Possible Garlic Side Effects, Caution and Contraindications

Overall, garlic is a very safe food and herb and there are few serious garlic side effects to be really worried about.

Having said that, there are some possible drug interactions, contraindications and side effects of garlic consumption and use which you may want to take note of. This is especially so when using the herb to obtain the medicinal health benefits of garlic.

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The fact is, garlic has been used for centuries across various continents without much problems and side effects. If eaten in moderation, things should be fine. If one eats a little too much of garlic, however, then there may be some possible undesirable effects.

Garlic Body Odor

Halitosis or bad body odor is one of the main garlic side effects which could occur when the herb is consumed in larger quantities. All body secretions that follow post consumption of garlic will carry the same odor as garlic and will not go away until the garlic content is flushed out of the body in the natural way. This could actually take a week or so.

Personally, I have found that when I eat large amounts of garlic, there is sometimes a slight garlic smell on my skin, but, honestly, it is nothing too serious. I have not actually met anyone who has terribly bad garlic body odor.

Garlic Breath

If you are eating raw garlic or drinking fresh garlic juice, you are going to get garlic breath. Yes, a lot of people are going to find that your breath stinks.

Humor has it that garlic can keep infections and colds away because nobody is willing to come near you!

Anyway, a good way to beat garlic breath while still enjoying the health and medicinal properties of garlic is to consume it while you are having dinner at home and will not be going out or meeting anyone anymore for the rest of the day. This way, this particular garlic side effect will not be much of a problem.

Garlic Consumption and Garlic Overdose

It is said that when garlic is taken in overly generous doses, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea could result.

If you are intending to eat a lot of garlic, a sensible way to avoid these possible garlic side effects is to start small and to slowly build your dosage of garlic up.

This applies even more to raw garlic, which is smell-wise and medicinally a lot more pungent and potent than cooked garlic. Raw garlic is very powerful and can affect the digestive tract. Sometimes, after a good dose, I can literally feel the garlic side effect of my stomach being 'on fire' for a while.

Garlic juice can 'burn' your stomach and digestive tract, too, so do be careful.

Food Allergies to Garlic

Garlic allergy, though not common, does exist. Some parties state that garlic allergic symptoms show up as skin rashes, mild fever, nausea, vomiting and headaches.

Here, I would like to make a point regarding side effects and allergic reactions, as compared to healing or detox reactions.

When we eat something that our body does not quite agree with, there would be adverse reactions, also called side effects.

On the other hand, if we take a beneficial food or herb, there is often also some form of reaction from our bodies. However, these reactions may in fact be good reactions, as they are often evidence of our bodies cleansing and detoxifying themselves. This applies to supposed garlic side effects, too.

The problem with most of us today is that we cannot take a little pain or discomfort. But, in fact, natural healers point to the fact that it is a good thing if our bodies react in some way to the consumption of garlic, because that means that the garlic is working.

The sensible thing to do, then, to avoid overly dramatic garlic side effects, is again to make sure that you start slow and gradually build up your dosage of garlic.

Garlic is a food. Garlic and any possible garlic side effects are much, much, much less likely to really harm or kill you when compared to those prescription pharmaceutical drugs which so many of us so routinely take.

Potential Drug Interactions of Garlic

Garlic could potentially disrupt anti-coagulants, so it is best avoided before surgery. If you are scheduled for surgery, check with your doctor with regard to eating garlic, which is a well-known blood thinner.

Garlic also has the potential to react with certain prescription drugs like warfarin, antihypertensives and antiplatelets. Therefore, if you are on these drugs, it is of paramount importance that you exercise additional caution.

Contraindications

Some sources recommend that garlic in high doses and / or for medicinal purposes is not suitable for nursing mothers, pregnant women and children. As a common food eaten in modest amounts, I don't see why it should be much of a problem.

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Garlic Pages | Summary Article | Health Benefits of Garlic | Information | History and Facts of Garlic | Planting, Harvesting, Storing and Preserving Garlic | Eating Garlic | How to Make Garlic Butter - a simple garlic butter recipe | An Easy Garlic Bread Recipe - Making Homemade Garlic Bread | Consuming the Garlic Plant - various ways to do so | Benefits | An Overview of Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic | Garlic Health Benefits - Some Research and Studies | Garlic for Acne Treatment | Garlic and Blood Pressure | Garlic and Cancer - Is Garlic Anti Cancer? | Garlic to Lower Cholesterol | Garlic for Heart Health | Medicinal Properties of Garlic against Microbes, Harmful Organisms, Bacteria, Fungi, Parasites and Viruses | Side Effects | Possible Garlic Side Effects, Caution and Contraindications

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