(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)
(HealthDayNews) -- Garlic does more than add flavor to your food. The pungent herb also has antibacterial and antiviral effects, as well as cancer and heart disease-fighting properties.
But to reap its benefits, you need to eat one pound of garlic foods a week, or one-third teaspoon of powdered garlic a day, says Southwest Washington Medical Center. Also, the more garlic is chopped or pressed, the greater the amount of allicin -- the chemical responsible for killing bacteria -- that's produced.
Although cooking decreases the amount of allicin available, it doesn't destroy the garlic's SAC, which is a compound that helps bolster the body's defenses in detoxifying cancer-causing agents.
But be wary of garlic supplements. There is no guarantee for the quantity of allicin or SAC they contain.
