A cold is not exactly the worst thing to have, but it can be quite inconvenient. Accumulated expenses for cold medicine, for example, can create a sizeable dent in your savings. In addition, missing out on a few days of work can mean using up your sick leaves. Thankfully, a new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition has found an easier and cheaper way to put a stop to those pesky cold symptoms.
Garlic, according to researchers, is the answer. Because it contains multiple phytochemicals, it helps improve your immune system so that it can fight against germs that attack your body. In the study, 120 participants were gathered and randomly assigned either an aged garlic extract (2.6 grams per day) or a placebo pill for roughly three months. During these 90 days, the participants also kept a diary to record any cold symptoms.
Halfway through the study, the participants underwent a blood test to check their immune system function. Researchers then discovered that those who were given garlic extract showed growth in two types of immune cells called natural killer cells and gamma-delta T lymphocytes. Both cells play key roles in keeping germs and viruses from inflicting any lasting damage.
Once the study was done, results didn’t seem to show any significant difference in cold symptoms between the garlic group and the placebo group. However, those who were given the garlic extract reported 21 percent fewer cold symptoms, 61 percent fewer days in which they weren’t 100 percent performing, and 58 percent fewer absences because of illness.
While the garlic extract used in the study is from the same company that funded it in the first place, another study validated the effects of garlic on cold symptoms. This time, those who were given garlic supplements reported only 24 incidences of cold symptoms over a period of 12 weeks, compared to the 65 incidences reported by those who were given a placebo pill.
All in all, garlic seems to have a considerable effect on cold symptoms. Still, prevention is better than cure. Wash your hands regularly to reduce the risk of catching the cold virus from someone else.
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(Photo by nkzs via sxc.hu)
