How to Reduce Garlic Smell?

August 17, 2024 Odiraa

How to Reduce Garlic Smell?

Reducing the smell of garlic, whether on your breath, skin, or in your surroundings, can be challenging because garlic contains sulfur compounds that are responsible for its strong odor.

Here are some effective methods to help reduce garlic smell:

Table of Contents

Garlic Smell for Garlic Breath:

Eat Parsley or Mint: Fresh herbs like parsley and mint can help neutralize garlic breath. Chewing on a few sprigs after eating garlic may freshen your breath.
Drink Milk: Research suggests that drinking milk (especially full-fat) can help reduce garlic breath. Consuming milk before or during a garlic-heavy meal may be most effective.
Eat Apples: Apples contain natural enzymes that can break down the sulfur compounds responsible for garlic odor. Eating an apple after a meal with garlic can help combat bad breath.
Lemon: Drinking lemon water or sucking on a lemon wedge can neutralize garlic odor due to the citric acid, which helps break down the sulfur compounds.
Green Tea: The polyphenols in green tea can help mask garlic odor and reduce bad breath.
Chew Gum or Suck on Mints: Sugar-free gum or mints can provide a temporary fix by covering up the smell, although they won’t eliminate it completely.

Garlic Odor on Hands:

Stainless Steel: Rubbing your hands on stainless steel (like a spoon or faucet) under running water can help neutralize garlic smell. Many people use this trick because stainless steel helps bind with the sulfur molecules in garlic.
Salt and Lemon Scrub: Scrubbing your hands with a mixture of coarse salt and lemon juice can help exfoliate and remove the garlic smell. Rinse with water afterward.
Baking Soda and Water Paste: Create a paste with baking soda and water, rub it on your hands, and then rinse. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can help absorb the odor.
Vinegar Rinse: Soaking your hands in diluted vinegar can help neutralize garlic smell. Follow with a thorough rinse and hand wash.

For Garlic Odor in Your Environment:

Ventilation: Open windows and turn on fans to improve air circulation, which can help dissipate garlic odors from cooking.
Simmering Vinegar or Lemon Water: Boiling a mixture of water and either vinegar or lemon slices on the stove can help neutralize lingering garlic smells in the air.
Activated Charcoal: Placing activated charcoal in your kitchen or near the cooking area can absorb strong odors like garlic.
Baking Soda: Sprinkling baking soda on countertops or cooking surfaces can help absorb odors. Leave it for a few minutes before wiping it clean.

How to Prepare Garlic Water?

Preparing garlic water is a simple process that can be done in a few steps.

Here’s a basic method to make garlic water:

Ingredients:

1 to 2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 glass of water (approximately 8 oz)
(Optional) Lemon juice or honey for flavor

Instructions:

Peel the Garlic: Take 1 to 2 cloves of fresh garlic and peel off the skin.
Crush or Chop the Garlic: Crushing or chopping the garlic helps release allicin, the compound responsible for many of garlic’s health benefits. You can use a garlic press, a knife to mince it, or simply crush the cloves with the back of a spoon.
Boil or Steep

Boiling Method::If you prefer a warm garlic water drink, bring a glass of water to a boil, then add the crushed garlic. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Afterward, strain out the garlic pieces and allow the water to cool slightly before drinking.

Cold Steep Method: For a raw and stronger garlic flavor, place the crushed garlic in a glass of room-temperature water and let it steep for about 10 to 15 minutes. This method preserves more of garlic’s natural compounds.

Add Flavor (Optional): If the taste is too strong, you can add a teaspoon of lemon juice or honey to improve the flavor. Lemon helps neutralize some of the odor, and honey can add a touch of sweetness.
Drink: Sip the garlic water slowly, preferably on an empty stomach in the morning for maximum benefits.

Tips:

If you find the flavor too strong, start with just one clove of garlic and gradually increase to two as you get used to the taste.
Make sure to drink the garlic water fresh, as the beneficial compounds in garlic degrade over time.

By following these steps, you can easily prepare garlic water at home to enjoy its potential health benefits.

Can You Drink Garlic Water Every Day?

While garlic water offers various benefits, drinking too much can cause discomfort or digestive issues, such as bloating or diarrhea.

The strong taste and odor of garlic may also result in bad breath. To avoid these side effects, it’s recommended to limit your intake to one clove per day.

The frequency with which you should drink garlic water depends on your doctor’s advice.

Best Time to Drink Garlic Water

Garlic water is often consumed in the morning to maximize its benefits, a practice followed in many cultures.

Drinking it in the morning may enhance digestion and provide other health benefits.

However, consuming garlic at night might also support sleep quality, heart health, and immunity.

How Does Garlic Water Promote Weight Loss?

Yes, drinking garlic water first thing in the morning may aid in weight loss. But what’s the reasoning behind this theory?

Scientists suggest that garlic water may support weight loss in several ways, including:

Appetite Suppression: Garlic may act as an appetite suppressant, helping to prevent overeating. By reducing your calorie intake, you can maintain a calorie deficit, which is key to losing weight.
Fat-Burning Potential: Garlic contains compounds such as organo-sulfur and diallyl sulfide, which may stimulate fat burning and help increase calorie expenditure.
Metabolism Boost: Garlic is believed to have a thermogenic effect, meaning it can slightly raise body temperature and boost metabolic rate. A faster metabolism helps burn more calories, contributing to weight loss.
Blood Sugar Regulation: Garlic has been studied for its potential to regulate blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugar can prevent energy crashes and reduce cravings for sugary or high-calorie foods, which aids in better weight management.
Reduced Fat Storage: Some studies suggest that garlic may influence fat storage by inhibiting genes involved in fat cell formation (adipogenesis).
Improved Digestion: Efficient digestion can support weight loss. The process of digestion requires energy, and a well-functioning digestive system can help maintain a healthy weight by burning calories.