The garlic I ate yesterday still smells today! I heard that drinking yogurt can get rid of the garlic smell immediately?

As the saying goes, "If you eat meat without garlic, the flavor will be half gone." Garlic is an indispensable condiment in our daily cooking and is also a favorite of many people.

Although the aroma of garlic is appetizing, the lingering smell after eating garlic makes many people "unable to talk about it". Is there any way to keep the delicious taste without the "bad breath"?

Yes, in September 2023, the journal Molecule reported a discovery: yogurt can effectively eliminate the smell of garlic. Why is this? Let's talk about it today.

01

What are the functions and effects of garlic?

Garlic is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and various mineral elements , especially trace elements such as germanium and selenium. It also contains a large amount of allicin, which is a natural antibacterial substance.

Garlic has antibacterial, lipid-lowering, blood sugar-lowering, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-tumor and immune function-enhancing effects. It has a certain inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast. The antibacterial effect of raw garlic is significantly higher than that of cooked garlic , and the antibacterial effect of high-concentration raw garlic juice is also stronger than that of low-concentration raw garlic juice. However, it must be consumed in moderation. Raw garlic can irritate and damage the gastrointestinal mucosa. Excessive consumption can cause symptoms such as hiccups, nausea, heartburn, gastric ulcers, and gastritis.

Image source: sohu.com

Unfortunately, although allicin has the effect of inhibiting bacterial growth, the allicin contained in garlic will be decomposed after entering the human body, and its antibacterial and sterilization effects in the human body are minimal.

02

Why is the garlic smell so strong and lingering?

The reason why garlic has a unique garlicky smell is actually because of the plant's self-protection mechanism.

Whole garlic has no obvious smell, but when the garlic tissue is damaged, the alliin contained in its cells is converted into allicin, a volatile substance with a strong spicy taste under the action of enzymes and other coenzymes, which produces an unpleasant "garlic smell" and also makes bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc. dare not approach, thereby achieving the purpose of protecting themselves.

Image source: sohu.com

However, allicin is not stable. After entering the stomach through chewing, it can be quickly decomposed into a variety of "flavorful" compounds, such as garlic volatile oil, in a short period of time. These volatile substances diffuse in the mouth and esophagus, and are difficult or impossible to be decomposed. Most of them are excreted from the body through exhalation, sweat and urine. Since it takes time for the stomach to empty, the garlic smell can also last for several hours.

03

What are the effective ways to remove garlic smell?

Heating garlic: After garlic is heated, the alliinase is inactivated and allicin, which causes bad breath, will not be produced. This is why we often do not have particularly obvious bad breath when we eat garlic paste.

Image source: sina.com

Brush your teeth, rinse your mouth or chew gum: These methods can temporarily cover up or remove the odor in your mouth, or at least remove some odors.

Eat apples, mint, lettuce, etc.: Apples and lettuce contain relatively high levels of phenolic substances, which can combine with sulfide after oxidation to form odorless or fragrant substances. In addition, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase can accelerate the reaction and speed up the deodorization process.

The latest research shows that yogurt can also effectively remove garlic smell.

Image source: sohu.com

On September 19, 2023, the journal Molecules reported that researchers at Ohio State University in the United States discovered that yogurt may have a previously unknown benefit: eliminating garlic odor.

Researchers conducted a study on the effect of yogurt in removing garlic odor, and tested the effect of yogurt and its components such as water, fat, and protein in removing garlic odor. The results showed that yogurt can reduce the main volatile substances that produce garlic odor by 99%. When the fat, water, and protein components in yogurt are used alone, they can also produce a deodorizing effect on raw garlic, among which fat and protein perform better than water.

When the pH value of yogurt rises from 4.4 to 7, the deodorizing function weakens. This is because changing the pH value will change the structure and binding ability of some proteins in yogurt, while changing the pH value of water has no effect on the deodorizing effect. This phenomenon also shows that the protein contained in yogurt plays a major role in removing the garlic smell.

04

Tips for eating garlic

Control the amount: Do not eat too much garlic every day. Excessive consumption will promote gastric acid secretion, irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, and may also cause symptoms such as hiccups, nausea, and heartburn. It is recommended not to eat more than 2 to 3 cloves raw every day .

Avoid eating on an empty stomach: Garlic is an irritant food. Eating it on an empty stomach can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort, causing stomach burning sensation, bloating and diarrhea.

It is better to eat garlic raw than cooked: after garlic is cooked, the allicin it contains will lose its original activity and efficacy, and its nutritional value will be greatly reduced.

Avoid eating when you have diarrhea: When diarrhea occurs, the entire intestinal cavity is in an "oversaturated" and tense state. The stimulating effect of garlic will irritate the intestinal wall, causing further congestion and edema of the blood vessels, thereby aggravating diarrhea.

In short, garlic as a vegetable and seasoning is a good choice in our daily life. It is okay to eat it in moderation (2 to 3 cloves) every day, but it is not advisable to expect it to cure diseases. In addition, you should also have a balanced diet while eating garlic and not overeat. If you suffer from chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer, it is recommended to eat less or no raw garlic, otherwise it will easily irritate the gastric mucosa.

References

[1] Zou Baoyu. Study on the scavenging effect and mechanism of tea extract on allicin[D]. Shandong Agricultural University, 2013.

[2] Manpreet K ,Sheryl B . Effect of Yogurt and Its Components on the Deodorization of Raw and Fried Garlic Volatiles.[J]. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland),2023,28(15).

[3] Meng Chunsheng. Research on garlic deodorization technology and garlic mustard paste formula [D]. Sichuan Agricultural University, 2014.

[4] Peng Min. Pharmacological mechanism of allicin and research progress[J]. Journal of Modern Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, 2018, 27(14): 1593-1596.

[5] Fan Qingcan, Zheng Lucheng, Wang Qianqian, et al. Research progress on the physiological functions of allicin and its application in animal production[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Husbandry, 2022, 58(07): 87-91. DOI: 10.19556/j.0258-7033.20210723-01.

Author: Wang Zhengyuan, deputy chief physician at Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, PhD in Nutrition

Editor: One person