We all love the taste of garlic but not the lingering odor that may last on your breath for close to 24 hours. Researchers from Ohio State University fed people garlic and then had them drink water (the control group) or green tea or eat apples, lettuce, or mint leaves.
Fresh apples, fresh lettuce and fresh mint leaves decreased the volatile compounds that cause garlic breath by 50% or more. Apple juice and mint juice helped to control garlic breathe but not as effectively as eating fresh apples, lettuce or mint. Green tea had no effect.
Foods deodorize garlic breath though two mechanisms. The enzymes in raw foods help to destroy the odors and then the naturally occurring phenolic compounds in the foods destroy the volatiles that cause the odors. Raw foods contain both enzymes and phenolic compounds, some of which may be destroyed if the food is heated.
