Scientists claim to have solved the great crisis facing modern humanity – no it’s not global warming, but garlic breath.
A glass of milk is said to “significantly reduce” the pungent odour secreted in the hours (and sometimes days) after eating garlic, according to a new study.
Authors of the study, Sherly Barringer and Areerat Hansanugrum, told the Journal of Food Science that the combination of fat and water in milk helps to neutralise the infamous odour.
Full-fat milk gives the best results, compared to skim milk or just plain water, according to the study, and sipping milk while eating garlic was more effective than after the meal.
The science behind the solution centres on garlic’s allyl methyl sulphide (AMS) compound. AMS can not be broken down in digestion, and therefore is released in human breath and sweat.
The study found milk reduces the sulphur levels in the compound, reducing its effects of bad breath.
“The results suggest that drinking beverages or foods with higher water and/or fat content such as milk may help reduce the malodorous odour in breath after consumption of garlic and mask the garlic flavour during eating,” the scientists told the journal.
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