Allium Vegetables
Superfoods for your health
The Allium Family
Garlic is the most well-known vegetable in the Allium family which also includes onions, shallots, and leeks.
Allium family vegetables contain Mannose Binding Lectins, which are named after the vegetable in which they are found.
Supplementing our diet with allium vegetables allows their mannose binding lectins to play their natural role in helping our immune system recognize pathogens.
Leeks
Leeks were a key ingredient in a medieval treatment for bacterial infections and contains the Allium porrum agglutinin (APA) Mannose Binding Lectin which recognizes coronaviruses including SARS-CoV. We suggest eating “a leek a week” to help strengthen your immune defense.
Learn how to grow leeks right at home with this article from Happy DIY Home!
Garlic
Garlic is well known for its medicinal properties and contains the Allium sativum agglutinin (ASA) lectin and Allicin. Allicin in garlic has antimicrobial properties against fungus and bacteria, including Giardia!
Ramsons
Ramsons (wild garlic) have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and contains the Allium ursinum agglutinin (AUA) lectin which exhibits some anti-coronavirus activity.
Onions
Onions, well known for their health benefits and used in many traditional medicines, contains the Allium cepa agglutinin (ACA) lectin which demonstrated immune boosting effects.
Shallots
Shallots have been used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial properties, demonstrated anti-cancer properties, and contains the Allium ascalonicum agglutinin (AAA) lectin.
Allium vegetables, such as garlic and onion, are widely used herbal supplements. … According to the reports of the included meta-analyses, garlic led to a very low incidence of complications. … No obvious side effects were reported for other types of allium vegetables in the included meta-analyses.
- Wan Q, Li N, Du L, et al. Food Sci Nutr. 2019;7(8):2451-2470. Published 2019 Jul 10