What Causes Garlic Breath?

Do you love the taste of garlic? Adding garlic to food not only adds flavor, but health benefits as well. The sulfur compounds so abundant in fresh garlic help to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer - and even wards off infection causing bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, theres an unpleasant side effect of eating foods seasoned with garlic - garlic breath. The funny thing about garlic breath is you can have it and not even know it because your nose becomes accustomed to the scent and you no longer smell it - but rest assured - everyone else will. What causes garlic breath and is there anything you can do about a garlic breath odor?

What Causes Garlic Breath?

As with most things, theres good and bad. The same sulfur compounds found in garlic that are so heart healthy and cancer protective also cause a garlic breath odor. When these sulfur compounds are broken down by the body, they form less complex sulfur compounds that first enter the bloodstream and then make their way to the lungs, where theyre exhaled. The human nose is very sensitive to sulfur breakdown products and can detect even small amounts of them on the breath - which isnt good if youre at a party or other social function. It doesnt stop with a garlic breath odor either. Sulfur compounds also exit the body through the skin pores which leads to an unpleasant body odor. Garlic definitely leaves its calling card!

What Can You Do About a Garlic Breath Odor?

Reaching for the toothbrush wont do a thing to stop garlic breath odor since the sulfur compounds are escaping through the lungs - and will continue to do so for up to three days. Mouthwashes, gum, and mints will only have a temporary, masking effect. The reality is that its very difficult to eliminate garlic breath odor since its in the bloodstream. Makes you think twice about eating garlic, doesnt it?

One Solution for Garlic Breath Odor That May Help

Some people claim that eating parsley with a garlic rich meal reduces garlic breath odor. Whether it does or not, parsley is a good source of vitamin C, chlorophyll, and beta-carotene. Chewing fresh parsley or mint leaves after eating garlic can also help to temporarily mask the odor. If youre using garlic for its health benefits and not its flavor, you may be better off taking an odor-free garlic supplement - but keep in mind the health benefits may not be the same.