Polymeal Recipes

Raw garlic cloves contain a sulphur compound called alliin that, when combined with an enzyme also found in garlic, starts a cascade of chemical reactions that produce heart healthy compounds.

Alliin is very unstable, and it is kept separate from the enzyme in the garlic clove. To start the chemical reaction, the garlic needs to be crushed or chopped and then left to sit for a few minutes to allow the beneficial compounds to fully develop.

So you’ll see a lot of waiting times in the garlic recipes on this site. Don’t skip the waiting time unless you want to skip out on the health benefits of garlic!

References:

• http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/5_23_98/food.htm
• http://sheknows.com/about/look/3648.htm

If you’re concerned about mercury contamination in your fish, you might like to check out the FDA Consumer Report on Mercury in Fish.

There is a chart comparing domestic and imported fish near the bottom of the FDA report that you might find helpful in making decisions about what kind of fish to eat.

The FDA currently sets the acceptable level of mercury in fish at 1 part per million (ppm). Most fish are well below that, but there are a few larger fish (such as shark and swordfish) that may be over or come close to the limit. Pollock, salmon and flounder are great choices, as they have very low levels of mercury.