According to Lutzi, you can still get the health benefits of eating garlic if you swallow it whole. She recommends cutting the clove into four small pieces and swallowing it whole like a pill to avoid the pungent effect of chewing it.
The bottom line. Although raw garlic has a stronger flavor and more pungent smell than cooked garlic, it's safe to consume. Raw garlic also retains more allicin, which is the sulfur-containing compound responsible for many of garlic's beneficial health effects.
We conclude that undamaged garlic (swallowed) had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum. But Crushed garlic (chewed) reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA and blood pressure.
According to the book Healing Foods, garlic is universally recognised for its health-promoting benefits; aiding the circulatory and digestive systems, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and fighting heart disease. It even helps to eliminate toxins.
To activate allicin the garlic has to be chewed (raw), crushed or sliced. You can change this and keep all the health benefits of garlic by making ONE SIMPLE CHANGE. Crush, chop or mince garlic and keep it away from heat for 10 minutes. During this time the maximum allicin is created and stays intact during cooking.
It is safe to eat a clove of garlic as long as you are not allergic to it. However, you must be aware that it has a strong pungent smell that may give you garlicky breath. Also, having a large amount of garlic at once may give you a burning sensation inside the mouth, heartburn, gases, and loose bowel movements.
Raw garlic contains a component called Allicin, which helps in thinning the blood and reduces the cholesterol levels. Thus, the best way to consume garlic is by eating raw garlic on an empty stomach as the fresh garlic contains Allicin and this component gets diluted during the process of cooking.
Because alliinase is inactivated by the acidic pH of the stomach, most powdered garlic tablets are enteric-coated to keep them from dissolving before they reach the neutral pH of the small intestine.
Eating a lot of fresh garlic may lead to heartburn, indigestion or gas. The active compounds of garlic may irritate your digestive tract resulting in a burning sensation in your upper abdomen or chest too. So, make sure you practice moderation.
Although no official recommendations exist for how much garlic you should eat, studies show that eating 1–2 cloves (3–6 grams) per day may have health benefits ( 1 ). If you notice any side effects after eating more than this amount, consider reducing your intake.
Chew a clove of garlic
Garlic contains a substance called allicin, which is believed to have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Raw garlic cloves should be chewed, as cooking them destroys the allicin. Is it really effective? Studies on the subject are inconclusive.
How long do you need to take garlic extract to start experiencing its benefits? Since some of the beneficial compounds in garlic extract are fat-soluble, it may take 1-2 weeks for this substance to deliver noticeable effects.
Garlic can be administered orally or topically. Oral tablets typically come in the form of allicin, but garlic can also be consumed raw or within your food to promote good bacteria and prevent the growth of Candida albicans yeast.
This acid can irritate and inflame the lining of the esophagus. Certain foods, such as garlic, can cause this to happen more frequently. Although garlic has many health benefits, doctors generally don't recommended eating garlic if you have acid reflux.
Garlic is a natural blood thinner, so it helps in stabilising high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Honey on the other hand too is helpful for heart patients, as it lowers LDL, which is a type of bad cholesterol.
Since crushing breaks the most cells, crushed garlic cloves taste stronger, whereas coarsely chopped or sliced garlic cloves taste milder. Intact garlic cloves are mildest of all. Mashing minced garlic with a pinch of coarse salt can help tame the harsh flavor.
Garlic will be different depending on season, variety, and a host of other factors. But when using garlic raw, you should definitely remove the green germ.
Garlic also contains prebiotics, a type of fiber that feeds good gut bacteria. So if you are suffering from an imbalance of bacteria in the gut microbiome, know that garlic works as both an antibiotic (killing off hostile bacteria) and a prebiotic (feeding good bacteria).
Garlic – In addition to supporting your heart and circulation, garlic has antibacterial, ant-parasitic and antiviral compounds that help remove toxins, parasites and pathogens from the colon.
You shouldn't add too much garlic to your diet, too quickly. "One to two cloves a day should be the maximum consumed by anyone," says Tracey Brigman, a food and nutrition expert at the University of Georgia. Eating more than that may cause upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, or bad breath.
Eating 4-5 garlic cloves in the morning can help to boost your immunity, which is essential now when we have entered the winter season. It contains compounds that help the immune system fight free radicals and disease-causing foreign pathogens.
Eating two crushed garlic cloves on an empty stomach has the maximum benefit. For kids and babies, hanging garlic cloves in a thread around their necks is supposed to relieve congestion symptoms.
Garlic on empty stomach is very effective for preventing and curing different diseases. Studies have shown that garlic if eaten on an empty stomach acts as a powerful antibiotic. It is more effective when you eat it before breakfast because bacteria is exposed and cannot defend itself from succumbing to its power.
Raw garlic activates alliinase, an enzyme that converts alliin into allicin. You should consume raw garlic within an hour or two of a meal to activate alliinase and achieve maximum benefits.