Li’s words and planned whether to try making a garlic and spinach salad for dinner. This way, he could try the newly learned “treatment” and enjoy a delicious meal at the same time.
He thought, even if the effects of garlic are not so miraculous, improving the diet is always good, after all, maintaining good health always requires consistent small efforts.
As Dr. Li watched Uncle Zheng’s fading figure, he couldn’t help but ponder a few more thoughts.
In the world of medicine, the topic of food and health is always full of controversy and new discoveries.
Although the anti-inflammatory effect of garlic has been widely recognized, what is truly surprising is how to optimize this effect through daily diet.
Back at the office, Dr. Li began to organize his thoughts on the application of garlic and other natural ingredients in modern medicine.
He realized that although people often discuss the specific benefits of certain foods, such as the anti-inflammatory properties of garlic, they often overlook the interactions between foods and the overall dietary pattern’s impact on health.
He decided that in the coming consultations, he would try to explain this viewpoint to patients, especially when dealing with inflammation issues like Uncle Zheng’s.
“Do you know, actually, although the effects of individual foods are good, what’s more important is the overall dietary habits.”
Dr. Li said, “For example, garlic, although it has its own anti-inflammatory properties, its effects may be more pronounced if paired with other foods, such as those rich in vitamin C.”
Dr. Li explained that vitamin C not only strengthens the immune system but also enhances the effects of active ingredients in garlic, promoting the body’s absorption and utilization of these compounds.
“For instance, olive oil,” Dr. Li continued, “it contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. If you use olive oil to cook when preparing garlic dishes, not only will the taste be better, but the anti-inflammatory effect will also be enhanced.”
“You see,” Dr. Li explained to the patient in a relaxed tone, “We often say ‘you are what you eat’. This not only means that everything you eat directly affects your health, but more importantly, how these foods interact on your plate. A balanced diet rich in a variety of anti-inflammatory foods may be more effective than any single ‘superfood’.”
Through Dr. Li’s explanation and education, many patients who were originally skeptical about “garlic can cure all diseases” began to reevaluate their dietary habits.
What do you think about garlic? Feel free to discuss in the comments section!
Reference:
[1] Zhang Yale, Research Progress on Different Dietary Patterns in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Modern Digestion and Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, 2024-05-18
