Winter means snow, cold, fun activities outside, but also.. flu season! Whether you've already got a flu this winter or currently going through the rounds of it, unfortunately it happens to all of us this time of the year.

However, there is always ways to keep ourselves in good health and prevent getting multiple flus or spreading an illness to another. The obvious case, stay home, rest up and remembering that yoga will not cure a cold! Not even a heated warm class. This was a big myth a lot of students use to assume when practicing in the hot room, as most believed you would sweat all the germs and toxins out cleansing your system to get better.. NOPE!

There is plenty of cold medicine options over the counter and yes sometimes you need to chug some Buckley's. But there is also another big player in the flu curing game going into the holistic realm and that is GARLIC!

You may have heard eating raw garlic has been used to ward of the common cold before. But it also has a lot of other important holistic health principles in addition to cure a stuffed up sinus or irritating cough. Here's a few things about Garlic you might have not known and reasons to eat garlic:

1. Cold Prevention (Anti-Viral)

   Studies shows those who eat garlic were almost 2/3 less likely to catch a cold. And when we are talking about eating garlic we are talking about crushing it! You need to activate the Allicin the enzyme that is produced when you break down the wall cells by chopping or crushing garlic.

2. Anti-Bactierla & Anti-Fungal

   Applying garlic topically can kill bacteria and fungus to help heal wounds.

3. Lowers Blood Pressure

   Consumption of crushed garlic has been linked to studies showing blood vessel relaxation up to 72%.

4. Protects Against Heart Attack

   The Allicin enzyme found in crushed garlic, in addition to vitamins B6 & C, and selenium also present in garlic can help prevent the most common cause of heart attacks and strokes.

5. Cancer Prevention

   Sulfur compounds in garlic can stimulate the immune system's natural defence against cancer. Some studies have shown high garlic consumption can reduce the incidence of certain cancers by as much as up to 50%.

6. Fights Impotence

   Garlic can stimulate the production of nitric oxide synthase, responsible for the mechanism of erection (I know right??).

7. Lowers Cholesterol

   And lastly, there are multiple studies that have shown garlic to help reduce cholesterol levels of up to 12%.

So if you're feeling a cold coming on this winter season, here's a simple garlic remedy to help cure or prevent a flu from coming on!

GARLIC FLU REMEMDY: Crush a clove of garlic, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then mix with a bit of olive oil or honey and eat raw. You can also put the garlic/oil mix on toast if you prefer for consumption. Do this 2 times a day at the first sign of a cold for disease-fighting power and to soothe your sore throat and cough.

Stay clear of the flu this season and EAT GARLIC!