Garlic breath? A simple food in your fridge can help

Picture this: you are out on a date. Since the temperatures have dipped, you decide to make it a dinner date and cook some hearty soup. The warm soup, with a side of garlic bread, comforts your gut and soothes your soul.

But soon enough, garlic breath enters the scene. What was thought to be a romantic evening could quickly turn into an awkward moment. Regardless of brushing your teeth, the garlic breath lingers. Instead of reaching for a mouth freshener, you should head to your fridge. Yes, a common food in your refrigerator could be the answer to your stinky garlic breath, and it is approved by science. A study by Ohio State University researchers found that a creamy food can be your go-to remedy for garlic breath. The findings are published in the journal Molecules.

A common food item in your fridge is the answer

The garlic breath is more concerning than you think. A 2016 study published in the journal Food Science found that garlic causes a strong garlic breath that may persist for almost a day! So how to get rid of garlic breath? Eat some yoghurt! That’s right. The researchers found that whole-milk plain yoghurt prevented almost all of the volatile compounds responsible for garlic’s pungent scent from escaping into the air. They tested the garlic-deodorising capacity of yoghurt and its individual components of water, fat and protein.

Both fat and protein were effective at trapping garlic odours. These findings suggested that high-protein foods may one day be formulated specifically to fight garlic breath. "High protein is a very hot thing right now – generally, people want to eat more protein. An unintended side benefit may be a high-protein formulation that could be advertised as a breath deodoriser in addition to its nutritional claims. I was more excited about the protein’s effectiveness because consumer advice to eat a high-fat food is not going to go over well," said senior study author Sheryl Barringer, professor of food science and technology at The Ohio State University.

Garlic’s deodorising effects

After speculation that yoghurt might have a deodorising effect, Barringer and first author Manpreet Kaur, a PhD student in her lab, decided to check it out. Their tests found that yoghurt alone reduced 99% of the major odour-producing raw garlic volatiles. Greek yoghurt, which has a higher-protein profile than the whole-milk plain yoghurt used in the study, could explain why it was particularly effective at getting rid of garlic breath. Even fruit-flavoured yoghurts will probably work, too, and whatever is used must quickly follow the ingestion of raw garlic, the researchers said. "Have your garlic and eat the yoghurt right away." So, the next time you are out for dinner, or simply hanging out with your friends, instead of skipping the delicious garlic butter or roasted chicken, have it – and eat a spoonful of yoghurt for dessert.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, or before changing your diet or supplement regimen.