This bulbous member of the lilacea family is made up mainly of water and carbohydrates, together with proteins, fats and cellulose. In addition to its content in vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, it has traces of minerals such as sodium, calcium, iron, silicon and sulfur.

Among its therapeutic properties, experts have been particularly impressed by its antiseptic and antibiotic effect. Raw garlic juice annihilates pathogenic bacteria and has a strong inhibitory effect on viruses, not unlike that of penicillin. That is why taking garlic helps ward off or hasten recovery from respiratory system disorders such as flu, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

Another notable characteristic is garlic's anti-clotting effect and its ability to reduce the quantity of lipids in the bloodstream, acting to slow cholesterol build-up in the veins and arteries and helping maintain steady blood pressure. That in itself is a large help in preventing cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, embolisms, phlebitis and above all, chronic high blood pressure.

By the same token, garlic is known to have many beneficent effects on the digestive system. It stimulates the secretion of saliva in the mouth and gastric juices by the stomach, helping to strengthen the walls. It acts to clean out the intestinal mucous and assists the liver and pancreas in its functions.

Garlic is also prescribed to eliminate intestinal worms and parasites and it has an extraordinary effect on hepatic functions related to the body's production of immune system cells.

Recent studies have confirmed its usefulness in treating degenerative illnesses such as tumors and leukemia as well as cancer of the nose, throat and stomach. In concentrated form, garlic helps stimulate and regulate functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems, in the treatment of rheumatism, and in detoxification processes in which the body needs to terminate its dependency on tobacco or alcohol.

There are drawbacks, of course, not least of which is the notoriously fetid breath it leaves on the person who eats garlic in large quantities. The way to get round this is to brush with a chlorophyll toothpaste before going on a garlic binge and afterwards chew on some parsley or mint. Other countermeasures against garlic breath include �eating a raw apple and sucking on a few aniseeds after indulging.

ONIONS

As in the case of garlic, onions belong to the lilacea family and the two of them have been used in tandem since the dawn of history and become known as "the seasoning of the poor" for their manifold uses in cookery, as well as for their curative properties.

Analysis makes it clear that 88% of an onion's weight consists of water, in addition to small amounts of potassium and sodium. Overall, it is the source of not very many kilocalories and so can be used with a certain degree of flair and abandon in diets in light of its relatively limited usefulness as an energy source.

Among their health-enhancing properties, nutritionists point to onions' diuretic, anti- inflammatory, analgesic and expectorant functions. It has been shown that eating onions improves the flow of blood and helps keep cholesterol build-up low in the bloodstream.

Their effectiveness against cold and flu symptoms is likewise been demonstrated. But most important of all is its ability to stimulate the urine flow and the exclusion of toxins from the body, making it a valuable adjunct in the treatment of different types of ailments of the genito-urinary system such as infections of the bladder, urethra, and the urinary tract in general.� Doctors also recommend it for cases of gout and high blood pressure originating as a consequence of kidney dysfunctions.

By the same token, onions help fight diabetes thanks to their content in glucoquinine, a substance that plays a significant role in controlling insulin production. And its high fiber content is a good remedy for constipation, since it helps keep everything moving through the intestines. Curiously, it is also recommended for diarrhea, as it can serve to counter the dehydration that often results from this condition. ���������