- Good for the liver.
If you’ve ever wondered if garlic is good for your liver, the answer is yes. Studies have shown that it protects the liver from certain toxins and helps lower blood sugar levels. It helps your body flush out toxins more effectively, which is good for the body as a whole.
- Garlic is good for your heart.
Regular consumption of garlic is directly linked to cardiovascular health benefits, according to Vicki Petersen, MD, a clinical nutritionist, CCN, DC, and CFMP. “Garlic has long been known to lower cholesterol and normalize blood pressure,” he said. “Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects are important in reducing our risk of heart disease, our number one killer.”
- Helps protect against osteoporosis
The risk of osteoporosis increases with age, especially in women. Dr. Petersen says there is some evidence that garlic may help protect against it. “Garlic increases estrogen levels in menopausal women, who are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Some studies show that it may slow the effects of osteoarthritis,” she says. Preliminary research is promising, but more research is needed to confirm this connection.
- Garlic is good for your skin.
Although you don’t want to rub the whole garlic, eating it from the outside is good for your skin. “Garlic’s antibacterial and antifungal properties help clear up acne, and its general anti-inflammatory properties help improve circulation and bring nutrients to the skin more efficiently,” says Dr. Petersen. Garlic is Mother Nature’s antibiotic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and immune booster, and garlic is very rich in the compound allicin. Garlic’s allicin is anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants, so it’s good for the skin, she adds.
So, as you can see, bad breath is not the only side effect associated with garlic. You don’t need to eat raw garlic with every meal or every day to reap the health benefits. If you don’t have a prescription, you don’t need to take it every day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to the Cleveland Clinic, in some cases, too much garlic can cause side effects such as headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, dizziness, and allergic reactions (if allergic).
Is it good to eat garlic every day?
The Cleveland Clinic also says you should talk to your doctor before taking garlic supplements. This is especially true if you take blood thinners because “garlic supplements can increase the effectiveness of medications and make blood clotting more difficult.”
For those of you who aren’t knocking garlic, but find some stomach symptoms after adding it to your diet: you’re not expecting this. If you’re going to google, “Does garlic make you gassy?” the answer is a big yes.
According to the journal Neurogastroenterology and Motility, garlic and onions are high FODMAP foods, which are high in “non-digestible, slow-digesting short-chain carbohydrates.” If you don’t understand the nuances of all this, it means that some stomachs have difficulty digesting food. People with high FODMAP food sensitivities may want to avoid foods like garlic and onions.
Despite all the health benefits of raw and cooked garlic, here are some side effects that can occur if you increase your consumption of garlic in large quantities.
Side effects of raw garlic
- Eating garlic causes mild to moderate physical symptoms
When it comes to adding garlic to your diet, Dr. Petersen says there are some side effects to consider. Some people experience heartburn, burning in the mouth, gas, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
- Garlic affects your body odor
Body odor is another side effect of garlic overdose. But this usually only happens when people eat three to four cloves of raw garlic a day.
- Consumption of raw garlic can cause burning and irritation
Eating raw garlic is not as easy as it sounds. For starters, it’s very strong and gives you a burning sensation once you start chewing. And Lutzi says other possible side effects include gastrointestinal burning and irritation. “It can create changes in the gut flora,” he says.
- Some people may develop a rash
Dr. Petersen says some people are sensitive to garlic, which can irritate the skin and cause a rash. If you are sensitive, I recommend wearing gloves when chopping it.
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