One of the most common “folk” remedies is eating raw garlic to ward of everything from infections to the common cold. With few side effects (besides making you smell like garlic!), it is a safe way to build your immune system that I’ve used often. Many of my friends will eat raw garlic when coming down with a cold or the flu, so I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to consume higher amounts of this sharp tasting bulb.
I put garlic in just about everything I cook and love it, but when you are trying to consume a whole clove at a time, it can be a little more challenging. The first thing to keep in mind is always consuming raw garlic with a bit of some type of fat. Raw garlic can be unpleasant in the stomach when consumed on it’s own (if you eat raw garlic frequently on it’s own, I’ve read it could even lead to eventual damage in your stomach!). It also just tastes a lot better when consumed with something fatty.
Keep in mind that these “recipes” aren’t culinary recipes. They are just tasty ways to take a more medicinal amount of garlic.
Raw Garlic Toast
Mix one clove of finely minced garlic with one to two tablespoon pastured butter and spread on a piece of toasted sprouted or sourdough bread. This is also good when dipped into a hot bowl of soup.
Garlic Dip
I learned this trick from my mother in law. Mix one clove of minced garlic with 1-4 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Serve with organic corn chips. This sounds quite strange but is actually quite good! If you don’t have any homemade on hand, my first choice is Wilderness Family Natural’s mayonnaise, my second choice (imperfect and does contain soy protein) would be Follow Your Heart Vegenaise Grapeseed Oil .
Guacamole
Mix 1-3 cloves of minced garlic with 1 small mashed avocado. Add salt and chopped cilantro. Serve with chips or dollop on your choice of Mexican food.
Raw Garlic Shot
When consuming raw garlic frequently throughout the day, some like to take a “shot” of garlic by putting the raw garlic in their mouth and chasing it with some water. I would just recommend that you add a bit of olive oil to the garlic to protect your stomach.
What about you? Do you have a favorite way to eat raw garlic? Please Share
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Maya
Thanks for the reminder about raw garlic. We’ve been taking it crushed with a water or OJ chaser all winter.
I’d forgotten this excellent and addictive recipe from, Coconut Butter Recipes, by Serene Allison.
The Cure All
in a blender
2 WHOLE bulbs peeled garlic
1 jalapeño(I remove most of the seeds and membrane)
a few pinches of salt
enough coconut oil to cover(approx. 6 oz.)
blend this until fairly smooth
It’s great as a spread on toast, or just by the spoonful. I like to use it as a base for salad dressing, adding some lemon juice and Bragg’s aminos. Also great in pasta sauces and soups.
I wasn’t able to keep up with the demand for it last year.
I’m going to see if I have everything to make up a double batch right now 🙂
ken davis
One whole garlic finely chopped
1/4 cup onion finely diced
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup bell peppers
1/2 fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
combine, and serve with wheat toast.
it’s a Bahamian thing.
visit Grand Bahama, the Bahamas.
The-Java-Gal
I turn the maligned baked white potato into a satisfying and healthy meal using garlic and dipping oil. (It is a similar idea to dipping bread)
1 clove minced garlic
onion wedge minced
2 T parsley
2 T cilantro
1/2 t curry powder
extra turmeric
bit of ginger
salt
2T either Udo’s Oil, flaxseed oil, or olive oil. (I use Udo’s Oil because of its Omega 3,6,9 benefits.)
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, cut baked potato in half, and dip into the mix. Very brain healthy.
This also works with lightly steamed broccoli, or lightly steamed carrots.
Pat Feldman
Hello from Brasil!!!
I was thinking about lacto-fermented garlic. Have you ever tried? How could I do it?
Shannon
Hi there – I have a post describing how I recently made lacto-fermented garlic. Mine wasn’t 100% raw because I did roast the heads for a few minutes before taking off the skins, but you could make it with completely raw cloves too and I think it would be totally delicious, not to mention probiotic too…
🙂 Shannon
Hillori Hansen
I love to culture lots of garlic with my pickles, peppers or veggies. It is delicious and you can eat the cloves so much easier than eating raw garlic. I usually culture through summer and late fall and save them for the winter time flu season, trying to eat at least one clove a day.
Rebekah Miller
crushed garlic
fresh ginger
lemon juice
honey
I let it all sit, then strain it and add to warm water for a tasty cold remedy.
I also add crushed garlic to homemade soups AFTER it’s done cooking. Just crush a clove into your bowl when the soup cools enough to eat it.
Nan
Can you believe it, my kid is allergic to garlic and onions, and we love ’em. I can’t even cook them without her reacting. (I think it’s the sulfur.) I wonder if fermenting it (as a poster mentioned) would make a difference. Hmmmm.
Don’t forget pesto which has the oil in it. (Did someone mention that? I can’t see all the comments.)
Diana
Thanks for this. We don’t eat raw garlic, mostly because I didn’t know how to get it in. Now I know some ways I might be able to get my family to consume it!
travel
I like to eat garlic with chee$e
One Brown toast with cheese , sliced garlic
And green pepper then add more cheese
To balance the taste
By this waay you can eat whole clove of garlic
or more ..
You can eat it with honey ..
Garlic can damage rock so consume it with some thing
Not in empty stomach
Amanda
I love to use raw garlic in my salad dressing. I will just a lemon, add extra virgin olive oil and crush a few cloves of garlic. Sometimes, in the summer when my herb garden is plentiful, I’ll add some fresh herbs to the dressing too.
Donna
If I’m feeling a need for garlic, I like to add it crushed to my cheese omelet, just before folding it over!
Nikki Moore
I’m shocked you didn’t mention hummus! Especially with sprouted chickpeas, it’s one of the healthiest-tastiest things I can think of. Pack in the garlic and fresh lemon too. Easy and yummy and cheap! 🙂
chrissy
how do you make your hummus ?
fopksfk
She just said, retard
Jeannine
We don’t need to be RUDE!
Barbara Holl
Retard is not a kind word. We are here for peace and wellness not to be called names You should apologize to Chrissy.
A
I used tomake a salad comprising green beans and, for the dressing, minced garlic, mustard, and EVOO.
michelle
thinking of taking ‘shots’ of garlic to combat a cold or the like, i do it like this….a spoonful of garlic mixed with raw honey and fresh or ground ginger….the raw honey completely stops any stomach irritation the raw garlic could have!!
northbeach
as a cure for everything i consume two very large bulbs (not cloves) of fresh, crushed, organic garlic. it must be organic and we buy local california garlic. i mix it with various things; one avocado combined with the crushed garlic is a good way to consume it. of course you must build up to such a large dose, perhaps over one year of eating smaller quantities because you really do not want to overload your system. and everyone is different, so use caution when trying new things. but this works for me and i have not even had a mild cold since 1989. it is also important to do this on a day that you can rest and drink plenty of water. takes a couple days to work through your system and you must not take this dose of garlic with any sort of medication. the garlic thins the blood which combined with certain medication is not a good idea. it is also workable to mix the garlic with thick organic plain yoghurt with some added olive oil and a bit of sea salt. it takes about 30 minutes to consume the dose by one spoonful at a time. the garlic must be crushed and eaten right away because the active ingredient allicin springs out of the garlic approximately 20 minutes after it has been crushed and fades away after that. allicin has been clinically proven to destroy cancer cells. so you want to have the benefit of allicin in your system during the active period. never use packaged or pre-peeled garlic. use with caution. and after a couple days be sure to eat plenty of plain organic yoghurt with live cultures to replace any healthy bacteria that the garlic may have carried away.
DR.RAJBIR SINGH GARCHA
DEAR READERS,
THE BEST WAY TO CONSUME A CLOVE OF GARLIC IS TO TAKE IT EMPTY STOMACH WITH A GLASS OF WATER JUST LIKE AS WE TAKE A CAPSULE WITH WATER . THIS IS MY PERSONAL VIEW . BUT REMEMBER IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM ULCER OR CHRONIC ACIDITY , THEN DO NOT TAKE IT LIKE THIS . REMEMBER IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT IS AS POTENT AS RAW WHEN TAKING IN FRIED FORM WITH ANY TYPE OF VEGETABLE , SOUP . TOGETHER WITH ONION THEY ARE THE HEART TONIC , REDUCE CHOLSETROL , PROTECT AGAINST INFECTION . IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE ANTI CANCEROUS ALSO . SO ALL THE BEST . GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
DR. RAJBIR SINGH GARCHA
HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN
M-9646058251
Regina
With all due respect, but, consuming crushed garlic on an empty stomach is certainly NOT safe. Garlic is a ” natural antibiotic “. Antibiotics are supposed to be taken after a person has had something to eat, not before. Consuming any antibiotics on an empty stomach will make a person sick.
My grandmother was a registered nurse and every time I would get the flu, she suggested that I crush a peg of garlic, chop it up really fine and then swallow it with some water. But she did warn me that I should eat something first, otherwise it was going to make me sick.
Just thought you should know.
Daniel
So it sounds like your commenting on something you’ve never tried before…
Verifiable experimental evidence is best, second the opinions of experts, third and last comes the opinions of laymen.
SL
I believe he meant: to take the whole clove “like a capsule” -S.L. R.N B.S.N
chrissy
is Garlic good for you raw or cooked or the same ? I am trying to find something to help my sister who was just told she has PBC liver disease.
Dacell
Put the whole garlic on a spoon and add honey and lemon. You won’t taste it at all!
Antonio
I have been using three garlic clobs daoly for the last five years and never get colds
ava
I chop garlic…let it sit for a few minutes…then I smother it in peanut butter..chew and swallow…
nanda
raw garlic chopped into small pieces along with banana
CASSANDRA MOORE
ONE CLOVE OF GARLIC SWALLOWED LIKE A PILL WITH HEMP OIL
Marilyn
I just thought I would share something w/you. I read somewhere, that in order to get any benefits from garlic, it needs to be cut/crushed and consumed within an hour. It is the allicin that is produced when crushed that is so good for many things, and it is only active for 1 hr. after crushing/chopping up. Hope this is helpful. Marilyn
Dean Mehling
I’ve been reading its best to crush the garlic rather than swallowing a whole clove; the crushing releases the in it.
Lisa
Can I mix it with flax oil. Or will it kill the benefits of the oil?
Mike
I recently found out about eating raw garlic. While I like it cooked it is difficult to eat straight up. I have been mincing my garlic cloves and sealing it in fruitroll ups, making fresh “garlic pills.” it’s easy to do and has zero garlic taste. Just thought I’d share
Thetruthnow
Just eat it!!!
sushmitha
squash the garlic into paste. add jaggery, jam, butter, honey.
mix it and eat it .
it will be awesome.
choko
i grind the garlic with some cloves and a bit of horseradishpaste in order to camouflag the strong garlic smell. then I roll the mixture inside dumplings i have made and swallow them down with juice or plain water.dumplings should be rolled in small balls to easily go down the throat.
Shaka
crush 3 cloves garlic, mix with two table table spoons of mayo and ketchup. Apply to french fries
Trilby
The winning recipe!
Regina
Actually, no . . . it is certainly not the winning recipe.
Jack
Thanks for these tips. I used to eat raw garlic all the time. I never felt that my tummy is upset or anything like that, but when i read your article i started using garlic in butter over my toast and it is really good i must say.
Another thing, can i have crushed garlic mixed with some liquid substance apart from Olive Oil? Like a shot?
stevie
I eat a whole raw clove with 1 or 1 and a half cherry tomatoes. I have about half a full garlic with this method. It is too hot on its own so the cherty tomatoes cools your mouth down and its very tasty and very very good for you
wow
props to you! i wish my stomach could handle that. i cannot eat tomatoes on an empty stomach due to the acid. add garlic and id for sure be rolling over sick :/
Kristan
I cut it up thinly and swallow it like a pills with lots of water. Easy, fast, and clean on days that I can not mix it or use it quickly in something I like.
Shizzy
Does anyone know if this will work to help cure a sinus infection? I have had what I believe to be a sinus infection for the past 3 days and now my face is starting to swell on one side. I tried eating 2 teaspoons of garlic, taking each teaspoon about 3 hours apart yesterday, from one of those ready-to-use jars and I thought I could feel it working to combat the infection which was concentrated just underneath my nose and around my teeth. Painful stuff.
This morning, my teeth aren’t hurting as much but there is a noticeable swelling on the left side of my face, just next to my nose. I’ve read online that the antibiotic properties of garlic can serve as a natural cure to sinus infection like this, I was wondering if anyone has any direct experience with using garlic to combat this particular condition?
Matt
This sounds to be an abscessed tooth. Have it checked out by a dentist, it may require penicillin to get the infection to go down, and then a root canal or other dental work.
AR Wadoo
Garlic the ultimate herb discussion is interesting
Garlic is good for health, but if taken on an empty stomach it causes irritation and may lead to ulceration .I have tried it recently with walnuts. Mince walnut and garlic cloves .best results with a pestle and mortar. Mix a little clove oil. Enjoy it in spoon full’s or Spread it on bread and enjoy. To start with I use
two walnuts
Two cloves of garlic
1 tea s poon olive oil
Pat
Does pickled (raw) garlic have all the same benefits as would eating it raw without pickling? I have been using this for its fungicidal properties, but I am unsure of how effective it is.
mousumi
i am mousumi from bangalore india we 4 of us my 2 daughters 20 and18, my husband eat garlic 1 clove daily with a glass of medium hot water all must do if possible, it will create wonders in your lives thanks i want everybody 2 live and lead a healthy and cancer free life u can also try amla juice just see the benefits of it after trying it
Aaron
I have tried eating raw garlic clove first thing in the morning in empty stomach for last one month or so. Haven’t noticed any benefit yet though have felt burning sensation and uneasiness in the stomach. I am told eating raw garlic in empty stomach may lead to ulcers. Best way may be to eat garlic with a teaspoon of olive oil to prevent damage to the stomach.
Kim
I recently started this to cure an infection open and break up the cloves soak in virgin olive oil and take 2-3 cloves a day twice a day I have no garlic taste or after effect. 🙂
Kevin
Charcoal Grilled Taiwanese Sausage + raw garlic is a famous street food in Taiwan, you guys should give it a try. I took a liking to raw garlic when I was 7, because of this
pradeep singh
can we take raw garlic with any cooked vegetables
mae
I used garlic as an antibiotic after a surgery. I take mine on an empty stomach, I chop it and swallow it with a glass of water. You might feel a bit of sting in your stomach but that’s not to say its doing you any harm, it is after all, spicy. As oppossed to what has previously been mentioned here, it wouldn’t pose any problems if you take it in an empty stomach, it works quite differently from commercial antibiotics, allicin works synergistically with the body and not against it.
Ed
I love to eat sliced cloves (usually 2 or 3 from a large bulb) with Cheez-Its and some sliced cheese – preferably mozzarella 🙂
Sia
Well, the information I read today will help me a lot. When I started taking garlic I just crushed it and swallow it with a glass of water before meal and the first time I did it I had an empty stomach and I felt the burning sensetion in my stomach. Well, today I learnt something which is real important, I wont take it on an empty stomach.
I dont know what went wrong because until now I have flu and it has been one week since I started taking raw garlic. Hope someone would help me with ideas on how I should go about it so that I can boost my immunity to get ride of the flu. Thank you guys
Cathy
I tried something new today. I ate a bowl of oatmeal with butter (which is how I always eat oatmeal) and added one diced garlic clove. It was really good!!!!
Farhahn
Dear All,
i am 32 male here to share my experience of eating raw garlic on empty stomach first thing in the morning with a sip of water, well i used to eat 4 big cloves of raw garlic when i was having high cholesterol and high blood pressure problem due to some depression and it worked so well then i stopped using it and 3 months back i have jock itch problem and i tried all the over the counter available creams and ointments all famous brand as well but as soon as i stopped using them the problem came with huge strength and i suffered it for 3 months straight 5 days back i started eating crushed 2 big cloves on empty stomach with a sip of plain water and after 3 days i forgot if had that stupid jock itch problem i checked my upper thigh area its clear like it was before and no itch so i hope that it will work for everyone, i take 2 big cloves of garlic peel and crush them with the back side of table spoon and leave it for 15 minutes and them chew it and swallow with a sip of water and after 30 or 40 minutes i eat my breakfast so this garlic is giving me boosts of energy plus its very aphrodisiac as well 😉 and i feel light as air for the whole day but one more thing i would like to add here that i have stopped taking any sweets because i have read that these jock itch fungus feeds on sweet and for the people who has some stomach problem like ulcers and acidity please don’t take raw garlic on empty stomach.
P.S. Forgive my typo’s and remember me and my kids in your prayers love for all
Alan Farnham
Wow! This post came at a perfect time. Thank you for posting your regime with garlic. I have had the same problems and now I have relief. Garlic really is a way to rid ourselves of the “vampires” that invade our bodies and feed on our blood 😉
Blessing to all… You have my kindest Namaste!
Alan
rhona
don’t know if this may already have been suggested but this recipe is how i always take raw garlic. it’s very simple and easy, can be a snack or a meal, and while you can still taste the garlic, there’s none of the burn you get when eating it on it’s own!
just mix cous cous with finely chopped raw garlic (2-3 cloves), chopped green olives, salt and olive oil.
Andrea
Felt a little bit of a cold coming on so I crushed and chopped three garlic cloves, toasted a piece of bread, spread some cream cheese on there, and mixed in the garlic. The cream cheese helped to tone down the acidity a bit, but my face still heated up and my throat was feeling it a bit as the garlic made its way down. Probably had to do with the three large cloves on a single piece of bread 🙂 Anyway, already feeling a little better! Garlic is amazing 🙂
Beth
I chop up 2-3 cloves, and mix it with hummus and eat it with a few triscuits. I really enjoy it!
Vivian
I used to mince up about 6 or so cloves, or up to half an average head of garlic and make a slurry of it with Italian salad dressing (the powdered mix with the special bottle sold in most American grocery stores sans the water and using olive oil instead of veg), then consume straight or on a salad or food of your choice.
My other fave was to spread the minced garlic (with &/or without the salad dressing) straight on toast that had a nice ample layer of almond butter applied.
My new idea is Greek. Make a paste out of mashed potato and olive oil. If you like, add some dairy like fresh heavy whipping cream, sour cream, or cream cheese and a TON of fresh garlic. and use as a spread on anything from chips, salad, chicken, fish, meats, to dressings, to just dipping up a fingerful. This site recommends adding fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley. That sounds divine. So would sage or rosemary, onions fresh or carmelised….the mind wanders happily…
kimberly
Itailian market sells green olives with a clove stuffed inside….cant even taste the garlic so yummy!!
smart man
I just try to avoid eating the garlic all together. But I know that it does have many health benefits so I just administer my garlic rectally. Raw Garlic suppositories. Its the most healthy thing you could possibly do.
Matt
I have been using garlic for around a year or so to ward off sore throats. My wife works in a preschool so is exposed to strep throat several times per year. Whenever she tells me of strep throat in the school I make a garlic tea. I do this by cutting up 2 or 3 cloves of garlic into thin slices in a tea pot, adding several tablespoons of honey, and then heating for a while. I don’t heat too much as I have heard the heat will destroy the allicin. Let it sit for a few minutes to cool and then drink as much as you like. It should be downed within an hour or so I’ve heard or the allicin will lose its potency and the garlic will start to go rancid.
I’ve also just recently started trying bread with peanut butter and thin slices of 1 garlic clove on top. The peanut butter coats the inside of the mouth so the garlic does not have the burn one would expect from raw garlic.
When I first started trying out garlic I ate raw cloves. Don’t eat raw cloves. It burns the mouth, throat, stomach, and will cause upset stomach and heartburn. The burn is not like something spicy, but more like a strong irritant or acid.