Expert: Dennis Leppanen - 11/19/2005

Question
I was just curious about the steaming or the baking of the garlic.  Doesnt that reduce some of the benifits of garlic.  I steamed some garlic tonight and that sharp bitter taste was not present.  So I assumed that some of the nutrients were removed.  I thought cooking removes nutrients?
-Thanks again,
Miguel

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
For breakfast I have a whole egg and 2 egg white scrambled.  A slice of avocado and tomato
with a slice of swiss cheese.  Lunch can be tuna or chicken and a salad with mushrooms.  
And dinner is chicken or steak with salad.  I sometimes use a protien shake in between
meals.  I also have 3 garlic cloves a day.  And sometimes make a drink of water, cayenne
pepper and tumeric.  Is there a way to chase the taste of the garlic ?  I used to slice them up
and chew but that was a nightmare to my taste buds.  So now I put three cloves in my
mouth and chew them completely very fast then swallow.-Miguel

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I was wondering what is the best way to cleanse my system
and lose weight.  I work out with weights and cardio for 2
hours per day several times per week.  But I seem to be
stuck at a particular weight.  I was curious about some
natural solutions.  Also, I eat a clove of garlic everyday
because i hear of its anti oxidant abilities.  Is this a good
amount to take?
Answer -
Hi Miguel,

One more thing I could use. What is your age? Also just a little hint of your typical diet will
help.

I'm going to send you an article I wrote about reasons to-tox
and how your body accumulates toxins, which are stored in fat cells in your body.

         THE NEED TO DETOX

Your body signals you when you have built up toxins that affect your well-being. Maybe
you feel sluggish and tired constantly. Maybe your body aches, you have constipation or
diarrhea or feelings of bloatiness. Weight gain or inability to lose weight may be another
symptom.

In quick over view, the toxins in your body are stored in your fats cells,  if your eating
the typical Western diet, you may have up to 70 trillion garbage cans for cells. In
cleansing your body, and emptying the garbage, take particular note to your elimination
organs.

MAJOR ORGANS OF ELIMINATION

Although every cell of the body has “workers� that assist in removing waste
from the
cell, certain organs specialize in waste management. Below are the major organs and
ways that you can assist  them during the initial detoxification period.

COLON.  The colon is the solid-waste management organ in the body. Medical
specialists have found individuals who have up to eighty pounds of mucas and rubber-
like waste impacted along the walls of this organ. An autopsy of the actor John Wayne,
revealed 44 pounds of fecal matter impacted in his colon that contributed to his death.
Cleaning out the colon can be a tough job.

    You can support your colon's efforts to rid itself of stored waste with colon hydro-
therapies that use wheatgrass implants. These are highly effective in reducing negative
cleansing reactions.

KIDNEYS.  The kidneys are the water management organs. The kidneys are responsible
for keeping the chemistry of the blood alkaline by filtering out the dissolved acid wastes.
    You can assist your kidneys by drinking plenty of purified water and fresh alkaline
juices. Consume a minimum of one-half ounce alkaline juice per pound of body weight
on a daily basis. Alkaline juices include cucumber juice, celery juice, sunflower green
juice, and buckwheat sprout green juice.

LIVER.  The liver is the recycling center of the body. This organ sorts  out toxins and
sends them to the appropriate organ for elimination. If the principal elimination organs
is backed up, the liver will redirect the toxins as best it can.
    Wheatgrass implants offer a direct shot in the arm to the liver and help it pull toxins
out of the blood more quickly.

LUNGS.  The lungs are the bloods air purifier. They introduce oxygen directly into the
bloodstream and, at the same time, remove waste gasses that are produced in every cell
in the body.
    Deep breathing from the diaphragm is most helpful to the lungs. It is also important
to breathe in smog-free oxygen. If  you live in the city, try to find an oxygen-rich
environment where you can perform aerobic exercises.

LYMPH.  The lymph glands are the major “garbage arteries� in the body. The
intricate
network of tubing is the one that carries the bulk of waste from the cells of the body to
the final elimination organs. Major lymphatic glands are the appendix, spleen, thymus,
and tonsils. These glands tend to swell during detoxification.
    Regular exercise (both aerobic and resistence) and massage are beneficial to the
lymphatic system. Drink plenty of fluids to help dilute and transport the toxins through the
body.

SKIN.  The skin is the elimination organ with the largest surface area. In addition to
regulating temperature and body moisture content, the skin often functions as a backup
for the other elimination organs. If the colon is clogged, for example, toxins may try to
escape through skin rashes, acne, and other skin disorders.
    Exercise, dry skin brushing, massage, and drinking plenty of fluids all encourage the
skin to breathe, perspire and thus release toxins.

GENERAL DETOXIFICATION TONICS

If you begin to feel symptoms of detoxification, try the following antidotes:

  Upon waking, drink lemon water (mix the juice of one lemon in eight ounces of water)
with up to one-half teaspoon of cayenne pepper. This helps to open up the circulatory
system and alkalinize the body fluids, increasing the rate of  detoxification.
  Fast one day a week, consuming only freshly-squeezed green drinks, vegetable juices,
purified water, and herbal teas. These fasting days will allow any potential long-term
toxins to be released before they can cause serious damage. It's like changing your oil
before your engine fails due to wear-and-tear.
  Exercise daily. Aerobic, resistence, and stretching exercises speed the elimination
process.
  Do not treat your detoxification symptoms with drugs or vitamins. Detoxification
symptoms are part of the healing process. Don't try to heal a symptom of healing.
  Let fevers below 103 degrees run their course. A fever is an indication that the body
is working overtime to cleanse the body.
  Rest. The body needs energy to dispel toxins. The more you rest and sleep when the
symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are terminated.

    Becoming sick is the body's only way to eliminate a buildup of excess toxins. When
you feel the effects of this detoxification, don't worry�cheer your body's efforts
knowing you will come through with greater vitality, energy, and overall good health.

After you absorb this, send me the info and we'll tailor a cleansing program to help you lose
that hard to lose pounds.
BTW, I take 2-4 cloves of garlic a day...you won't need a flu shot. If you substitute green tea
for coffee, you will lose up to ten pounds a year till you get to your ideal weight. An absolute
wonderful anti-oxidant.

Hope to hear from you soon, Miguel

Peace, Denny


Answer -
Hi Miguel,

I steam or boil my garlic. Just takes a couple minutes. Or put the garlic wrapped in foil and sprinkled with olive oil and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. You can squeeze them right onto your plate. Use them to flavour your food.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that the average American takes about 150 grams of protein each day. But you need only a fraction of that amount. The lymphatic system attempts to remove it but much of the protein remains trapped in the body.

I love the avocado, it has the beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids. Also cold water fish, salmon, sardines, and tuna are great.

The water, cayenne, and turmeric is great. Add fresh lemon juice to it also. A great cleanser.

Here is a gentle five day cleanse to get you started. Avoid all processed foods, food additives, fats, sugars, processed grains and dairy products. Also avoid any baked goods or nuts. And, no salt.

Also set aside time each day for walking and meditation. Walking helps move the fluids around the body and aids the detoxification process.

Day 1-“Eat only organic fruits, vegetables and brown rice. The fruits and veggies can be eaten fresh or steamed. Eat as often as you need to stay comfortable.

Day 2-“Eat only organic fruit and vegetables. No brown rice. Eat a variety of raw foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, dark green veggies, etc. Try to eat as many sprouted seeds and veggies as possible. Good choices are buckwheat, sunflower, alfalfa, fenugreek and red clover. Eat as often as you like.  

Day 3. Continue the organic raw foods diet.

Day 4. Make a huge pot of organic veggie soup. Chop a variety of veggies into a big pot and add water. Don’t forget plenty of onion and garlic. Cook them into a broth. Drink as much of the broth during the day as you can. No raw foods or grains but drink plenty of water and herbal teas.
My favorite additive to this soup is burdock root. Check with your local health food store for this blood cleansing herb.

Day 5.  Eat only organic fruits, vegetables and brown rice. The fruits and veggies can be eaten raw or steamed. Eat as often as you need to be comfortable.

The five day cleanse is simple and easy for first time cleansers. You should feel lighter and healthier, filled with energy and ready for the next step in your healing process.

Milk Thistle is a great anti-oxidant and does a great job of keeping your liver in shape.

Let me know how this goes, Miguel.
Good luck, Dennis

Answer
Sorry Miguel,

Garlic is unique. It actually gives you some different benefits than you get from the raw garlic.

Fresh garlic is a cornucopia of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and sulpher compounds that produce the pungent taste and odour, and the most of its medicinal properties. A clove of garlic, in my opinion is better than an apple a day.

Garlic can be drunk as a tea, simmered in an oil ointment: eaten in food; made into volatile material that can be inhaled; mashed, and so one.

It has been said that if you put a garlic clove in your sock, it can be smelled on your breath in two hours.

So yes, the answer is, it won't necessary weaken the benefits, as much as change the compounds. So variety may be the best bet. When I get a good deal on garlic cloves. I dehydrate them, run 'em through my coffee grinder to make them into a powder, then put it in capsules. Just pop them in your mouth with a little water, and you're good to go. You can also purchase the garlic caps.

Whenever someone asks me about my favorite medicinal herbs, milk thistle and garlic are the first two off my lips.

Thanks for the reply, Miguel
Have a great day, Dennis