Love garlic but hate the lingering breath? A recent scientific study offers a simple, natural solution: raw apples or lettuce can significantly neutralize garlic odor.
Researchers had participants chew 3 grams of garlic cloves for 25 seconds, followed immediately by water, raw, pressed, or heated apple; raw or heated lettuce; raw or pressed mint leaves; or green tea. Breath volatiles were then analyzed using a flow tube.
Raw apple and raw lettuce reduced volatile concentrations by 50% or more compared to the control group for the first 30 minutes. Mint leaves outperformed both for all volatiles. Apple and mint juices helped but were less effective than the raw forms. Heated apple and lettuce also significantly lowered volatiles, while green tea showed no effect.
