Side Effects of Eating Raw Garlic Every Day: Eating raw garlic daily is something many people do for its health benefits like immune boost, better heart health, even lowering cholesterol.
But as with many good things, too much raw garlic can have drawbacks. We connected with MS Dnyaneshwari Barve, Incharge Nutrition and Dietetics Department at DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, to understand what happens when you eat it every day, and what risks to watch out for.
What Raw Garlic Contains?
Raw garlic is rich in compounds like allicin and other sulfur-containing molecules. These are what give garlic its strong aroma and many of its benefits (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, etc.). But those same powerful compounds can irritate or overload certain systems in the body.
Dnyaneshwari Barve explains, “People vary widely in how much raw garlic their bodies can tolerate, what’s mild for one person may cause issues for another.”
5 Side Effects of Eating Raw Garlic Daily
Here are some of the side effects that can happen if raw garlic is eaten daily, especially in larger amounts:
1. Digestive Upset
Many people experience gas, bloating, stomach pain or discomfort after eating raw garlic. Dnyaneshwari Barve says, “Excessive intake of raw garlic, either at once or for a continued period of time, had led many people to develop hyper acidity and heart burn. Nausea and indigestion are also seen in people who are in the habit of eating garlic everyday. Those who have a sensitive stomach should refrain from eating raw garlic, as it may aggravate conditions such as acid reflux or gastric ulcers.”
2. Bad Breath And Body Odour
Eating raw garlic daily can cause bad breath, strong body odor, digestive issues like gas and bloating, and potentially increase the risk of bleeding due to its blood-thinning properties.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states, “Side effects of garlic consumed orally include breath and body odor, abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea. Some people have allergic reactions to garlic.”
3. Increased Risk of Bleeding
Raw garlic has antithrombotic (blood-thinning) properties. That means it can make it harder for the blood to clot. The expert warns especially people on blood-thinning medications, or those about to have surgery, should avoid high amounts of raw garlic.
The expert says, “Due to its anti inflammatory action, overuse of garlic can actually interfere with the action of certain blood thinning medicines given for heart ailments, blood pressure etc. These compounds are metabolised in the body and excreted via breath and skin.” Otherwise, there’s a risk of excessive bleeding or bruising.
4. Potential Allergic Reactions
Some people are allergic to garlic (or to plants in the same family, like onions). Reactions may include rashes, itching, or in rare cases more severe responses. Garlic is known to be anti-inflammatory, but, in rare cases, where one is allergic to garlic, it may cause skin irritation, itching, or skin blisters.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights, “Adverse effects of topical exposure to raw garlic include contact dermatitis, skin blisters, and ulcero-necrotic lesions. Frequency of reactions to inhaled garlic dust or topical exposures of garlic is not established.” The expert advises if someone notices any allergy symptoms, they should stop and seek medical help.
5. Lowered Blood Pressure / Dizziness
Garlic can lower blood pressure, which is often good. But daily raw garlic in large amounts combined with blood-pressure medication can lead to blood pressure dropping too much.
Symptoms might include dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint. Dnyaneshwari Barve emphasises moderation, especially for people already managing blood pressure.
Side Effects of Eating Raw Garlic Every Day: How Much Is Too Much?
The expert recommends that for most healthy adults, 1-2 cloves of raw garlic per day is reasonable. Going beyond that regularly may increase the likelihood of side effects.
If you’re unsure, or if you have existing health issues (IBS, GERD, blood thinning, etc.), check with a medical professional before making raw garlic a daily habit.
Note: Raw garlic can be a powerful ally for health, but its potency means it should be used wisely. With moderation, expert tips, and perhaps occasional rest days, many of the side effects can be avoided or minimised.