The Goodness of Garlic

I just got back from another 5-day adventure in the Dominican Republic. It wasn't the best trip, but we made many wonderful memories at my cousin's kitchen table, on the beach in Boca Chica, and on our adventures in Santo Domingo. The radiator in my sister's car died, my boyfriend has an asthma attack, and I aquired a low grade fever/body aches/sinus and GI symptoms. Yesterday I spent the day doing laundry, messing with my pictures, and lounging on the couch. At least I can say my low-grade fever from last night broke today.

I am not sure if my gastroenteritis is from getting into soy (I react to soy like it's gluten) or a stomach bug. I have a little rash, but I also have the aches, stuffiness, and the start of a sore throat. Whenever I am sick, no matter what the malady is, I reach for garlic.

Garlic is great for everything. Allicin is the most well-known medicinal part of the garlic. (There are 70 other parts of garlic that are beneficial.) It's helpful for cardiac (blood pressure, cholesterol, clot prevention), immune system function, cancer prevention, and anti-sepsis. According to James A. Duke, PhD and author of The Green Pharmacy Handbook Herbs for Healing, Louis Pasteur found that garlic juice kills many micro-organisms, such as staph, strep, E. coli, salmonella, candida, herpes, and influenza. If I just sold you on the amazing things garlic can do, make sure it doesn't interfere with any perscription drugs you are taking before upping your garlic intake (raw or otherwise).

Dr. Duke writes in his book that the best (and easiest) way to take garlic is to cut or crush the it into food. By cutting or crushing the garlic, the Allicin is released. Apparently the smellier the better. Today I crushed my garlic onto rice pasta. Last night I crushed it onto rice bread. Since rice is the most easily digestable food, it's excellent for the nausea and GI upset accompianing my "stomach flu."

What else is important when you are sick? Staying hydrated and making sure you have adequate fluid and electrolytes. Today I've been super salting my food. To stay hydrated and naturally treat the tummy upset, I've been sipping on room temperature mint tea. Mint helps settle the stomach, and avoiding very hot or cold foods prevents cramping. I placed three tea bags in a saucepan full of boiling water, added some sugar to taste, and transfered it to the pitcher that's sitting on my tv table.

Sick Day Pasta
* 1/2 a bag of rice pasta
* 2 medium-large sized garlic cloves
* Extra Virgen Olive Oil
* Parmesean cheese (if desired)
* Sea salt

1. Prepare the rice pasta. Don't forget to rinse it with cold water when you strain it.
2. Put the strained pasta back in the pot, and drizzle with EVOO. Crush garlic in a press and add with salt (to taste). Sprinkle with the parm if you are feeling it. Eat slowly!


Sick Day Garlic Bread
* 1 piece of rice bread
* Butter
* 1-2 cloves of garlic (2 if they're small, 1 if they're larger)

1. Toast the bread until it's nice and crispy.
2. Slather with butter.
3. Crush garlic onto the toast, and spread evenly. Enjoy, preferably in bed or on the couch.