Is It Okay to Eat a Raw Garlic Clove? 10 Health Benefits (2024)

FAQs

Is It Okay to Eat a Raw Garlic Clove? 10 Health Benefits? ›

Garlic is usually consumed cooked but can be eaten raw, which is even better because the raw form preserves all its beneficial nutrients. Most of the benefits of raw garlic come from an enzyme called allicinAllicin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.

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.

Although there are no official guidelines for how much garlic is too much, it's best to stick to a few cloves per day and decrease your intake if you notice any side effects. Cooking it may also help prevent side effects.

Medical research links garlic to a number of health benefits. However, some studies have suggested that raw garlic may be more effective than the cooked version, while garlic supplements are the most effective.

While there is no established effective dosage of garlic, some studies on raw garlic use 100 mg crushed raw garlic per kilogram of body weight twice per day. This equals about three to four cloves per day ( 18 ). You may also take an aged garlic extract supplement.

The enzymes from the allicin need a few minutes to start working, so let it sit after you mince, crush or chop it. “You'll get the most benefit from raw garlic,” says Jeffers.

“Chewing garlic releases beneficial compounds such as allicin, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also boosts garlic's flavour and aroma. Swallowing garlic cloves whole can still provide you with health benefits, but the release of active compounds is less efficient.

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.

To experience these benefits, simply eat a few cloves of raw garlic with a glass of water in the morning. “Allicin gets diluted when cooked, so the ideal way to ingest garlic is to eat it raw and on an empty stomach,” says Dr Prasad.

One of the most effective ways to harness its potential is by consuming raw garlic every morning on an empty stomach. You may start by chomping on a small chunk and gradually increase the quantity, if needed. Garlic is renowned for its immune-boosting properties.

Can garlic remove plaque from arteries? ›

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 such good food to cleanse your liver due to its sulfur-containing compounds, which help protect your liver from damage. It also promotes liver detoxification, and multiple studies have shown that taking raw garlic or garlic powder can help reduce fat accumulation in the liver.

Studies have shown that raw garlic is necessary in high doses, about 5-28 cloves per person, per day, to feel the health benefits (1). Whereas garlic supplement dosage is much lower and offers many other benefits.

Garlic may increase longevity: Garlic can benefit the heart, brain, and other organs. It reduces risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and heavy metal toxicity, which can help people live longer. Garlic is also a rich source of antioxidants and nutrients, and it boosts the immune system as well.

Garlic has long been credited as a repellent for evil spirits. People smeared garlic on children's foreheads, munched on garlic or wore it around their necks to keep themselves safe. Some believed since garlic deters some blood-sucking insects it must also keep blood-sucking evil spirits away.

Garlic can significantly improve skin health due to its antioxidant properties, which combat free radicals and prevent premature aging. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects help treat acne and other skin infections. Consuming garlic at night aids in detoxification, promoting clearer skin.

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.

The stomach cannot fully digest it. It may be able to digest just the smallest fraction of it, releasing some of its more volatile constituents into the body, but not really a useful amount. The clove will pass through the digestive system mostly unaltered. The garlic clove is protected by a layered series of husks.