People Who Should Avoid Eating Garlic! If You Are on This List, You Need to Steer Clear of Garlic
Garlic is widely recognized as a healthy natural product with numerous benefits, but it also comes with certain contraindications. While garlic can help tackle many health problems, it is not suitable for everyone. Regular consumption of garlic supports the prevention of many serious diseases. It helps lower blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, boosts the immune system, and prevents the development of dangerous infections.
However, some people should exercise caution when consuming garlic. Here are five categories of people for whom garlic is contraindicated.
Benefits and Risks of Garlic
Garlic has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties. Many people mistakenly believe that consuming garlic can protect them from liver problems. This is especially important for those suffering from hepatitis. The truth is, garlic stimulates the stomach and intestines, which reduces stomach acid levels and affects digestion. If you have liver disease and are taking medication, garlic can interfere with the breakdown of substances in the drugs and reduce their effectiveness.
1. People with Liver Problems
If you suffer from liver issues, consuming garlic might not be a good idea. Although garlic has antibacterial and antiviral effects, it can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract excessively. This stimulation might worsen certain liver conditions or interfere with medications you take for liver problems. Garlic can affect the metabolism of drugs processed by the liver, decreasing their therapeutic impact. Therefore, people with liver diseases, especially those on medication, should avoid or limit garlic intake and consult their healthcare provider before using it regularly.
2. People Experiencing Diarrhea
Raw garlic stimulates intestinal activity, which can exacerbate diarrhea symptoms. It is particularly inadvisable to consume garlic on an empty stomach, as this can lead to irritation or inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, worsening gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, garlic increases gas production, which can make bloating and abdominal pain worse. If you have diarrhea or other digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it’s best to avoid garlic until your symptoms improve.
3. Patients Preparing for Surgery
Individuals scheduled for surgery should be aware that garlic intake needs to be stopped at least two weeks before the procedure. Garlic has anticoagulant properties—it thins the blood and increases the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Consuming garlic close to the time of surgery can complicate surgical outcomes by causing excessive bleeding. Therefore, surgeons typically advise patients to avoid garlic supplements and foods rich in garlic well in advance of any planned operations.
4. Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
Consuming small amounts of garlic during pregnancy is generally considered safe, and there are no clear contraindications against it. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking large quantities of garlic, especially for medicinal purposes. Garlic in high doses may trigger uterine contractions and potentially cause premature labor in some women. It’s important to exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional before using garlic supplements or medicinal amounts during pregnancy or lactation.
5. People with Low Blood Pressure
Garlic is beneficial for people with high blood pressure because it helps lower arterial pressure. However, if you suffer from low blood pressure, you should avoid eating garlic. Garlic’s blood pressure-lowering effect can worsen symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and fainting in individuals with hypotension. If you have naturally low blood pressure or experience symptoms associated with it, consult your doctor before including garlic regularly in your diet or using it as a supplement.
6. People with Eye Diseases
If you have eye problems, you need to be careful when consuming garlic. Excessive garlic intake can cause bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye. This happens because garlic is a natural anticoagulant and can increase bleeding risks. Increased bleeding in the eye can be dangerous and may threaten vision loss. People with eye conditions should limit their garlic consumption and discuss with their ophthalmologist before using garlic supplements or high doses of garlic.
Summary: When to Avoid Garlic
Garlic is a powerful natural remedy with many health benefits. It strengthens the immune system, helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and fights infections. However, it is not suitable for everyone and can be harmful in certain situations:
People with liver problems, especially those on medication, should avoid garlic to prevent interference with drug metabolism.
Individuals suffering from diarrhea or gastrointestinal irritation should steer clear of raw garlic to avoid worsening symptoms.
Surgery patients must stop garlic intake at least two weeks before the procedure to reduce bleeding risks.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid large amounts of garlic due to the risk of uterine contractions and other complications.
People with low blood pressure should avoid garlic as it can dangerously lower their blood pressure further.
Those with eye diseases must be cautious, as garlic can increase bleeding and threaten vision.
Before making garlic a regular part of your diet or using it as a supplement, consult your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for your specific health condition.
Garlic remains a valuable and widely used natural remedy but like all medicines and supplements, it should be used thoughtfully and responsibly. Understanding when to avoid garlic is key to safely enjoying its benefits without risking adverse effects on your health.
