This European study is an excellent example that beautifully illustrates the problems associated with favoring synthetic supplements over whole foods.

It makes perfect sense that the people who took the garlic supplement showed no improvement in their cholesterol levels or any other signs of heart disease, while those taking Lipitor experienced drops in C-reactive protein and TNF-alpha (both signs of inflammation) and their cholesterol levels.

But the catch about the aforementioned study: People benefit the most from garlic and onions when eating them fresh. Also, the active ingredient in garlic -- allicin -- tends to dissipate an hour after cutting or chewing it, meaning a typical garlic pill won't do your health much good.

Garlic is truly one of nature's most impressive foods, and I am a big fan of it (assuming you can get by the smell). It can protect you from hypertension, has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and also comes with a host of additional health-promoting characteristics. The benefits you can gain from garlic seem quite profound.

If you enjoy garlic you will want to consider using it fresh and cutting or chewing it shortly before swallowing it to obtain the maximum benefits. If you are a carb type you can also consider adding it to your vegetable juice.

On Vital Votes, Mary from Cabool, Missouri believes these principles apply to more than just garlic:

"Most supplements are processed in one way or another.  Any type of processing can destroy many of the nutrients and bio-active materials in our food.  Heat destroys B Vitamins. Pressure destroys other vitamins. The best way to get the beneficial effects of something is to eat it after taking it from your garden, wash off the dirt and eat it."

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