Can You Eat Garlic Raw
You can eat garlic raw, in fact, it is highly recommended. Raw garlic has a stronger and more pungent flavor. However, eating raw garlic can also cause stomach problems and diarrhea. People who suffer from different stomach issues like ulcers should avoid eating raw garlic.
Taking your garlic raw (crushed/crushed, then allowed to sit for several minutes) is fine if you are looking to reap all of its wonderful health benefits, but if you are simply looking for a way to infuse a surprising amount of flavour into your meals, cooked garlic is the place to go. It is recommended that you consume 2-3 cloves of garlic raw, in order to provide the different health benefits for those that include them in their diet. Some experts claim that garlic needs to be consumed raw in order to retain its anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects.
There is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the greatest benefits, and others have looked at total intake of alliums, both raw and cooked, and found benefits. Numerous studies have found links between eating garlic and preventing cancer, specifically, studies show promising results linking garlic with anti-cancer activities for stomach, prostate, and colon cancers. There is some evidence to suggest that the phytochemicals consumed via garlic may have anti-carcinogenic effects, with a potential lower risk for stomach and colorectal cancer.
In another study published in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, scientists found garlic oil can help diabetic patients with cardiomyopathy. One study found that allicin, the active ingredient in fresh crushed garlic, has antiviral properties, as well as being effective against a wide variety of bacteria, including strains of E. coli that are multidrug-resistant. Many of its rewards are due to an enzyme called allicin, which boasts anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antibacterial properties.
The most important thing to know about garlic is that it really does offer immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory benefits overall. In fact, its antiviral benefits are some of the most extensively studied benefits of garlic, and there is evidence to suggest that garlic fights viruses, bacteria, and even fungi. Its health benefits are due in large part to the presence of high levels of sulfur compounds, and other nutrients like cysteine, glutathione, and methionine. In addition to its wide usage for flavoring and savory dishes, garlic actually has some noteworthy health benefits.
While it makes up a built-in part of our culinary preparedness, raw garlic, particularly taken first thing in the morning, has the potential to produce an array of health benefits. Practically speaking, garlic is a natural antibiotic to which your body does not build up a resistance, meaning that garlic has ongoing, positive benefits. Raw garlic benefits aid the steady blood and lymphatic drainage, making sure the liquid does not build up extra pounds in your body, which helps to keep you from packing on excess pounds.
Check out my other article on the weight loss benefits of eating raw garlic.
Garlic can also be consumed raw or applied topically for natural remedies to fungal infections and skin disorders. Garlic is typically consumed cooked, but it is fine to consume it raw, even better, as raw form retains all of its healthy nutrients.
| Advantages | |
| Immunity | It gives you immunity from many diseases |
| Heart Health | It improves heart health |
| Brain Health | It protects brain health |
Allicin may also be consumed as a supplement, like a pill, but raw garlic provides the greatest benefits, says Brigman. According to the University of Vermont Extension, the main beneficial ingredient of garlic, allicin, is destroyed when it is heated, so garlic needs to be eaten raw for full benefits. Brigman says choose whole garlic instead of pre-chopped versions found in cans, because raw garlic provides the greatest benefits to health and medicine. Most of the medicine properties will be lost, and cooked garlic still will hold some incredible benefits.
If you truly hate the taste, but you do want the benefits of raw garlic, supplements are available with garlic extract, including an unscented version. Since the potential side effects of eating raw garlic sounds less-than-ideal, there are (thankfully) plenty of different ways that you can reap all of the benefits of eating raw garlic without, well, having to chew on a real clove of garlic, detailed below. Start eating raw garlic, stat: Just remember, a little goes a long way, both in terms of taste and health benefits.
A clove of garlic eaten just before we sleep may keep us safe from a variety of diseases and bacteria, as well as help us get comfortable sleep longer. It is important to realize that eating a clove of garlic before bed helps improve our sleeping habits, so people who are struggling to get sleep may want to make using garlic a regular routine in their home. For men, eating a clove of garlic before bedtime may help in improving blood circulation in the body, and increased blood circulation in the male body is important because it helps prepare male organs for intimate situations, and this is a good way of increasing male sexual desire (2). It is best to eat garlic fresh and raw, because it helps you to obtain all of the essential nutrients found in garlic (1).
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One way to make raw garlic go down slightly easier is to cut cloves into thin slices and place between slices of apple, as suggested by Alejandro Junger in Clean. The apple slices will help mask the strong flavors, while mixing the cloves in with the other food makes the entire experience much more bearable.
If you are making a dish where the garlic is the star of the show (looking at you, 25-clove garlic chicken) or a recipe that uses garlic raw, such as a pesto, then taking the time to pull off the sprouts yourself is well worth the effort. That said, please do not bury your teeth in an entire head of raw garlic, because really, a half to full clove of raw garlic per day is all you need, and going overboard will only get you stomachache (and bad breath, too). To ensure that your body benefits just as much as your tastebuds, simply toss this nutrient-packed superstar into your meals near the end of the cooking process (that is, when your food is still quite warm, but far away from a heat source) and you are set.
According to The Healing Foods, garlic is universally recognized for its health-promoting benefits; it helps your circulatory and digestive systems, boosts the immune system, reduces blood pressure, and combats heart disease. Even beyond the kitchen, garlic has been considered as one of the most powerful foods to treat various diseases and conditions. Including garlic in your diet is one of the healthiest ways of fighting off different germs, diseases, and managing your risk for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancer. Eating garlic helps to prevent men from having prostatitis because it has anti-inflammatory effects, thus decreasing the prostatic inflammation that, if untreated, may lead to prostate cancer.
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One study found that consuming a supplement of garlic extract in old age reduced the severity of symptoms from the common cold and flu, and another indicated it may help to prevent catching a cold in the first place.
What is the best way to eat raw garlic?
Allicin, a substance found in raw garlic, aids in blood thinning and lowers cholesterol levels. Due to the fact that raw garlic contains allicin, which is diluted when cooked, the ideal way to ingest garlic is to eat it raw and on an empty stomach.
Is garlic healthier raw or cooked?
Raw garlic clove has the most health benefits, but if you decide to cook it, make sure it’s not heated at high temperatures such as those above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). The allicin in garlic is destroyed at higher temperatures, so you should add garlic to your recipes just before you’re ready to serve.
What happens if you eat raw garlic?
There are side effects associated with eating garlic, such as bad breath, heartburn, gas, and diarrhea. Raw garlic tends to exacerbate these side effects. In addition to bleeding, garlic might also trigger allergic reactions in some people. Furthermore, some compounds found in raw garlic may irritate the digestive tract, which could cause stomach or chest pains.