Garlic and Grapes 

Aha! That wonderful (and powerful) garlic.

 In Numbers 11:5, the people Moses led into the wilderness said, "We remember the fish we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic."

In the days of Moses, garlic was used as an anticoagulant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor agent. The ancient Talmud says that certain foods are to be seasoned with garlic.

Some folks think garlic gave strength to the pyramid builders and courage to the Roman legions. In the Old Testament times, it was used as a remedy for colds, sore throats, and coughs. It was eaten raw or made into syrup.  The garlic cloves were boiled in water for half a day to make the syrup.

When the colonists came to America, they found the Native Americans used garlic to cure many illnesses.

It was used in both World Wars as an antiseptic.

It is believed that half a raw clove of garlic will help protect against blood clots, and two raw garlic cloves a day will lower cholesterol.

When garlic is chewed, chopped, or crushed, it helps as an antibiotic. Some scientists believe it is better than vitamin E to slow aging.

It can be used to fight the mucus from common colds and help flush it out of the body.

Tip: After eating fresh garlic, munch on a sprig or two of parsley. Its chlorophyll reduces the garlic aroma. 

Tip: To get the odor off your hands, rub with salt and lemon juice, then rinse.

                                                                      Grapes

In the days of the Old Testament, grapes were eaten fresh, dried, or as raisins. Grapes were made into juice, wine, and vinegar and pressed into cakes. 

Grapes contain boron, which helps ward off osteoporosis. Boron is sold as a dietary supplement in health food stores.

A cup of raw grapes contains 58 calories, 0.3 grams of fat, zero cholesterol, vitamins A, B, and C, and the minerals boron, calcium, potassium, and zinc.

These vitamins and minerals fight tooth decay and stop viruses, which some researchers believe can prevent cancer.

When grape wine is mixed with myrrh, it forms an anesthetic.

It seems it is not the alcohol in grape wine that is beneficial, but the fermentation process releases polyphenols in the grapes that attack bacteria, just as penicillin does. Researchers found that wine diluted with water in a 1-4 ratio has the same potency after 15 minutes as five units of penicillin per milliliter.

A glass of red wine a day helps stimulate the appetite.

Some doctors think it helps people with heart disease. My grandmother's doctor said she should drink one glass of red wine a day for her heart. 

Information on garlic and grapes is from Healing Foods from the Bible by Bernard Ward, published by Glove Digests in 1998.