New research reveals that milk can be a real ally for those who love garlic and its health benefits but who are uncomfortable with its lingering odour. People often avoid garlic because it causes bad breath or smelly body odour or BO due to perspiration.
The Daily Mail reports that: "In tests with raw and cooked cloves, milk was shown to ‘significantly reduce’ concentrations of the chemicals that give garlic its long-lasting smell."
Food scientists at the University of Ohio found that drinking a 200 ml glass of milk during a meal can reduce bad breath caused by garlic by 50%. Even brushing your teeth doesn’t do the trick.
Garlic has a compound, allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), which is not released during digestion, but causes bad breath and BO. The researchers believe the fat content in milk helps counter garlic’s sulfur properties.
Despite its unpleasant odour, garlic is a rich source of magnesium, vitamin B6 and C and selenium. It also helps reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and the risk of cancer.