Reap garlic’s benefits with these tips:
- Try to eat at least two medium-sized cloves of garlic daily.
- Eat it fresh. Fresh garlic has significantly higher levels of allicin than jarred garlic.
- If possible, eat it raw. Cooking garlic reduces the protective activity of allicin.
- Store it at room temperature.
- After you crush a garlic clove, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. This triggers a reaction that boosts its healthy compounds.
- Taking garlic supplements is an option, but know that beneficial compounds in garlic may be less potent once processed into a pill.
If you’re increasing your intake of fresh garlic or garlic supplements, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- Large doses of garlic may interfere with some medications and reduce their effectiveness.
- Taking medications that slow clotting (ibuprofen, for example) and eating large amounts of garlic can thin the blood, increasing the chances of bruising and bleeding.
- If you have heartburn, acid reflux, or an ulcer, garlic could make these conditions worse.
- Showering and brushing your teeth might be required after a garlic-loaded meal to eliminate garlic breath and body odor. Some say drinking milk can help.
Comments