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I have a self-diagnosed intolerance to garlic that is getting worse with age. My symptoms include terrible gas, bloating and up to 2 days of constipation or diarrhea. I also emit a strong garlic odor on my breath, skin and when I experience gas and bowel movements following a dose. I am frustrated because I have finally admitted to myself that garlic is an issue for me and have been telling restaurants that I am ALLERGIC to garlic. I still get served garlic consistently. I am generally a very healthful person and know garlic has many health benefits. I am wondering if there is a natural supplement of some sort that might counteract garlic's negative effects on me so that I can consume it regularly and without the abdominal pain and digestive issues I experience now.
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I have found that certain things bother me at different times of day.
For instance, if I eat spicy food for lunch (usually my first meal of the day) then I "feel the burn" later. If I eat a non-spicy meal first, I can have spicy food later in the day without ill effect.
I think the same applies to garlic for me. I suspect I am sensitive to garlic but it is not consistent, and seems to vary by time of day I eat garlic, though I have not been scientific about this.
October 13, 2015 - 7:55pmThis Comment
You must try to live witbout garlic as much as possible, or use just a little bit, but only once in a while!
September 26, 2015 - 7:40pmThis Comment
Thank you, thank you. I could t figure out why, after a quiet evening at home, simple dinner, and a good night's sleep, I felt so wretched the next day. All your symptoms, thought not as severe. By chance I googled garlic -- which I had added to last night's favorite pasta sauce -- and I sure got my answer. Hadn't cooked with it for years; age must make a difference.
September 22, 2015 - 6:26pmThis Comment
I am also allergic to garlic and so is my mother. It makes me super nauseous, gassy, unable to sleep and I feel anxious. People are always surprised to hear this or have never heard of such a thing.
September 18, 2015 - 10:04amThis Comment
Sounds like my symptoms exactly. Best thing I found to do was keep it out of your diet as much as possible and take probiotics and drink keifer daily.
September 18, 2015 - 8:06pmThis Comment
I wanted to echo the FODMAP comment. Since garlic is a high FODMAP food, it often causes digestive distress to those of us that are FODMAP sensitive. There is a book called The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body, with a wonderful healing program (not just for autoimmune disorders). The author discusses FODMAPS in relation to gastro-intestinal problems and says that garlic juice or garlic-infused oil may be used without problems. I haven't tried it but it might be a life saver for some garlic lover out there.
September 15, 2015 - 2:05pmThis Comment
I also have experienced horrible reactions to garlic. Starts with burping within about 15 minutes of ingesting, then in an hour I'm vomiting my guts out and diarrhea in between. I will be sick like this for nearly 24 he's, no exaggeration. I have found that taking taking prilosec before hand and tums after helps. Only fresh garlic tends to make me this sick.
August 28, 2015 - 9:52pmThis Comment
I have the same garlic/onion issue. Garlic seems to be worse than onions but there both up there. I'm not sure if I'm allergic, have an intolerance, or if the food is just giving me awful indigestion. My systoms are indigestion, soured taste in mouth, soured stomach, bloating, extreme belching, constipation, and the odor emits strongly through my breath and pores. It's really awful. I do try and avoid these foods but I find it almost impossible especially when out to eat as garlic is commonly used in many dishes plus they have great health benefits. On top of all this I have a dairy allergy so now I can almost eat nothing! I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on what I can take to counter these effects. I was also wondering what kind of specialist I should seek for more options? Do I see an allergist? Gastrointestinal dr? Nutrician? Thanks for all your help as I really really need some options.
August 28, 2015 - 2:05pmThis Comment
I have similar symptoms and after years narrowed it down to the fodmaps food group (google ‘fodmaps’).
What helped me in the end was:
•cutting out garlic entirely
•cutting out onions mostly.
• cutting out diet drinks as the sweeteners are in the same family and are EVIL to your digestion if you’re fodmaps sensitive.
• checking lists of high fodmaps foods when eating something new, just in case
• taking ‘Beano’ (US) or ‘Bean assist’ (in the UK) before meals containing onion or garlic if I can’t avoid them. These contain a digestible enzyme that help you cope better.
• if all else fails and you get bloating etc, take activated charcoal which you can get from chemists. This is amazing stuff which I once read is in every kitchen cupboard for digestive distress in some Eastern European countries, yet is barely known here. It absorbs all the gas generated and so greatly relieves symptoms.
Cheap to buy, I buy little black pills from amazon which I eat at the first sign.
The above steps have been a life changer for me. Good luck.
November 11, 2018 - 3:50pmThis Comment
I have same problem with garlic and onions - intolerance. I saw both gastroenterologist and allergist and neither helped. I've mostly been avoiding garlic as much as possible and just use a small amount of onions chopped small. I'm now going to try garlic infused oil, and tautopathy (where you reintroduce garlic or onions into your body in very small doses over a long period of time). Look it up, its really interesting.
September 18, 2015 - 6:47amThis Comment