Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes When Using Garlic As an Antibiotic
I wrote in the past on how to use garlic as a natural antibiotic and about the fact that many people opt for this humble gift of nature when trying to get over an infection or malady. You can use garlic to make a natural syrup for chest infections and in addition garlic can be used to reduce the risk of lung cancer.
BUT If you want garlic to do its job and preserve your health, it’s
important to know how to use it properly. Otherwise, its health benefits
are limited, and you might not get the positive results you’re looking
for. if you are trying to use garlic as a natural medicine you need to
avoid a number of common mistakes.
Common mistakes people make when using garlic in a medicinal way
Mistake #1 – using cooked garlic
Cooking garlic is completely acceptable if you are using it to spice up your food. However, cooking destroys the garlic’s active ingredient – allicin. Allicin is one of the sulfur-containing compounds found in garlic that are collectively known as thiosulfinates. Allicin gets activated when raw garlic is chewed, chopped or crushed. But, it gets deactivated by heat, so that is why cooking garlic lowers its healing potential and should be avoided.
Here is a great tip when cooking garlic to preserve its maximum healing benefits: Crush garlic, then wait 10 minutes before cooking to maximize health benefits. Allowing the crushed garlic to stand for 10 minutes before cooking further enhances formation of allicin, ensures the maximum synthesis of allicin, and also makes it more stable and resistant to the heat of cooking. Then cook it on low or medium heat for a short period of time (add it towards the end of the cooking time).
How to use garlic the right way: eat it row
Mistake #2 – taking garlic in a pill form
To avoid the smell and potent taste, some people decide to take garlic pills instead. As is often the case, the easy way doesn’t really work. As I mentioned earlier, to activate the garlic’s healing compound, you need to ingest raw, crushed garlic. No pill, powder or dried form can match the therapeutic potential of garlic in its natural state.
The smelly phosphorus gas disappears when garlic is dried, processed or cooked, but so do some of the health benefits. Dried garlic retains anti-oxidant properties and can help fight free radicals – but never to the same extent as raw garlic does. If you struggle with raw garlic, just remind yourself that chewing it has been proven to be as effective as taking penicillin in some cases. Or instead of chewing it, crush the garlic, let it stand for a few minutes and consume it with food. You can also mix the garlic with some honey as a natural remedy for dry cough or chest congestion.
How to use garlic the right way: take garlic in its natural form
Mistake #3 – using old garlic that has lost its freshness
Make sure that the bulbs you get are fresh and haven’t been sitting around for a long time. Fresh garlic has a green strip that runs in the middle of the cloves. As always, organic garlic is by far the healthier option. You can also grow your own garlic – follow my step by step guide on how to grow garlic.
How to use garlic the right way: use fresh garlic
Mistake #4 – taking too little garlic
If you are committed to fighting infections the natural way, you’ll need to eat a generous helping of garlic. Just one small clove probably won’t do the trick. As a therapeutic dose, two to three cloves of average size should be consumed per day. People have reported getting through serious infections by chewing two to three cloves twice daily.
How to use garlic the right way: take enough garlic to reach a therapeutic dose
Mistake #5 – forgetting to replenish the stomach flora
Since garlic acts as a natural antibiotic, large quantities of it can affect the gut flora and deplete the friendly bacteria. As with other antibiotics, you need a good supply of probiotics to get your gut back into balance. The best way to do this is by consuming fermented foods that contain plenty of probiotics. Some examples include natural yoghurt, kombucha, miso and fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi). If you find it difficult to find real fermented food, you can buy probiotic supplements. Also read my article about 3 things you need to do after taking antibiotics to restore healthy intestinal flora.
How to use garlic the right way: take care of the stomach’s friendly bacteria
Mistake #6 – Not embracing a healthy diet
You can’t expect the garlic to do all the work on its own. You also need to adopt a general healthy lifestyle, and a diet that will promote the healing process. A diet rich in sugars and processed foods is counterproductive to the well-being of your immune system. Your endeavors should be supported by foods that provide you with nourishment and protect your health: vegetables, fruits, probiotic foods, healthy oils, lean protein and plenty of good water.
How to use garlic the right way: embrace a healthy diet
Tips for Eating Fresh Garlic
Consuming more garlic is one of the 70 habits featured in my e-book 70 Powerful Habits For A Great Health which will guide you how to take positive steps to improve your wellness and overall health. We’ve established that the best way to consume garlic as an antibiotic is by eating it raw and fresh. Not everyone enjoys its pure taste. Consequently, some struggle to eat enough of it. Herbalists David Winston and Merrily A. Kuhn, RN, PhD, suggest mincing the cloves and letting them stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, mix the garlic with yoghurt, applesauce, honey, or some other carrier agent that you find easier and tastier to ingest.
Here is a great tip to reduce the smell of garlic: eat some parsley afterwards to help control garlic breath.
Should You Eat Raw Garlic On an Empty Stomach?
It is sometimes advised to chew garlic first thing in the morning, before breakfast, and even before having water (you might need a glass of water to alleviate the burns, especially if you’re taking more than one clove). This regimen has yielded good results.
However, keep in mind that, for some people, raw garlic on an empty stomach can cause irritation to the digestive tract. A study published in 2005 in the American Family Physician noted a report from the literature that suggested that consumption of excessive amounts of raw garlic, especially on an empty stomach, can cause gastrointestinal upset, flatulence, and changes in the intestinal flora.
It’s always advisable to start with small amounts and observe your body’s reaction. This is important also because some people have an allergy to garlic. They might develop a range of symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and different skin reactions (rash, eczema). People who are raw garlic intolerant might still be able to consume it in small amounts, but their symptoms can appear when the dose gets increased. However, in most people, ingesting garlic produces no side effects.
Medicinal use of garlic has been known for over 3000 years. Already Hippocrates prescribed it for the treatment of cervical cancer, and Albert Schweitzer used it to treat dysentery in Africa. This ancient antibiotic receives support from both the scientific community and natural healers from around the world. When infection strikes next, you now know what to do.
How to Apply Garlic on the Skin to Treat Infections?
Since garlic is a natural antibiotic, it is great at treating any kind of skin infection.
However, garlic is too powerful to apply directly to the skin and can cause skin sensitivity and irritation. To use garlic safely to get rid of any bacterial or fungal skin infection, you need to dilute it first and do the following:
- Crush up 2-3 cloves of garlic and let it stand for 10 minutes. This allows the allicin to form properly.
- Mix the crushed garlic with some coconut oil, aloe vera, or honey.
- Apply the garlic mixture to the infected skin. If you feel a burning sensation, reduce the amount of garlic in the mixture.
- Continue applying the natural treatment until your skin is free from any signs of infection.
Read my other related posts:
1. How to use garlic as a medicine
2. Natural Garlic syrup for chest infections
3. Reduce the risk for lung cancer with garlic
Resources:
http://www.heavenlymanna.net/christianArticle.php?article_id=452#.VHgbe2evNVi
http://www.livestrong.com/article/538114-raw-garlic-bloating/
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0701/p103.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/13/moh.healthmag.garlic/
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17370439
Fry an egg, small fry pan (mine is 60 years old, small stainless made in USA!) in some olive oil or coconut oil. make toast points while doing this. When egg is a bit brown on edges and yoke warm–spoon some oil over the top–just as you are ready to shut the flame, poke the yokes and add crushed garlic. YUM, rye bread works as delicious with this.
Great idea. I never cook with olive oil though, as it oxidises with heat, Coconut oil always for me.
http://authoritynutrition.com/is-olive-oil-good-for-cooking/
End of article quote:
“The belief that olive oil oxidizes and goes rancid during cooking is a harmful myth that scares people from using this incredibly healthy fat.”
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/myth-buster-olive-oil-is-one-of-the-safest-oils-for-frying-and-cooking/
“Saturated fats such as coconut oil are still the best choice for high heat cooking”
Personally I try not to cook totillas in olive oil on high like my mom does. I find it tastes better, we use granualated garlic powder and oidized sea salt. I also eat many raw garlic cloves in food because I read:
“And the conversion of all the alliin to allicin in the garlic occur within 20 seconds. When you crush it.”
From this link:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/03/17/garlic-infections.aspx
garlic is like a natural antibiotic, but it is not an antibiotics, it works differently, it doesn’t kill good gut bacteria, on the contrary it feeds gut bacteria because it is a pre-biotic, so no need for repopulation for the sake of taking garlic,
From what I’ve read garlic can kill a little bit of the good bacteria if taken in large quantities. See here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AreOqtccIVg and http://www.pigeonbooks.com/index.php?r=14&c=73&l=en
Glad I now know about letting the garlic sit for about 10min after mincing/chopping. I will do this before I eat it raw too. Great info! Thanks
I am curious …. when I eat raw garlic I notice my eyes become itchy. Is that a sign of a allergic reaction?
It might be. Have a look at the symptoms mentioned in webMD website – http://www.webmd.com/allergies/food-triggers – which mention itchy eyes.
i initially got itchy all over but not anymore. i was exposed to mold for 7 years and trying to detox. this has made me feel better than anything else i have tried and i’ve tried it all. thing i learned here is i need to eat more. i chop it up fine, let it set for about 15 minutes, pour a dollop of local honey on it and take it with something warm to drink, usually my morning coffee.
I love garlic, but I can’t stand it completely raw. Is it acceptable to crush it and put it in a vegetable based capsule to swallow that way without losing any of the benefits?
Yes, it can be a good option.
hi, I eat already prepared pickled garlic from a jar, is this a good thing? am i getting benefit from the garlic this way please?
Hi Kim, the most benefits of garlic are obtained by eating minced fresh garlic, as it is possible that any “good” chemicals in the garlic may be lost in the pickling process. However eating pickled garlic is better than not eating garlic at all, especially if you struggle to consume raw garlic, and fermented foods like pickled garlic have probiotics which support healthy gut, so there are benefits to pickled garlic as well.
I made smoked pickled garlic, well it was so good I was eating like twenty a day, My husband was eating a lot as well, I think since it was pickled we forgot how powerful garlic is!. I noticed I suddenly had rash , bloating and flatulence it was non stop . I ran to my ND was put on medical grade probiotic and told me take only half of packet VSL 3, and two other probiotic, as well as drinking plain lactose free kefir. No sugar, wheat, and dairy.
Garlic has amazing powers as an antibiotic, but my ND told me the medical antibiotcs are stronger than garlic.
I’ve been putting it in capsules by mincing it into the corner of a sandwich bag and using it like a piping bag. Is there an easier way?
I wish my advice will help you.. to avoid smell or after taste, I advice you to take a clove of garlic, peel it, then pierce it with a knife few times then leave it for 5 minutes to activate the allicin in it.. then swallow with water as if you are swallowing a tablet. I usually look for the small size cloves and I eat it first thing in the morning
Crush it and swallow it like a vitamin, not on an empty stomache.
I crush it under plastic wrap with a hammer then scrape it up onto a butter knife, get a mouthful of water and slide it back with the gulp. I don’t taste it much that way. Much easier than chewing or putting it straight in. No burning.
Garlic oil in softgels DOES work. Just don’t get the “deodorized” kind, and don’t take it like you would take penicillin. 2000-3000 mg a day, every day, will build up your immune system so that you don’t get sick when everyone else does. I don’t usually tout herbal remedies, but I’ve been taking garlic like this for 30 years, and I never get whatever is “going around”. Ever.
Garlic pills work for me too, even the deodorized ones, but are less potent than fresh garlic. That’s what one needs to keep in mind. It’s great to have stocked up if you want it to last many months in storage.
When dealing with the odor-less pills, and need to treat a minor infection, I take 20-25 capsules per day, 5 per 16floz. glass of warm water (Typically 1000mg of whole garlic extracted as an oil to one capsule; 20-25g total)
The infection is always gone without a trace within a week.
Potency and dose are the most important factors here. Fresh cloves will always be better than jarred or extract, but you must take a lot of it.
Hopefully the research will be done to see if garlic can counter MRSA. It may just do it, given the right amount and potency.
“The infection is always gone without a trace within a week”
As is also the case the vast majority of times when a healthy person gets an infection and doesn’t ingest garlic.
Anecdotal evidence is meaningless.
number one mistake when using garlic as an antibiotic: using garlic instead of an antibiotic
There are indeed cases where you absolutely must take prescription based antibiotics.
HAHAHA, you are sooooooo wrong!!!!
Boy are you WRONG!!! My system has been destroyed by doctors that gave me too many bouts of antibiotics. I have a friend who developed a disease called Bronchiectasis and took antibiotics prescribed by a doctor for years that finally landed her in a hospital. The idiot doctor didn’t know what to give her, because all they are taught is antibiotics which makes a person weaker and weaker. Don’t tell people even as a joke to take antibiotics when you don’t know anything that you’re talking about. Garlic has been found to be 100x times more powerful than any know antibiotic. Healing Garlic Soup, 100 Times More Powerful Than …
I finally stop seeing doctors all together because the only thing they know are antibiotics. Every time I get sick, I find a natural way of healing it and in doing so, I get well and my immune system is stronger. Last week, I developed a severe sore throat and went to the Internet to search for a natural remedy. I came up with lots of site tauting the benefits of raw garlic. I took 3 large cloves 3Xs a day for 3 days and my sore throat completely disappeared. I can’t tolerate the heat from the garlic, so I smash a large clove with the flat part of a cleaver then remove the tough skin and chop the garlic meat into tiny pieces, scoop up small pieces with a tablespoon, put it into my mouth and swallow it down with a large gulp of water. I hardly taste it and it’s done pretty painlessly with all the allinin activated and intact.
Garlic has been found in not that many studies to be as effective as amoxicillin and I think a couple other general antibiotics. You are right over use of antibiotics is something that everyone should question their dr. about. But many of them are targeted for specific types of things and garlic cannot touch the strength of many of them. If you get sepsis or another blood infection you will likely die treating with garlic or something natural. Just saying,
With antibiotic resistant bacteria on the rise, searching for pre-existing alternatives is exactly what the scientific community is doing. Please keep up with the current research before you “pooh-pooh” a treatment “just because” it is naturally-derived.
Perhaps you just didn’t know how much of modern medicine is already based derivatives of naturally-occurring substances.
You have no Idea, that Modern Medicine is based on Money and Medicine is an industry and it means Fraud to get more money and make people Sick to sell their products.
Why do you think that bacteria are developing a resistance to anti-biotics? Could it maybe be due to… Excessive and unneeded use of anti-biotics? All things that come from this earth have a natural antagonist. Its the disease that WE create through manipulation of the natural order that lands us with worse and worse disease. It’s us that made cancer rise, we created things like the lyme epidemic. It’s about what is profitable and what is not. And what’s not profitable in a corrupt society is healthy people.
I want to start takin garlic daily .can i chop it into little pieces n swallow it with yogurt etc without chewing it.do i also need to leave it sittin for ten mins before takin it.
Hi Marie, yes, you still need to let the chopped garlic to sit for 10 min. and then mix it with yoghurt, honey, etc that you find easier and tastier to ingest.
Yes you can. Read my protocol above on how I got rid of a severe sore throat.
I like to put three cloves of crushed garlic into potato salad to give it a tang.
Can I grill the garlic?
I believe the heat from the grill will destroy some of the nutrients.
You must eat garlic raw, applying any heat to it will dramatically cause the magic chemical in it to be far and few, if not none.
When you chew a clove in your mouth raw and let the juices go on your tongue and you feel that burning, that means you have activated the magic chemical.
I like to think that chewing the garlic while mashing it between my teeth with saliva has the most extreme of benefits, but I’m pretty sure it’s just as effective to just mash the garlic in raw form until its obliterated and swallow it with chase.
I think the reason garlic is so effective at killing parasites, bacteria, etc., is the fact is contains sulphor which is why you smell so bad all over in every nook and cranny externally and internally.
I believe the magic chemical piggy backs onto the sulphor to be delivered absolutely to every part of your body.
Can chewing raw garlic prevent pregnancy? Thanks for other infomation!
I haven’t heard of it.
NO.
However, inserting a garlic clove into the vagina, after making love has mild anti-sperm effects, comparable in action to a spermicidal foam.
Please use a condom, anyway. They are still the best preventative. You shouldn’t rely on only a spermicidal foam, either.
Do garlic has a side effect if taken continuously over a long period of time
If garlic is taken in normal food quantities, it’s fine over a long period of time. However if taken as a supplement or in concentrated form, it can interfere with some medications and may also increase the risk of bleeding (see more information here).
You failed to mention fermented or Black Garlic and the tremendous health benefits it provides…
plss it is good to us knife to cut garlic into pieces before u swallow it lyk swallowing it ??
You can use either knife or garlic mincer/crusher.
What is the best time to eat raw garlic?
While many websites claim that it’s best to eat it in the morning on an empty stomach, you can see that in this article I don’t recommend it. But other than that you can eat it whenever you want.
How do u recommend taking garlic as a supplement to keeping my immune system boosted?I believe my immune system is at the root of me regularly catching a cold, getting the flu, sore throats, chest complaints etc.
Hi Allan, you can have a look at some guidelines as per how to choose garlic supplement here and here. For other natural substances to improve your immunity have a look here.
hi. is it okay eating raw garlic while taking antibiotics?
Garlic can interact with some medications. I’ve not heard of an antibiotic that is affected by garlic, but since I’m not a doctor, you always need to check the specific drug interactions leaflet or ask your doctor.
I’ve been chewing garlic for three days now, for a gum infection I have. Whe I chew the garlic directly it burns really bad! And I can’t keep it on the gum for than about 30 seconds. But 5 minutes later my gums feel great.
I tried chopping up the garlic first, and letting it sit 10 minutes first. When I do this there is very little burn, and I can keep it in my mouth as long as I wish.
So the question is which will work better. My gut feeling is the painful way works best but if it’s the allicin that does the trick then the easy way should work better. Any thoughts?
Hi Peter, garlic is one of the natural remedies for gum infection which I wrote about in the past (including a reference for a study). The study I was referring to tested the antimicrobial activity of allicin on oral pathogens associated with dental caries and periodontitis, and allicin was found effective against all the tested bacteria, so it is best to wait a few minutes before applying the garlic to allow the allicin to form. Some references recommend crushing garlic clove and placing it on the infected gums. However because neat garlic may burn the skin for some people (whether you wait a few minutes or not), it’s best to mix it with other ingredient that are beneficial for gum infection, such as honey, olive/coconut oil or aloe vera.
I can’t take any drugs with sulfur base is the sulfur in garlic the same? sandra
I don’t know (I’m not a doctor). Talk to your doctor about it. You may also wish to read this article for general information.
I am currently taking 4 cloves of crushed garlic a day for parasite infection. I mix crushed garlic with honey. Will that decrease its effectiveness?
No, it won’t.
I recently had two teeth extracted. Before the surgery I was given antibiotics (penicillin) for a mild abscess. I finished the course the da after the teeth were removed. I fear the infection may have came back and the dentist can not prescribe anymore antibiotics for at least another week so I was wondering if garlic would be useful in this situation.I’ve used it for colds and a sinus infection with wonderful results in the past.
Topical application of garlic on infected gums is one of the home remedies for treating gingivitis, so it may help in a case of mild abscess too. However it’s not recommended to apply neat (undiluted) minced garlic as it’s very strong and can burn the skin. You can mix crushed garlic with raw honey (which has anti bacterial properties) or with aloe vera or with coconut oil. You can of course consume crushed garlic internally as well. Please remember that I’m not a dentist, and if you see that the abscess doesn’t improve or become worse, you will need to go back to your dentist.
Thank you for your swift response. I do intend on seeing my dentist again next week for a follow up and he mentioned another course of antibiotics then. He was uncomfortable prescribing another dose so soon after the first which is why he delayed the prescription until then. I was just hoping that I could stave off any further problems and hopefully more antibiotics if possible. Of course if I need them I’ll take them.
Is it safe to use garlic therapeutically to kill bacteria (strep throat to be specific) during pregnancy?
Hi Kristen, the recommendation by WebMD website for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers is: “Garlic is LIKELY SAFE to use during pregnancy when taken in the amounts normally found in food. Garlic is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in medicinal amounts during pregnancy and when breast-feeding. There is not enough reliable information about the safety of using garlic on the skin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side, and avoid use”.
Hello,
About 2 years ago I did a coffee enema. That very night when I went to bed I felt and heard things moving in my abdomen to my throat, my face, my scalp, eyes and ears. I have this constant feeling of something moving behind my right tonsil, specially at night when it’s quiet. The thought that it could be a parasite had made me severely depressed and just scared of my own body. Please help me. Do you think eating raw garlic can help kill it or them? If so how much should I drink?
Hi Mariel, I’m not a doctor and I doubt if you have intestinal parasites as the symptoms of intestinal parasites are different than what you describe (see more about it in my article How to Tell If You Have Intestinal Parasites and What to Do About That). If you suspect you have intestinal parasites, your doctor will be able to do a stool test to confirm it and use prescription medication that are effective against your intestinal parasite. However if you want to treat it naturally, then refer to my article about Top 14 Foods and Herbs That Naturally Kill Intestinal Parasites, which garlic is one of them. I couldn’t find a reference that talks specifically about dosage for intestinal parasites. The University of Maryland Medical Center mentions in general to eat more garlic and other foods for intestinal parasites, but doesn’t specify quantity. In general, the recommended daily intake of garlic is 2-4 grams per day of fresh, minced garlic clove (a clove of garlic may weigh up to 5 grams, but of course this all depends on the size). I think it’s best to consult with your doctor who knows your medical history to find out more about your symptoms.
Extremely helpful. I have had a bad fever I couldn’t bring down for 12 hours even with acetaminaphin. Chest, nasal congestion, sore throat, even with mucinex max i couldnt breath; I was about to go to the ER. 20 mins after taking a chopped up clove of garlic I started coughing productively, 5 hours later my fever started reducing, 24 hours later my fever is gone and my lungs are almost completely clear. Coming from someone with an extensive medical background, this was literally a livesaver.
Hi Jenny and Rebecca
How effective is garlic in fighting Lyme or other tick related health problems? Would garlic alone suffice? What is a good dose? For how long or when do you decide to stop therapeutic dose? Any other recommendation? Thank you in advance.
From what I’ve seen in medical websites, in its early stages, Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics, and the sooner treatment begins, the quicker and more complete the recovery. But if left untreated, the disease can spread to other parts of your body causing arthritis and nervous system problems. This is a serious disease and you should see a doctor if you suspect you got it. Garlic might be an add-on to medical treatment but I would not take any risk and I would go to see a doctor.
After chopping 3 or 4 cloves of garlic I then mix it in with a red wine vinegrette dressing and put it on my salad. I think I have a kidney infection and I just started yesterday with the garlic. Will mixing it this way alter the effects? Any thoughts?
I don’t see any problem with it.
Thanks
Hi Andrew, I’m keen to know how you went with this for your Kidney Infection? Cheers.
I have suffered from syphilis for the past two years can garlic help me curing it since non of the antibiotics is helping me.
From what I’ve read in Livestrong website, syphilis is caused by a microorganism called Treponema pallidum. They say there that the effects of garlic extract on this microorganism have never been tested. They recommend that given the seriousness of the disease, it’s best to treat it at an the early stage with well-tested medications (antibiotics). I also read in Mayo Clinic that early syphilis can be cured, but I’m not sure what about the later stages of it.
How effective is taking garlic as a natural remedy for curing cancer and for reducing stomach fat?
I take a 1000mg pill every day and I have not been to dr for cold or infection , before I was at the dr 1-2 times a year.
Recently HPV virus had been detected in my cervix, luckily no abnormalities, and there for I have to be on the alert of infections. Also, hoping and trying to kill the virus naturally, I started taking AHCC tablets along other immune system support supplements, and two chopped cloves a day , one in the morning on empty stomach and one in the evening. A side from bloating, sometimes I notice a brown steak in my vaginal discharge.. is garlic too strong form me?? shall I stop it or is it an initial symptom?
Hi Sam, it might be that consuming garlic on an empty stomach is not suitable for you or that the quantity is too much. Refer again to what I wrote in the article under the title “Should You Eat Raw Garlic On an Empty Stomach?” – I think it will answer your question.
Check out Gerson therapy. They heal even terminal cancer very easily.
Hi there.
Can i make raw garlic into small pieces and swallow with water at each night.
waiting for your kind response.
You can cut the garlic into small pieces, wait for a few minutes for the alicin to form, and then swallow it with water. However I don’t think it’s a good idea to take it a night. Garlic is a gastrointestinal stimulant, so you should avoid eating large amounts of it in the evening. I believe it would be better is to get the majority of your garlic intake during the morning and/or lunch.
Dear Jenny.
Thanks for your reply.
Its ok. i will start using garlic in morning. if i cut the garlic into small pieces, wait for a few minutes and then swallow with water. In that case,
1- Will garlic give its full nutritions
2- and beneficial for controlling my blood pressure.
3- Or chewing is good option. which i can not.
Kindly reply point wise and hoping same cooperation as before.
1. Yes, as long as you mince/crush it, wait few minutes and eat it raw (as heat destroys the alicin). 2. WebMD mentions that: Some research shows that garlic by mouth can reduce blood pressure by as much as 7% or 8% in people with high blood pressure. Most studies have used a specific garlic powder product (Kwai, from Lichtwer Pharma)”. I’m not sure what exactly the product they used, but you can give garlic a try. You can read my article about natural ways to reduce high blood pressure for more ideas. You can also use apple cider vinegar – see more information here. 3. You don’t need to chew it to get the benefits.
What type of vegetarian foods or fruits have the most collagen?
Garlic cured my very bad tooth infection. Now I take 3 cloves daily
I don’t think I have seen the answer to this question: After crushing the garlic or chopping it, will it still have value after an hour or several hours or is there a narrow window for eating it after it is chopped or crushed to activate the allicin?
That’s a good question. I tried to find some facts about how long the allicin last. I’ve found in Wikipedia that: “When fresh garlic is chopped or crushed, the enzyme alliinase converts alliin into allicin, which is responsible for the aroma of fresh garlic. The allicin generated is unstable and quickly changes into a series of other sulfur-containing compounds such as diallyl disulfide.”
I’m not sure what time frame they talk about, but I guess from what they say that it’s not good to leave the minced garlic for too long, but I don’t know how long is too long.
Wikipedia is not a reliable source for accurate information.
Hi,,I usually chop the cloves into small pieces and then add them in normal food or something like tomatoes and eat them together. Do I get the full benefits of the garlic?
And then,,since I’m used to eating it, sometimes I don’t have limits and I can just add it to anything consumable. My question arises from the fact that I’ve just realized too much of it could be unhealthy;& so I’m just wondering,, what is the maximum number of cloves that one should take per day?(the right amount) Please help
You can mix minced garlic with other ingredients and eat them together. For example, many people consume together minced garlic and honey to improve the taste of the garlic and enjoy the antibacterial effect of honey. The website drugs.com recommends 2 to 5 g of fresh raw garlic. A clove of garlic may weigh up to 5 grams, but of course this all depends on the size.
Hi,what is the maximum amount of cloves that one should take per day, without overconsumption of the garlic? (i.e healthy right amount)
in order to save time, instead of crushing it every day to eat it, I put a bunch on the small blender with olive oil, to add later to my bread or salad, I am storing it on the fridge for the next few day, since I dont want to take the time to do it every day, my question is, how long can I keep it on the fridge before it loses allicin?
From what I’ve read, letting garlic sit for a few minutes increases its health benefits and the formation of allicin, however letting it sit too long has the opposite effect. The minced garlic will stay edible in the fridge for up to a week, but the enzymes begin to lose their potency in just a few hours. I’ve read that the general recommendation is to store chopped garlic for a maximum of 12 hours. The garlic will still taste fine after this time, but you will lose much of the health benefits that garlic can provide.
Hey Jenny,
I just chew the garlic cloves and swallow them. Since it’s been said the garlic should sit for about 10 minutes to release the allicin, am I not getting the full benefits of the garlic?
Yes, you are not getting all the benefits if you don’t allow enough time for the allicin to form. This process takes up to 10 minutes or so. Therefore, you must chop garlic about 10 minutes before using.
I’ve read eating between 3-5 cloves of garlic cures gonorrhea. Is there truth to that?
Gonorrhea required antibiotic treatment from your doctor. While garlic has antibiotic effect, I wouldn’t try to cure gonorrhea with home remedies, as gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent problems in both women and men, so you’d better go to your doctor to prevent further complications.
Hey, do I have to chop garlic 10 minutes before I eat to for Allicin to be activated, or can I just chew it with food and get the same benefits?
Since it takes time for the allicin to form, you need to mince/chop it and wait 10 minutes before consuming it in order to enjoy the full potential of the health benefits.
I have stomach ulcers and garlic will irritate them… so I was wondering if I’d be able to simply chew on the raw garlic for a while, and then spit it out? I want to use it to help with a throat infection. It was getting better by eating a couple cloves of raw, crushed garlic a day, but then my stomach acted up. Now it’s too painful to continue ingesting.
I guess you can try what you do. You can mix the crushed garlic with honey to improve taste, and honey by itself is also good for throat infection.
In Dec. 2015 I had a Spinal Stimulator implanted to help relieve chronic pain in my back and legs. Less than two weeks after the surgery I became septic with MRSA. Next month I’m heading back to the OR to have another stimulator implanted (different hospital, surgeon and brand of stimulator). The surgeon wanted to sprinkle Vancomycin powder in the incisions and on the devise during the surgery, as an extra precaution to prevent infection and Vancomycin is the antibiotic prescribed to MRSA patients. Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction to it while being treated in 2015. The dr said the chance of my getting this infection again is extremely low, my immune system is not working at peak performance so I consulted with my rheumatologist as to how I could build it up prior to my surgery.
She suggested, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Arnica Pellets (if anyone is taking this, any info appreciated), Oregano Oil and Garlic. After reading many of your comments, I like the idea of swallowing the cloves like pills after slicing into them. I have also considered, if I lightly heat them, after chopping and waiting 10 mins. or longer and only heat, not fully cook the benefits out of them. I will use the Oregano Oil, cut with Olive Oil (as it is suppose to be diluted) and that way, I can ingest two things that may otherwise be hard to eat a few times a day, every day, for might be a very long time.
Hi
Please advise if eating raw garlic and applying raw garlic paste to ringworm scalp will get rid of fungal infection? Has anyone tried this and found it to be affective in theating this condition?
Thanks
Topical application of garlic is one of the natural treatments in my article about how to get rid of ringworm naturally. Please refer to the article to see detailed instructions on how to make garlic cream for ringworm treatment. You will see that you should not apply neat garlic as it can irritate the skin.
hi,
after chewing raw garlic for more than four days, my mouth got burned, how can i eat garlic without burning my mouth.
Since garlic is very potent, it is a good idea to mix it with other ingredients such as honey to improve the taste and prevent the garlic from burning your mouth. Also you don’t need to chew it – just mince it, wait several minutes to let the allicin form, and swallow it with a glass of water.
Hi,
I used to eat 1 cloves of raw garlic every morning with lukewarm water every day so, 1 cloves per day has any side effects related to stomach or intestinal disorder or others, later??
Or I should have to stop it as I haven’t got any health issue?? Or i have to go further for same number?
Please clear me.
Thanks
1 clove of garlic per day is fine and is considered a normal food quantity. It’s good to keep this habit to keep and maintain your good health as a preventative measurement. Just remember to mince the garlic and let it stand for few minutes to allow the allicin to form, and then swallow it with water.
Thanks a lot Dear sir/ Madam for your quick response!!
Can i eat raw garlic while using other typhoid medicines?
I don’t know. Garlic can interact with some medications, but I’m not sure specifically about typhoid medicines. Check with your doctor first.
Hi
Without cooking garlic is good or cooked garlic and is it good to improve the sperms and given also full benefits to partner kindly reply asap
I m eating garlic without cooking is it good for me or not
Eating raw garlic is the best, as heat destroys allicin. If you want to use garlic in cooking, mince it, let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the allicin to form, and add it towards the end of the cooking and cook it on low or medium heat for a short period of time. But raw is the best form to consume garlic.
Just wanted to let you know that garlic is known to be a really potent prebiotic. There is no reason to replenish gut bacteria after using it medicinally. Although, it never hurts to ramp up on good gut flora. I enjoyed your article. was doing a search to see what chemical changes might happen to garlic when you ferment it. That doesn’t seem to be here but I really like your article. was a great refresher!
Here is a PubMed article on Garlic and other as a pre-biotics.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20119826
Just to clarify – there is a difference between probiotic and prebiotic. Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that help keep your digestive system healthy by controlling growth of harmful bacteria. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the human body and are food for probiotics. In number 5 I talk about probiotic and not prebiotic. According to WebMD, The types of foods that contain probiotics and prebiotics are very different and there is no food that contains both.
With Respect and I can see that I was not clear, sorry. You wrote, “Since garlic acts as a natural antibiotic, large quantities of it can affect the gut flora and deplete the friendly bacteria. As with other antibiotics, you need a good supply of probiotics to get your gut back into balance.”
This statement is unnecessary, because garlic is a prebiotic (food for the flora) the more we eat it the more our gut flora loves it and thrives, grows bigger from eating it. This is why we can celebrate garlic as a great alternative to pharm. antibiotics, when appropriate. It does not upset flora balance.
The WebMed Author is not correct on this to the exclusion of garlic. I provided a link to one peer reviewed study. There are many. I just thought you might like to know…
Most of what is written on WebMed is really on target, its a very good source. But, like all things can be incomplete. It is my practice to look there for information and I always double check and verify with the actual scientific studies. In this instance the doc. left something out . . . that’s all.
I really enjoyed your article. It is wonderful to have people dedicated to bringing viable and useable nutritional information to light. Thanks
The author apparently has never contracted E-Coli. Antibiotics and even foods and herbs with mild abtibacterial quality are things you should avoid at all costs if you have E-Coli. They actually make the infection worse. Finding the right foods, sauces and codiments without any remote antibacterial quality is particularly difficulty when you have E-Coli. I couldn’t eat many foods two to three months after contracting E-coli. Its been 20 months since I have had E-Coli and I am still sensitive to foods that have a high antifungal quality such as pomengranted and blue berries. I can eat garlic now though. I believe I had taken a garlic pill the night I contracted E-Coli. People usually don’t know they contracted E-coli for week or so. It takes a while for you to show symptoms. It might be as short as 3 days or as long as two weeks. You would have to look that info up for better accuracy . I have no way of knowing for sure, but I believe the garlic pill may have made my symptoms/reactions from Ecoli even worse. Please do not spread false info about garlic helping prevent E-coli. Its a potentially fatal viral infection.
Hi Angela, I don’t like the tone of your comment. I didn’t invent this information. You can refer directly to the research mentioned in the article – http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17370439. You can also refer to this research and this research which confirm the efficacy of garlic against e.coli. Obviously this article cannot provide personal advice, but the information is based on a research.
I have some wonderful-tasting pickled garlic in the fridge.
Must I mince it first to get the health benefits? Or is it good to just munch on?
It’s got vinegar, salt, sites, a couple other things in it — I am correct to assume it was not boiled prior to picking?
Thank you!
Hi Paul, I’ve never prepared pickled garlic, but from a quick look in the internet I’ve seen various recipes for pickling garlic. Some of them boil the garlic in the pickling liquid for few minutes, in others the hot pickling liquid is poured over the garlic, and in other recipes the garlic and the pickling liquid are not heated, so I’m not sure what method was used in your pickled garlic.
From what I understand, the allicin is more or less destroyed when cooked or pickled in vinegar, although pickling has its own benefits in terms of gastrointestinal health. So in this case it’s probably not important to mince the pickled garlic as it has been “processed” already, so the allicin content has been affected. However I’m sure that your pickled garlic has its own benefits and it adds a wonderful flavor to your food.
hello
I found in my urine something white and itchy.I went to the doctor he gives me some antibiotics. I finish them but the problem still persist shall I use garlic? when the result can come out?
I’m not sure what exactly was the issue that you were given antibiotics for, but if the problem continues, I believe that the best thing to do is to go back to your doctor.
Hi!
Im struggling now about the odor of my underarm. I believe its because of bacteria from the expired deodorant i used. And i think applying it directly wont work as i have applied other medicines and didnt work. Will it kill the bacteria if im going to chew it? If so, how many cloves should i eat daily? After consuming, will the odor stay temporarily or for lifetime.. Plz reply
I haven’t heard that consuming garlic will get rid of the bacteria that causes underarm odor. You can try my coconut oil deodorant – see instructions HERE.
AFTER DISCOVERING THIS SITE TODAY I FEEL THAT I MAY HAVE HOPE FOR RELIEF AFTER ALL. I have a severe shortness of breath and an energy problem that any of the Doctors in 3 specialties I have seen see no reason for my disability, so, I am going to try GARLIC and a chiropractor. I will keep you informed.
Thank You all!
Hi, I have had a cough for over a month, and I have coughed up some light brown mucus. Last week I began to have what I believe is a sinus infection, because there has been green mucus. My friend said he thinks I have pneumonia. He said I should use garlic like the article described. Can garlic use help me to naturally heal if I do have pneumonia? Thanks
Hi Nick, it depends how serious the pneumonia is. It can be mild or serious and can be even life-threatening. For some people pneumonia can be treated at home, and is often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks. However it can be serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems. I don’t know what your medical history is and how severe the pneumonia is so cannot give specific advice. Generally speaking, you will need to see your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you’re coughing up mucus, if you are older or have special health conditions.
Thanks, I am 51 yrs old, no health problems, generally good immune system, not really feverish, but I don’t have a thermometer. But I have been coughing up mucus.
Jenny,
Will someone with a peg tube receive the same awesome
benefits as normal oral consumption if the cloves are
crushed, placed in water for 10 to 15 minutes and then the
strained water/garlic juice mix administered to the person with a syringe through their peg tube? Maybe I could just
up the dosage to 3 cloves twice a day? What do you think?
I don’t really know to be honest. I guess that some of the benefits remain but I’m not sure it’s the same as taking it orally.
I am confused. Should I just pop the clove in my mouth and chew–and,or just as effective cut clove in small pill size then pop in mouth and chew. My question is: Is both methods beneficial to get the effects of allicin?
Hi Terry, if you pop the clove in your mouth and swallow it then you hven’t allowed enough time for the allicin to form. This is why it’s best to crush the garlic clove, let it sit for several minutes and then swallow it. Same applies if you put the crushed garlic in a small pill.
Pls, can garlic cure std.i have vaginal discharge, stomach heat andburning sensations.how long should I take garlic
If you have STD you need to see a doctor. Don’t try to treat STD yourself as these diseases are contagious and serious.