Irish minister's raw garlic habit from BBC

Garlic has been used as a health remedy for more than 5,000 years

Raw garlic may not be most people's idea of a tasty snack, but details have emerged of Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan's unlikely fondness for munching on the herb.

Although it's renowned for its many healthy properties as well as being a traditional safeguard against vampires, Mr Lenihan is reported to have used it to stay awake during late-night talks about the Republic's troubled economy.

The revelation emerged in an extract from a book by economist and television personality David McWilliams, who says he met the minister in September 2008 at the height of the banking crisis.

"He pulled a bulb of garlic out of his pocket and started to peel it. It was one of the odd moments in a long night of odd moments.

"In subsequent meetings, the raw garlic was produced and squashed into bowls of soup. This time he just peeled a clove and left it on the table.

Brian Lenihan

Brian Lenihan is said to have begun the habit when he became finance minister

"He explained to me that the garlic gave him strength and kept him healthy and alert. I had no reason to doubt him.

"He went on to say that he had been chomping raw garlic all summer, since he'd got the finance job."

Details of Mr Lenihan's habit were confirmed by Minister of State Pat Carey, who said on a radio programme that Mr Lenihan "constantly chews garlic".

Mr Lenihan is following in the footsteps of many people throughout history who used garlic to improve their physical and mental strength in challenging times.

Health remedy

Roman soldiers ate garlic before battle, Greek athletes took it before a race, and the workers building the pyramids were issued garlic with their rations so that they could chew it all day long as they manhandled the heavy blocks into position.

It may be a wonder herb, but one unfortunate side-effect is that it can lead to bad breath.

Experts suggest eating a sprig of chopped, fresh parsley, but this might look a bit strange in polite company.

Garlic is thought to have been used as a health remedy since 3000 BC.

It is a member of the Lilly family and contains sulphur and amino acids as well as minerals such as germanium, selenium and zinc as well as vitamins A, B and C.

EATING FRUIT...

It's long but very informative
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We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.
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What is the correct way of eating fruits?
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IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
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If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
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FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
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In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....
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So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
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Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
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There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.
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When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
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But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
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KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
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APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
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STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.
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ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
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WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
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GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
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Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
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A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.