What is the best way to consume garlic: Chew or swallow?
The best way usually to consume garlic for its health benefits is to eat it raw after crushing or chopping it and letting it sit for 10 minutes. This activates allicin, the compound responsible for many of garlic’s health benefits.
Cooking garlic could reduce its beneficial compounds, although lightly cooking it can still provide some advantages. Eating raw garlic maximises its immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular benefits. To reduce its strong flavour, you can mix raw garlic with honey, and olive oil, or incorporate it into salads and dressings. This method ensures you get the most potent health benefits from garlic, suggests the expert.
Should you chew garlic or swallow garlic? “Chewing garlic releases beneficial compounds such as allicin, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also boosts garlic’s flavour and aroma. Swallowing garlic cloves whole can still provide you with health benefits, but the release of active compounds is less efficient. For maximum health benefits, chewing is preferable, even though the strong taste and odour may be off-putting to some. Adjust consumption method based on personal preference and tolerance.”
This is corroborated by a 2005 study published in the Lipids in Health and Disease Journal. It looked into the effect of garlic on lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and cyclosporine serum level, by comparing the efficacy between swallowing and chewing. As per the study, swallowed garlic had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum, but crushed garlic or chewed garlic reduced cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressure.