I ate a clove of garlic almost every day for a month. Here’s what I found:

I’ve done some weird things while working as a writer for a health and fitness website, but deciding to take a clove of raw garlic every day was definitely the weirdest. Honestly, it’s one of the most unexpected things.

I actively avoided garlic for years as part of a restrictive elimination diet due to illness, even though videos of health influencers extolling the benefits of eating raw garlic continued to flood my feed. I was there.

But I recently started making pesto at home (I’ll never go back to store-bought, it’s amazing) and eating it as a dip with bread for dinner. The recipe calls for one whole garlic clove for each 500ml batch, so you’ll end up consuming a whopping 25 cloves of raw garlic in a month this way, as well as a fair amount of fresh basil and pine nuts. I calculated it.

After eating raw garlic-filled pesto (or basil-flavored garlic paste) almost every day for a month, I noticed some surprising changes. Here’s what happened, along with a nutritionist’s take on the risks and benefits of eating raw garlic on a regular basis.

1. My skin feels better

One of the most noticeable changes is that my complexion has become clearer. I’ve struggled with hormonal acne for most of my adult life, so getting that glass-like skin was a real treat. Garlic has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that may improve skin health by combating the microorganisms that cause facial acne. Unfortunately, there are not enough significant studies to support this, and it is unclear whether these antibacterial properties affect the skin when garlic is taken orally, according to a 2011 review in Dermatol Reports. Unknown.

I also don’t think I can completely blame my smooth skin on garlic intake because so many changes happen over the course of a month. There were no other changes that I noticed, but my sleep quality may have improved. You may have drank more water than usual. Or your skin may be less exposed to irritants due to a change in the weather.

Does eating raw garlic improve your skin?

We asked Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, registered dietitian and sports nutritionist, whether eating raw garlic can lead to such improvements. “Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties and may play a role in improving skin health by reducing the risk of developing acne and other skin diseases,” Ehsani says.

Although there isn’t much evidence to prove the effectiveness of consuming raw garlic to treat acne, it became a trending topic on TikTok earlier this year, with many users claiming that it cures acne inflammation and clears up their skin. . Anecdotal evidence suggests that garlic may be a skin-revitalizing ingredient, but there are many other foods that can apply this property.

Garlic is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which are necessary for the normal functioning and health of the body. Vitamin C and vitamin E can also be found as hot ingredients in the skin care section of your local pharmacy. We’re not advocating applying garlic to your face, but garlic is rich in these health-promoting vitamins, and your body will thank you when you take in the RDA.

2. My digestive system seemed to be regulated.

I have been following a low FODMAP diet for years to support my uncomfortable digestive system and reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This was recommended by my doctor and is an elimination diet that removes all foods that can cause IBS (including fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols).

Garlic is a high FODMAP food, so I avoided even the slightest flavor of garlic powder (which meant my favorite Thai sweet chili chips were gone, very disappointing). I’ve been slowly reintroducing garlic over the years, but I usually only cooked and consumed small amounts, so eating raw cloves almost every day was a huge improvement.

I noticed some indigestion the first week I started eating raw garlic, but this also seemed to level out by the end of the month. Maybe my digestive system is more malleable than I thought.

Can eating raw garlic cause digestive problems?

“Eating raw garlic can cause symptoms such as an upset stomach, bloating, heartburn, and gas in some people,” Ehsani says. “They are also considered high FODMAP foods, which can increase gastrointestinal pain and discomfort for people with IBS.”

Garlic, on the other hand, contains prebiotic fiber, which may improve gut health by nourishing the good bacteria in your digestive system in people without irritable bowel syndrome.

3. My breath smelled bad.

The less desirable result was bad breath. That’s why I ended up eating 25 cloves a month instead of a whole 31! It was impossible to eat every day.

I don’t really worry about it, but I have bad breath that lingers until the next morning even after I clean my teeth. If my dog ​​could talk, I’m sure he would complain.

Does eating raw garlic cause bad breath?

A well-known side effect of eating garlic, raw or otherwise, is that it can cause you to have prolonged garlic breath, which can cause people around you to start cringing when you talk. But why is this? “It contains sulfur compounds, which when broken down can cause odor and bad breath,” says Ehsani.

Are there other benefits of consuming raw garlic?

So apart from these three garlic-related effects that I’ve noticed, are there other benefits of consuming raw garlic, even in less extreme amounts than I tried? ?

“It may support the immune system by reducing inflammation and preserving white blood cell counts,” Ehsani says. “It’s also said to have antiviral properties, which can help support you when you’re feeling unwell. It may also help support or lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels.”