By Heidi Harrabi, Austin Farmer’s Market

This week I want to talk a bit about garlic. If you don’t have this phenomenal food in your diet, you should add it now.

The health benefits of garlic are almost too numerous to mention in one article, but let’s look at a few.

Affectionately called the “stinking rose,” garlic is a member of the lily or Allium family, which also includes onions and leeks. Garlic is rich in a variety of powerful sulfur-containing compounds.

The hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) that can be made from garlic’s sulfides has been the subject of great research interest. When produced and released from our red blood cells, this H2S gas can help dilate our blood vessels and help keep our blood pressure under control.

Garlic is also clearly able to lower our blood triglycerides and total cholesterol.   Our musculoskeletal system and respiratory system can also benefit from anti-inflammatory compounds in garlic.

However, from a medical history standpoint, the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic are perhaps its most legendary feature.

So add some fresh garlic to your diet today.

Available this week at the market, we have a variety of winter squash, decorative, carving and pie pumpkins, gourds, apples, potatoes, onions, Indian corn, honey, eggs, chicken, baked goods and of course garlic!

The Market is open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Oak Park Mall, 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Thursdays downtown, First St. NE, just east of the Law Enforcement Center, and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays at the Oak Park Mall.  All major credit cards and EBT accepted.  EBT users, take advantage of our Blue Cross/Blue Shield matching bucks program.  For the first $5 you spend, we will match it with an additional $5.