Every night before my husband and I fall asleep, we have a long session of “pillow talk.” It’s my favorite part of a long, crazy day and I always look forward to talking and catching up, so I was completely mortified when he asked me what I ate for lunch, and then proceeded to tell me that I had garlic breath. I jumped up, brushed my teeth, put gum in my mouth and talked with the pillow over my mouth the rest of the night.
There is nothing better than a spicy dish of authentic Italian pasta, but the garlic breath that long outlasts the meal is a definite downer. The problem with garlic is a compound found in it called allyl methyl sulfide (AMS). The body cannot metabolize AMS, therefore it seeps through our pores and breath as an outlet. And it stinks – it’s a sulfate, after all.
A study conducted by the Journal of Food Science investigated methods to reduce garlic breath. Researchers found that the most effective way to reduce garlic breath is to consume water and fat to help flush down AMS. The perfect candidate: a glass of milk, preferably 2% or whole. The study showed that drinking milk during the consumption of a garlic food has better results than chugging it down after. (A big glass of milk with a garlic pasta dish doesn’t really sound very appetizing)! Ice cream also has the same benefit, and a gelato after a pasta dish might sound a bit more appetizing than a big glass of whole milk.
Some other remedies shown to reduce garlic breath are lemons, parsley, fennel seeds, chewing gum, mints, and the best, number one solution (other than abstaining) – brushing your teeth. So before the next time your hubby asks you what you ate for lunch, grab a toothbrush and a bowl of ice cream and keep him guessing!