The Truth About Garlic?
You’re familiar with the supposed health benefits of garlic, right?* For years, I’ve been sharing with people just how amazing garlic is. But is any of that scientifically proven? I’ve seen lots of information on the web praising garlic, but none of them include any kind of study. So where did we get the idea that garlic is so great?
The reason I’m asking is that after years of being a total garlic fanatic, I stopped eating it last December after a doctor’s visit. Before I go on, I want to mention that this is a “normal” allelopathic doctor who also practices acupuncture, uses a zapper on patients, recommends the use of colloidal silver for a variety of health issues, and prescribes Bach flower treatments and homeopathy. So he’s got traditional Western medicine training, but he’s also into the alternative stuff.
Anyway, this doctor told us that it’s important to eat a little of everything, with lots of variety…everything that is, except garlic. I, of course, went into shock, because I used garlic in everything.
I couldn’t imagine eating without garlic. Or cooking without garlic. Just do a search for “garlic” on this blog, and you’ll find a number of recipes dating back to November 2009 and before that include garlic in ample quantities.
So, we stopped eating garlic. But, we make exceptions now and again because sometimes I just need a Caesar salad, you know?
And then we suffer. Oh, do we suffer. I try to avoid oversharing on health issues here, so I won’t go into detail of the digestive torture that we experience after eating garlic. Recovery generally involves copious amounts of water and one or more carbon pills. And sometimes the misery will last well into the following day.
The thing is, I can’t find any serious information out there regarding the health disadvantages to eating garlic. Now, I know that a lot of times studies just aren’t done because the results might hurt a certain industry. So the lack of a garlic study doesn’t surprise me in a way.
There are several sites with information as to why garlic isn’t good for you, but in the same way that there seems to be no serious information regarding the health benefits of it, I can’t find anything to the contrary. So what is the truth about garlic?
What are your experiences with garlic? Are you a garlic “believer”?
Have you ever stopped eating garlic and then started up again? If you’re interested in giving this a try, I’d suggest to not eat anything with garlic for 30 days. Then eat one meal with garlic and see what happens. If you can post your experience here, I’d love it.
Oh, and don’t forget to pick up some carbon pills before your garlic dish. You’ll likely regret not having it.
*I just want to clarify here that I linked to the garlic article on Katie’s Kitchen Stewardship blog because I think it’s a clear, well-written article on the supposed health benefits of garlic. I love Katie’s blog, and I think she has a ton of spectacular information on there. So much, in fact, that I wish it were a book so I could underline and make notes in the margin on everything. In no way do I mean to discredit the information she posts about food or any other topics. This is a great blog, and I recommend you check it out!
I like to use garlic when I cook, and if I ever get a cold I do try to make something with garlic. I find that I feel better after eating it.
I couldn’t imagine not eating it at all. Yikes!
OMG! So I just did a quick search, and here’s what I found: http://www.pwsa.org/sp_garlic.htm
Toxic and kills your brain cells??? That’s terrible.
Ok, I’ll start a test – 30 days, no garlic (starting tomorrow, as I had garlic today!).
I’m still trying to prove that I have a gluten intolerance. Turns out, I went to Japan, ate all kinds of gluten – absolutely no symptoms.
And back in Argentina, I was just fine. Only some problems after lactose, which still remain, and it’s quite clear.
I might be allergic to something else (needs to be something more specific than “America”, ha!). I’ll try to get another appointment at the clinic to figure it out. I do know that I instantly feel bad after: herbal tea, sweetener, fake sushi (fake crab and stuff). Also sometimes if I eat eggs with potatoes in the morning… super weird.
Maybe sugar?
The biggest claim that’s been made over the years is that garlic lowers cholesterol. There have been some sketchy studies on either side of that claim, but the latest one I read shows that there isn’t any improvement, so a lot of people are taking garlic pills and making their stomachs upset and breath smell bad for no reason:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/63976.php
Not sure about the whole “killing brain cells” thing. A lot of research has been done on what kills brain cells, and I think this would be much bigger news if garlic were truly an offender. That sounds alarmist to me.
Definitely raw garlic has been shown to be harder on the stomach than cooked garlic, and probably any garlic is harder to digest than none- same with onions. Of course a lot of things that are truly good for us due to high fiber content can cause stomach pains, cramping, gas, bloating, and diarrhea when consumed in great quantities or without adding them into the diet gradually. Take it with a grain of salt, NPI.
I’m with Laura; the big thing I’ve heard is lowering cholesterol, with data the data to back it up being a bit flojo overall. I did once hear that eating mass amounts would keep mosquitos away, but the data I was given was rather anecdotal, as in, “Well, once I start to sweat garlic my wife won’t come near me, so why would mosquitos?” I also think that probably once you take something out of your diet completely you will have issues if you add it back in abruptly. I know that many people who become vegitarians for a while and then begin to eat meat again have to start back slowly, for example.
Did that doctor give you any details at all about why he told you that?
I’ve never heard anything bad about garlic, except there is a raging controversy on the internet about whether it’s really good for your pets, or really bad.
My personal opinion is that it is just like many other foods…some people can be allergic or intolerant to it…I have no scientific evidence to back up that thought, though.
P.S. Sorry I haven’t visited in a while…it’s been a busy summer! Thanks for keeping on with the Make It Happen Mondays! I’ve changed my blog name and address to http://outofmymindontothepage.wordpress.com/
The Girl, that’s exactly how I felt! It didn’t take more than a month to get used to not eating it, though.
Julia, please let me know how it goes! I can’t wait to hear. Thanks for the link. Maybe your issue is wheat, and not gluten? I don’t have a gluten problem, but wheat has shown to be an allergen for me.
Lebetho, you know I was dying to read your comments on this issue! Thanks for the link. I don’t remember the supposed benefits of garlic for cholesterol. I think most everything I have heard/read is about its antibiotic/antimicrobial/anti-allthebadstuff properties.
Michelle, I remember exactly who first told us about the anti mosquito properties, it was Jade in Spain. And yes, I’ve been through periods where I ate so much garlic, I stank. And not just my breath. It came out of my pores. Clearly, not a good thing. The idea that removing something from your diet then adding it only occasionally makes sense, though if it were really a healthy food item (and not something you’re allergic to), I can’t imagine it being a problem. For example, I can’t see stopping my tomato consumption for a month and then getting sick from tomatoes. Or other vegetables I have no problem digesting.
On the other hand, when I was vegetarian/vegan for years, then started eating meat in excessive quantities, I don’t remember ever feeling sick. And I ate a LOT of meat once I started up again. Fish, chicken, beef, eggs, cheese. A LOT.
Jb, I honestly can’t remember. But I’m seeing him this weekend when he comes down to Argentina for a visit, so I’ll ask.
My vet in Mexico once recommended it for a cough my Dane puppy had years ago when I got her.
Thanks for the link! I’m checking out your new space right now…
My spiritual teacher is allergic to or sensitive to garlic so I stopped eating it many years ago. When I occasionally have it, I don’t notice any difference.
I avoid onion too.
Love the things you post. I’m happy to be back to blogging and reading my favorite blogs like this one. XD
Purplume, if you don’t mind my asking, is your spiritual teacher Asian? I also read that traditional Chinese medicine recommends not consuming garlic, onion, or onion-related plants like leeks. My spiritual teacher is European, not Asian, so I don’t have any references there.
I’m happy to be back and reading your blog, too!
I eat 5-6 cloves 2-3 times per week in one meal (chopped and boiled in soup) because the 1st time I did it when a major flu was coming on, the garlic burned it right outta me in 15 hours, and I felt great, “lighter” and energetic the next day, like my blood was clean?
I been eating it ever since and only get sick once a year, and I have noticed I dream more when I eat it that same night. Whenever I eat the 5-6 cloves cooked I always feel healthier and like my system is cleaned out…howeever, some of these articles on the web started scaring me about how Garlic is a brain toxin and can damage the brain cells. So, I stopped eating it for 2 months and then one night had 5 cloves cooked in soup (not cooked long…20 seconds in boiling soup) and within 1 hour after eating it I felt GREAT! Healthy, “lighter” and like my system was being cleansed of “something”
However, there were several occasions where I do get dizzy after eating a lot of garlic, but I reall y think this is blood pressure related, I do believe is lowers the blood pressure, especially in the quantities that I eat it…so that would naturally cause a light-headedness.
If there were bran damage occuring, there would be noticeable effects like slurred speach, vision loss, loss of feeling…like a stroke…wouldn’t you agree??
I used to eat garlic in the quantities you do, and felt fine. It wasn’t until I quit, and then started up again that I began experiencing ill effects of it. But then, that’s happened to me with other foods as well. If I get on a food streak of things I know aren’t good for me (wheat or cheese), my body learns to tolerate it.
Not sure about brain damage. But I know enough (alternative) doctors that I trust who are anti-garlic, and I’ve seen what it does to me.
I started eating garlic for health reasons and it truly kept me safe from colds and flu. I’ve been religiously eating garlic every day, although never more than 2-3 cloves. It does cause bloating due to its sulphur content, so I tried to limit the intake. The daily garlic bread that I really enjoyed having – and strangely enough I was craving every day- has kept me healthy. Now that I’ve moved in with my fiancee I stopped having garlic all together. Now, this was a great mistake, I believe because here I am 2 months after stopping with a bronchitis and not feeling healthy at all. I know it can’t all be attributed to the lack of garlic but it sure is the main problem. So I had my first clove again, and to my surprise my fiancee offered to give it to me
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