Side Effects Of Garlic

Although garlic has many health benefits, doctors generally don’t recommend eating garlic if you have acid reflux. What affects one person with acid reflux may not affect you. If you’re interested in adding garlic to your diet, you should speak with your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Strong Taste And Smell

First, raw garlic has a much stronger taste and smell than cooked garlic, which some people may find unappetizing.

Heartburn

Additionally, those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are often advised to limit their consumption of garlic to prevent heartburn.

Burning Sensation

In fact, certain compounds found in raw garlic may irritate the digestive tract, which could cause a burning sensation in the chest or stomach.

Risk Of Bleeding

Garlic may also increase the risk of bleeding by preventing the formation of blood clots. While enjoying raw garlic in moderation is unlikely to cause any issues for most healthy adults, people taking blood thinners should check with their doctor before consuming large amounts of garlic or using garlic supplements.

Bad Breath

If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing — even mouthwash — merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body. Other common foods that can cause bad breath include:

Gas

As the bacteria break down the starches from the garlic, they create a byproduct in the form of gas. This gas is largely made up of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. However, the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders explains that garlic is odor-forming when it comes to intestinal gas.

Diarrhea

“These are fermentable complex carbohydrates found in the food that could contribute to digestive distress, including diarrhea but also gas, bloating, and discomfort. The problems occur when we eat too much garlic all at once, so we each need to moderate our portion size according to what our gut is capable of handling.

Skin Irritation

When applied to the skin: Garlic products are possibly safe. Gels, pastes, and mouthwashes containing garlic have been used for up to 3 months. But garlic might cause skin damage that is similar to a burn. RAW garlic is possibly unsafe when applied to the skin. It might cause severe skin irritation.