Having bad garlic breath is the social equivalent of uncontrollably breathing fire. But fear not, garlic lover, there might be a cure. A recent study suggests chewing on some raw lettuce or apple will help reduce the odour.
Photo by Isabelle Blanchemain.
The study, led by Rita Mirondo and Sheryl Barringer, and published in the Journal of Food Science, suggests that raw lettuce and raw apples can reduce the concentration of volatiles — namely allyl methyl sulfide — in your breath by up to 50 per cent in the first 30 minutes. The researchers believe it’s the enzymes found in these raw foods that help destroy the odour, and the phenolic compounds in raw food destroy the volatiles. We’ve mentioned apples as a potential remedy before, but this study also suggests that cooked apple and apple juice are somewhat effective as well. Heated or cooked lettuce showed promise as well. You can learn more about the study at the link below.
Deodorization of Garlic Breath by Foods, and the Role of Polyphenol Oxidase and Phenolic Compounds [Journal of Food Science via Food52]
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