A-Z antibacterial properties Articles

Garlic is a popular herb in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years in many different cultures. The herb that's used is the bulb of the flowering plant in the Allium genus. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion. While consuming garlic through your diet can provide some benefits, you'd have to eat a lot of it to get any kind of therapeutic benefit. Let's explore what to look for when shopping for the best garlic supplement. 

Key Medicinal Compounds Found In Garlic

The cloves of the bulb contain active sulphur compounds called alliin, allicin, and S-allyl cysteine. These constituents have been well-studied for their various health benefits. Due to these active components, garlic can support the following health concerns:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Cholesterol Regulation
• Blood Pressure Lowering
• Improved Circulation

It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels and acts as a potent antimicrobial agent.

Medicinal Food

Garlic is a medicinal food because these active ingredients are present in the cloves in sufficient quantities to have some medicinal effects. To reap the best medicinal benefits from the garlic clove, it is best to eat raw garlic because the active sulphur compounds are sensitive to heat and can be destroyed by cooking.

The Best Garlic Supplement Offers Key Health Benefits

Cardiovascular Benefits

Garlic intake is shown to decrease levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the "bad" cholesterol responsible for cholesterol plaques and the storage of fat and triglycerides. Garlic also increases levels of HDL cholesterol, which is the "good" cholesterol responsible for moving stored and deposited fat to the liver for processing and removal from the body. HDL cholesterol protects against plaque formation. Garlic preparations have also been found to lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation. Thus, garlic can be used to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Aged garlic extract is the form that has been studied for its cardiovascular benefits. 

Blood Sugar Regulation

Garlic has beneficial effects on balancing blood sugar as well. The pancreas releases insulin in response to sugar intake. It acts to promote the intake of glucose by all the cells of the body to use as a fuel source. Without proper insulin levels, any sugar absorbed stays in the blood, causing high blood sugar, while the body cells become starved for energy. Eventually, the pancreas becomes worn out and does not produce as much insulin or the body's cells become less sensitive after years of high insulin levels. This is what happens in diabetes. Garlic can increase the release of insulin and help the body's cells become more sensitive to the insulin present.

Antimicrobial Properties Found In The Best Garlic Supplements

For thousands of years, garlic has been used as an antimicrobial and anti-parasitic herb. It has been used topically for infections of the skin, wound care and even acne. It is commonly used for bacterial and fungal infections both inside and outside the body as well. 

Oral supplementation or eating garlic can help fight systemic infections like parasites, bronchitis, and digestive infections. Research has shown that garlic can be taken as a prophylactic during cold and flu season to help protect against infection.

Tips For Finding The Best Garlic Supplement

Garlic supplements are found as encapsulated herbs, tablets and aged extracts (oils). These products should be standardized as an assurance of the amount of sulphur compounds they contain. 

There are many types of garlic supplements, choose the best one according to your preferences and consider combination products that target your particular needs. Garlic can be found in combination products for immune boosting, cholesterol control, blood pressure regulation, and heart health.

Do The Best Garlic Supplements Cause Stinky Breath?

Although eating large amounts of garlic and supplementing with some forms of garlic can cause halitosis and a garlicky body odour, this doesn't have to be the case. Garlic naturally contains allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), which is the compound responsible for halitosis, but the best garlic supplements come in an odourless form to help prevent this nasty side effect. 

Keep in mind that for respiratory infections, these supplements do not contain the AMS that naturally travels to the lungs and may not work as quickly. Also, some people say that the body odour and breath side effects decrease when garlic is used regularly.

Lactoferrin is a protein that packs a nutritious punch. Ultimately, it has several benefits including; stimulating immunity, antibacterial effects, improving the health of the gut flora, regulating iron absorption and increasing bone health.

Immunity is comprised of two systems; innate immunity and adaptive immunity. This protein works to increase your innate immunity, which is your first line of defence against foreign invaders. This will help you understand some of the unique attributes of this amazing protein.

What Is Lactoferrin?

Lactoferrin is a protein naturally found in human breast milk and bovine milk. Its highest concentration is found in human colostrum, which is the part of breast milk that transfers immunity to the newborn. Colostrum is the first breast milk the newborn receives immediately after birth and during the first few days of life. It is the most important food for the newborn because it contains antibodies to boost the undeveloped immune system and contains proteins, such as lactoferrin, that set up the digestive system for long-term health through innate immunity. This nutrient is known to support the proper development of the intestinal flora, skeletal structure and immune system of the newborn.

Key Health Benefits of Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is best known for its immune-stimulating abilities. Specifically, this powerful protein boosts the first-line defenses of the immune system through the stimulation of white blood cells and its action right at the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. It also is antibacterial and antiviral, so it not only increases your body’s ability to fight infection; it also kills bacteria and viruses for a double whammy against infections.

Interestingly, this nutrient can be used to increase bone health. Studies have shown that lactoferrin can stimulate bone growth by stimulating the activity of osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are the cells that create and strengthen bone.

Understanding How This Protein Works In The Body

Evidence suggests that supplementing with this protein increases the phagocytic (the engulfment and destruction of foreign invaders and debris) activity of immune cells, as well as stimulating the natural killer cells of the immune system. Lactoferrin also works directly at the intestinal mucosa to stimulate the production of intestinal cells and to promote the good bacteria in the intestine. It does this by reducing the “bad bacteria” and helping the spread of the “good bacteria” such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Lactoferrin’s antioxidant and antibacterial activity comes from its ability to bind iron. Free iron is a harmful oxidant and promotes bacterial growth. Lactoferrin will bind free iron, making it unavailable to bacteria, which require it for growth and multiplication.

Due to lactoferrin’s ability to transport iron, it may also increase the body’s ability to absorb iron. Taking this protein along with supplemental iron or a diet rich in iron can improve anemia.

Using Lactoferrin Supplement Varieties

You can supplement directly with Lactoferrin in capsule form. You can also find lactoferrin naturally occurring in colostrum products and some colostrum supplements will indicate the amount of lactoferrin present. Since lactoferrin is also found in bovine milk, there is a small amount found in whey protein and you will find that some whey proteins have been formulated to contain higher levels of lactoferrin.

Neem is an evergreen that grows in the tropics and sub-tropics. Neem oil has been used widely in Indian traditional medicine for various therapeutic purposes and to protect against new diseases. Scientific investigations carried out during the last two decades have reported many medicinal properties of Neem.

Key Medicinal Properties Found In Neem Oil 

The medicinal uses are attributed to several compounds including:

• Azadirachtin
• Meliantriol
• Vitamin E

Top Health Advantages of Neem Oil

Neem oil has been used for skin conditions to aid in relieving itchiness and keeping skin healthy. It's also widely used in toothpaste for its dental hygiene benefits and eliminating odour from bad breath. 

It is also found in many personal hygiene products due to its skin benefits and deodorizing capabilities. Neem-based formulations are safe, natural, and biodegradable unlike chemical and synthetic formulas which leave behind residues polluting air, water and soil.

Shopping For Quality Neem Products

Neem can be purchased as an essential oil, cream, salve or ointment. Neem is usually used on the skin, as a mouthwash, or as an inhalation. However, it's important to note that you should not ingest neem unless it's already formulated in your dental hygiene product. 

In North America, it is rarely used internally but it is used in India for internal conditions. It can also be found in hygiene products. Essential oils are concentrated substances and should not be used internally and should properly be diluted with a carrier oil when applied topically.

Potential Side Effects & Cautions

You should also keep neem oil away from pets as it may be toxic. There has never been a report of the topical or dental application of neem causing an adverse side effect. It is always recommended that personal reaction and tolerance to herbal products be tested at the onset of use for any new supplement. The safety of neem in children, pregnant women and nursing mothers has not been determined.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a plant in the mint family that is closely related to marjoram. It has been used worldwide as a culinary spice for flavouring grilled meats and vegetables and as a preservative for meats. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, and as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. More current healthcare practitioners use oregano extract for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Oregano oil can be used topically for skin infections, like Athlete's foot, ringworm and folliculitis. It is also useful for treating colds, sore throats, coughs, chronic respiratory conditions, yeast infections, viral infections, bacterial infections, diarrhea and indigestion.

Top Health Benefits of Oregano

Respiratory Infections

This herb not only kills infecting microbes in the respiratory tract but also acts as an expectorant (helps to expel mucus) and antispasmodic (relieves coughing). This is beneficial for a number of respiratory conditions like bronchitis, croup, and common colds and flu. If you are using oregano for respiratory concerns, be sure to use an oregano supplement that's made for internal use.

Digestion and IBD

In the digestive tract oregano soothes digestion and decreases diarrhea, by stopping intestinal spasms. It also directly kills gastrointestinal microbes and lessens gas and bloating. The current theory is that Inflammatory Bowel Diseases like Crohn's and Colitis may have a triad of predisposing factors. These factors include an unbalanced gut flora, a trigger event such as physical or emotional stress, and a bacterial or microbial invasion (infection). Given this theory, studies are currently investigating the use of oregano oil to treat IBD and help prevent flares. If you are using oregano for digestive concerns, be sure to use an oregano supplement that's made for internal use.

Oral Health

Oregano formulated for internal uses can also be used or oral hygiene. Rub on the gums to treat and prevent gingivitis, as well as a few drops added to your toothbrush to kill germs and treat bad breath.

External Uses

Externally, you can apply oregano to almost any affected area, although use extreme caution when treating highly sensitive mucosal membranes, such as the vagina and anal areas. It is highly recommended, when treating these areas that you use a carrier oil to dilute the essential oil, to prevent burns. Olive, almond or coconut oils are all good options. Before applying externally, you may want to test a small area of skin with the diluted essential oil, to ensure there is no reaction or determine if further dilution is necessary. A few drops of oregano oil can be added to shampoos to treat dandruff, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.

Best Co-Supplements To Take With Oregano

It is essential to be sure that you supplement probiotics when taking oregano internally. Because of its antimicrobial action, oregano can also eradicate the normal healthy gut flora, which can cause further digestive problems. Supplementing probiotics can replenish this loss and prevent future infections.

Oregano As An Essential Oil

The essential oil of oregano is a highly concentrated substance. It comes in various strengths, sometimes referred to as a percentage (i.e.: P73). Make note of the phenol carvacrol, one of the most active ingredients in oregano, responsible for the majority of its medicinal benefits. A carvacrol content of 70% or more is optimal.

Tips on Taking Oregano Oil

Oregano can be purchased as a loose herb, encapsulated herb, spice or essential oil. The loose herb can be made into a poultice for topical application, used for inhalation or taken as a tea for internal use. Oregano may be included in combination teas for soothing digestion. When the essential oil is taken internally, 1-3 drops under the tongue, 3x/daily is a typical dosage. Acutely, you can do up to 3 drops every hour for the first day you are experiencing signs and symptoms of cold, flu or food poisoning (for up to 10 hours). The earlier in the infection cycle that oregano is taken the more easily it prevents progression to a full-blown illness.