Last Updated on February 5, 2021
5. Liver damage
There are a handful of medical studies that agree that the consumption of garlic and its derivatives can improve hepatic function by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, fibrosis, and lipid metabolism dysregulation. But when eaten to excess, garlic can actually have the opposite effect and harm your liver. The optimal amount of garlic that can be eaten daily to avoid damaging the liver is not known, but an animal study published in 2006 predicts that anything above 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight per day might be enough to induce liver damage.
4. Stomach pain
Eating raw garlic on an empty stomach can leave your organism in turmoil. Pain in the abdomen, feeling nauseous and tired, heartburn, and vomiting are some of the possible side effects that can be triggered by garlic. Of course, most people will eat garlic their entire lives without ever experiencing such symptoms. But if you have a delicate stomach or frequent acid reflux, you should definitely avoid raw garlic.
3. Diarrhea
There are three strong reasons to believe that garlic can cause diarrhea and gas, especially in people with highly sensitive bowels. This ingredient contains juices that release gases when digested in the stomach, insoluble fiber, which makes the food move through your organism much faster, and it is very difficult to digest – garlic is high in fructans, that’s why it is considered a FODMAP food.
2. Increased risk of bleeding
Garlic and garlic supplements may increase the risk of bleeding because they act as natural blood thinners. This is particularly worrying if you take blood-thinning prescription drugs (such as warfarin) or if you have surgery scheduled, so don’t forget to mention it to your doctor. In fact, you should keep in mind that high amounts of garlic may interfere with a wide range of prescription drugs. This increased risk of bleeding can also lead to vision loss. When combined with a prescription blood thinner, garlic can either cause or worsen bleeding in the eye.
1. Increased sweating
Despite increased sweating being an extremely uncommon potential side effect, it has been reported in a German observational study published back in the 1990s. The authors noticed that along with bloating, dizziness, and headaches, a few participants have also experienced profuse sweating after consuming a high amount of garlic for a prolonged time. It’s fair to say that extra research is needed in this regard. _ It’s also worth noting that eating too much garlic during pregnancy and breastfeeding might present a health risk for both the mother and the baby. Since there isn’t a sufficient amount of information on this specific scenario, you should just play safe and eat the normal amounts of garlic found in food. The bottom line is that garlic is great for both your palate and your health, as long as you don’t think it is a miracle food and start eating it in crazy amounts. As a matter of fact, this is a principle that applies to many other foods. Oh, and don’t start taking garlic supplements without talking to your doctor or a nutritionist first.
