Can You Eat Raw Garlic - And Why Would You?

Can you eat raw garlic? When I was a small child (well a child), my mother used to give us raw chopped garlic mixed with honey on toast in the winter months. While it didn't compete with Nutella it did help us through the colder season. But why would she think to use raw garlic in winter?

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Raw Garlic vs Cooked

What's the difference between raw garlic and cooked garlic? Interestingly, some fruits and vegetables are better for you when they’re cooked as the vitamins and minerals are more accessible when they have been heated. For others (including garlic) it is best to eat it raw.  

Benefits Of Raw Garlic

Raw garlic provides B6 and niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin (B2) and thiamine. The B vitamins in garlic help you access your energy from your food. Having garlic fresh also contains vitamin C (which is heat sensitive and can be lost when the garlic is heated). Raw garlic also contains vitamin K, which supports blood coagulation so makes it helpful for heart and circulation health, plus essential minerals like zinc, copper and manganese. 

Some Recipe Ideas For Raw Garlic

• On toast with butter - a garlic bread version but with raw crushed garlic.
• Guacamole - add crushed raw garlic and have it with corn chips
• As mentioned above crushed with manuka honey on toast for the winter months
• On steamed vegetables
• In a salad dressing

How To Get Rid Of Garlic Breath

So, while we've established that you can eat raw garlic and it's actually really good for you, there's still one problem. Garlic breath. The good news however is that you can use other plants to help mitigate the garlic odour.

• Parsley. This mighty plant can help with neutralising onions and garlic. You could add it into your salads, dressings or pestos. Or have a piece to chew after the raw garlic
• Plants like basil, thyme, coriander, mint and parsley all have plant chemicals like chlorophyll and polyphenols which bind to the sulphur compounds found in garlic and help to neutralize odour
• Our versatile  Defence Throat Spray can also be used as a breath freshener. It has thyme, peppermint, clove and kawakawa in it and is convenient enough to have in your bag, car or at your desk