I've always been interested in healthy eating, natural supplements and the like but receiving a challenging health diagnosis caused me to put my librarian skills to good use and dig much deeper into research around the effects of the foods we eat, and supplements that can support a healthy state. I get into the details in Camino into the Heart (which is progressing, a draft has recently gone out to my first beta reader for feedback).
I've had in mind the past couple of years to do some posts about homemade recipes in lieu of buying ready-made products. A few friends recently tried our egg/dairy/sugar free garlic aioli and wanted the recipe. One tried it without success, so that spurred me to get my butt into gear and make a how-to video.
Garlic has great antibacterial properties, especially when consumed raw, and has long been touted as a 'natural antibiotic'. There are a number of other impressive claims eg: "Different compounds in garlic are thought to reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases, have anti-tumor and anti-microbial effects, and show benefit on high blood glucose concentration." (Bayan, L et al, 2014) Maybe that's why vampires don't like garlic, it makes the blood less sweet.
One of my previous partners swore by raw garlic to get rid of colds and flu faster. I hated eating it raw at that time, but now, thanks to my Spanish father-in-law, I've grown accustomed to it. This is his recipe, handed down from his mother (and likely her mother before her). Back then, they made it the hard way, a time consuming smashing and beating by hand. Thank goodness we now have electric beaters!
Ingredients: 8 almonds, 5-6 garlic cloves (we often use 6-7 because we love it strong), 1/4 teaspoon salt, 200ml olive oil, 4-5 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
Disfruta (enjoy)!
Bayan, L. et al. 2014. Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects, Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, Jan-Feb, 4(1) pp1–14.
