The ingestion of one to two cloves of raw garlic per day is considered safe in adults. The most common side effect of ingested garlic is breath and body odor.
The bottom line. Garlic is highly nutritious and associated with a variety of health benefits. However, if you eat too much of it, it may cause side effects like bad breath, acid reflux, digestive issues, and an increased risk of bleeding.
"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.
1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg body weight/day of garlic showed significant (P<0.001) deterioration in liver function tests (LFT's) after 21, 14 and 7 days respectively. A 1.0 g/kg body weight/day dose of garlic was associated with marked histological damage in liver after 21 days.
Raw garlic also retains more allicin, which is the sulfur-containing compound responsible for many of garlic's beneficial health effects. For best results, aim for around 1–2 cloves per day and reduce your intake if you experience any side effects, such as heartburn, acid reflux, or increased bleeding.
The ingestion of one to two cloves of raw garlic per day is considered safe in adults. The most common side effect of ingested garlic is breath and body odor.
It improves your body's natural defenses, leading to a stronger immune system and better overall health. The World Health Organization recommends eating about one clove of fresh garlic daily. If you have digestive problems, consume this spice along with other foods to prevent stomach upset.
Because garlic can make blood less likely to clot, you should stop eating it 7 to 10 days before any surgery you have planned. Avoid garlic if you're already taking an anticoagulant, such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Heparin, because the blood-thinning action of the medication may be increased.
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.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that consumption of garlic supplements reduces incidence and severity of NAFLD and inhibits hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The results of this study show that garlic supplement is conductive to the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
Overall, eating raw garlic twice or more per week was inversely associated with liver cancer, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.96) compared to those ingesting no raw garlic or less than twice per week.
Garlic is known to be a blood thinner due its anti-platelet properties. Ajoene, a sulphur containing derivative of garlic, irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation,2, potentiating anticoagulants such as aspirin, warfarin, dipyrimadole and clopidogrel.
Some studies have shown that garlic and garlic supplements may have positive effects on heart health by preventing cell damage, regulating cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. Other research shows that garlic supplements may also reduce plaque buildup in the arteries.
Garlic is more toxic than onions – with raw garlic, toxic ingestion is around 1 gram per 5 pounds, and with onions it is 1 gram per pound.
And, despite garlic's many health benefits, don't add too much to your diet too quickly. Overdoing it can cause discomfort, including upset stomach, bloating, diarrhea, body odor and bad breath.
Potential downsides of eating raw garlic
In fact, certain compounds found in raw garlic may irritate the digestive tract, which could cause a burning sensation in the chest or stomach ( 12 ). Garlic may also increase the risk of bleeding by preventing the formation of blood clots.
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.
Garlic is a popular ingredient that has been linked to a long list of health benefits. According to some studies, garlic could help fight inflammation, reduce cholesterol levels, and protect against chronic disease ( 1 ).
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.
As any sulfur-rich ingredient, onions and garlic are very heating. They aggravate Pitta on both physical and emotional levels. For someone suffering from acid reflux, ulcers, colitis, heartburn, intestinal inflammation, skin rashes or redness, etc. eating these two substances aggravates the aforementioned.
Some forms of garlic have serious toxic effects and, especially when taken in the large amounts purported to have health benefits, may cause medical problems like anemia, stomach ulcers, severe allergic reactions and suppression of testicular function.
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.
An intake of the half to one clove of garlic per day lowers cholesterol levels approximately 10%.
Cyclosporine: Garlic may interact with cyclosporine, a medication taken after organ transplant, and make it less effective. Blood-thinning medications: Garlic may make the actions of blood-thinning medications including warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin stronger, increasing the risk of bleeding.
Garlic supplements have shown effectiveness in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients, similarly to first-line standard anti-hypertensive medications. Kyolic garlic has also shown promise in improving cardiovascular health by reducing arterial stiffness, elevated cholesterol levels and blood 'stickiness'.