Food Allergies | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | ACAAI Public Website

Having Too Much Garlic Can Cause These Worrying Side Effects

Garlic has been long revered in Ayurveda for its medicinal and rejuvenating properties. The modern science too recognizes the many benefits it can provide for the overall well-being and management of chronic diseases. Its impressive nutritional profile can help boost immunity and fight seasonal infections. Consuming raw garlic can bring additional benefits as it has an enzyme called allicin which has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. It also provides protection against certain kinds of cancer. Chewing raw garlic cloves can help reap benefits of sulphur-containing compounds which offer range of benefits for overall health.Anything in excess is bad and garlic is no exception. Let's understand all the side effects of consuming too much garlic:

1. Digestive distress Raw garlic is effective in managing a range of health conditions, but it may cause digestive issues when eaten in excess. Garlic has fructan, a compound that may cause digestive and intestinal distress when ingested in large quantities. Consuming too much garlic can irrirate the digestive tract, damage the stomach lining and may cause heart burn, acid reflux, bloating, nausea, flatulence and even peptic ulcers.

2. Bad breath Garlic breath is a common phenomenon after consuming food flavoured with this spice. The peculiar smell doesn't normally go away with brushing your teeth. This is because garlic has sulphur compounds that are released into the bloodstream after being digested. They travel to lungs and reach up the throat and out the mouth, resulting in bad breath. Compounds that cause the garlic breath include Dialyl disulfide, Allyl methyl sulfide, Allyl mercaptan, and Allyl methyl disulfide.

3. Garlic allergy Some people can experience garlic allergy which happens when body mistakenly believes it to be a harmful substance. The signs and symptoms of such allergy include rashes, itching, or even anaphylaxis - a life-threatening reaction that could occur in seconds or minutes after eating a substance you are allergic to. It can cause difficulty in breathing. People who are allergic to garlic must read labels and be careful about foods that may have garlic.

4. Bleeding issues One of the severe side effects of eating garlic in excess is an increased risk of bleeding. This could be more for people who are already on blood thinners or those who have undergone surgery. Garlic has blood-thinning or antithrombotic properties which means it may prevent blood clot formation. Garlic consumption should be avoided before surgery.

5. Dizziness due to low blood pressure Garlic is known for lowering blood pressure as it has sulfur compounds that can relax blood vessels. However, eating too much of it or combining it with blood pressure medication can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, which can cause symptoms like dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, headache and blurry vision.

6. Skin burn Garlic may not be appropriate for all skin types and can cause trouble for people with sensitive skin. Applying garlic directly on the skin can cause burns, blisters, or irritation.Consuming cooked garlic instead of raw can reduce some of these side effects. Roasting or sauteing garlic can make it easier to digest and prevent gastro issues.

6 possible side effects of eating too many apples

"Garlic Can Kill Me": Woman Claims She Has "Vampire" Disease Like Dracula

A 32-year-old mother from Minnesota, US, has become the face of a rare and painful condition often referred to as "vampire disease." Phoenix Nightingale has a severe allergy to sulphur – a compound found in garlic – which can lead to potentially fatal reactions if ingested. "People call it the vampire disease," she explained in an interview with Jam Press. 

This unusual disorder, known as acute intermittent porphyria, can cause severe pain, migraines, constipation and vomiting for days when triggered. This condition shares a historical connection with the legendary Count Dracula, as it is suspected that Vlad III, the inspiration for Dracula, also suffered from porphyria.

The condition has led to myths about vampires' aversion to garlic, sunlight and their pale appearance. Ms Nightingale said, "It comes from the legend about them needing to avoid garlic, having to stay out of the sun, looking pale and having receding teeth." She adds that the neurological side effects of the disorder can lead people to mistakenly view those affected as "monsters or possessed," as per the NY Post.

Due to her condition, Ms Nightingale is forced to strictly avoid foods containing sulphur. "Eating high amounts or over an extended period could be fatal," she said. Symptoms can appear suddenly or develop over weeks, making it challenging to navigate her daily life. "I'm very careful about what I put in my body. I avoid a lot of food. I stick to what I know is safe. I can't even take most medications," she shared.

Since her diagnosis, she has not eaten garlic, saying, "I could never eat garlic bread. It could send me into an attack." The debilitating attacks can last for days, during which she may vomit up to 60 times, and can also lead to breathing difficulties. 

"I've experienced over 480 attacks in my life, searching for answers, desperate for a diagnosis that only came last year," she said, adding that the pain is worse than childbirth. 

"I had one attack where I didn't go to the hospital, and it went on for 40 hours. It was non-stop vomiting, losing consciousness, screaming, and crying."

Dining out is an additional challenge for Ms Nightingale, as garlic is a common ingredient in many dishes. She avoids other sulphur-rich foods, including red grapes, soy, alcohol and coffee. "When I go out for dinner, unless it's a place I know, I look at a menu and I cry because I don't know what I can eat," she confessed.

Ms Nightingale has chosen to share her story publicly to raise awareness about her condition and to support others who may be struggling with similar undiagnosed symptoms. "It took 31 years to get diagnosed, and I had to pay out of pocket and spend years running analytics on it," she explained. "It's hard as a diagnosed person not being able to find a doctor who can help. When I see a doctor or go to the hospital, they have to Google the condition."

I Have The Same Rare 'vampire' Condition Count Dracula Had — Garlic Can Kill Me

She's the real-life Count Dracula.

A woman's rare "vampire disease" causes her to writhe in pain and could even be fatal if she ingests garlic, much like the mythical bloodsucking creatures.

Phoenix Nightingale, 32, has what is called "acute intermittent porphyria," a very rare metabolic disorder that results in symptoms like pain, migraines, constipation and vomiting for days at a time if triggered.

Unfortunately for the Minnesota woman, her condition is triggered by an allergy to sulfur, which is found in garlic and could even result in a "fatal attack" if she ingests too much.

"People call it the vampire disease," she told Jam Press.

The metabolic disorder is often referred to as the "vampire disease," Nightingale said. Jam Press

The real-life Count Dracula, Vlad III, is suspected to have had the disorder, which inspired the fable of vampires who hate garlic and are sunlight averse.

"It comes from the legend about them needing to avoid garlic, having to stay out of the sun, looking pale and having receding teeth," Nightingale explained.

"Neurological side effects can make people think that those with the condition must have been monsters or are possessed."

Nightingale struggled to get a diagnosis for her condition for three decades. Jam Press "I'm very careful about what I put in my body. I avoid a lot of food. I stick to the food that I know is safe. I can't even take most medications," she said. Jam Press

The mom-of-two is forced to avoid any foods containing sulfur, as eating it in "high amounts or over an extended period could be fatal." Symptoms, she added, can "come out of nowhere" or start to set in weeks ahead of an attack.

"I'm very careful about what I put in my body. I avoid a lot of food. I stick to the food that I know is safe. I can't even take most medications," she said.

"I haven't eaten garlic since I was diagnosed. I could never eat garlic bread. It could send me into an attack," she continued, describing her "life-threatening" attacks as two-day bouts of vomiting, sometimes 60 times over the course of an attack, and the potential for breathing difficulties.

The condition makes it difficult for her to eat out at restaurants due to unknown ingredients that could contain garlic. Jam Press The attacks can land her in the hospital and could be "life-threatening." Jam Press

Nightingale said that she's experienced over 480 attacks over the course of her life as she searched her answers, desperate for a diagnosis that only came last year. The pain, she added, can't even be remedied by prescription drugs, insisting that it is worse than giving birth.

"I had one attack where I didn't go to hospital and it went on for 40 hours. It was non-stop vomiting, losing consciousness, screaming and crying," she said.

"I've pushed out two children and it's worse than childbirth. It's agony."

This makes dining at restaurants particularly challenging since garlic is a popular ingredient in many cuisines and she also avoids red grapes, soy, alcohol and coffee.

"When I go out for dinner, unless it's a place I know, I look at a menu and I cry because I don't know what I can eat and prefer to stick with my safe foods," she explained.

"I've pushed out two children and it's worse than childbirth. It's agony," she said. Jam Press

She's sharing her diagnosis publicly in the hopes of spreading awareness about the condition to anyone who might be struggling to find a diagnosis for their symptoms.

"It took 31 years to get diagnosed and I had to pay out of pocket and spend years running analytics on it," she said, adding that she had to take matters "into my own hands."

"It's hard as a diagnosed person not being able to find a doctor who can help. When I see a doctor or go to hospital, they have to google the condition."

Now, she's hoping she can "help make changes in the medical system for mystery diagnoses and chronically ill patients."

"There has to be more people out there suffering with it and being called crazy," she said.

---