# Is Garlic Toxic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893 "2009-09-28T20:19:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/61 "2013-09-11T00:10:39Z")
> [@stitz87](#): > > I know that people that practice Ayurveda do not consume garlic or onions. I wouldn’t put much stock in medical/health advice from those who use urine and lead and mercury as “medicines”. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/62 "2013-09-11T00:14:59Z")
> [@stitz87](#): > > The Straight Dope Message Board has proved to be an uninviting place for new users. I think you’ll find it true, not just of this forum, but nearly every other forum on the Internet, that it is “uninviting” to people who seek intelligent answers to stupid questions. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/63 "2013-09-11T00:31:42Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > By definition, too much garlic is bad for you. That’s what “too much” means. Exactly how much is too much, I have no idea. This. Anything, or nearly anything, is toxic if you eat too much of it. Likewise, you can eat small amounts of what are traditionally considered to be “poisonous” substances and end up fine - the question is a matter of degree and the threshold for a seriously harmful or lethal dose, not a black and white “poison or not?” question. Certain substances, such as strychnine, sarin, and mustard gas are considered to be “poison” because the threshold for a lethal dose is very low and it is difficult (though not impossible) to restrict yourself to just a little if you are exposed to it. > [@diji](#): > > …garlic is an acid that physically burns mucous membrane. if any of this powerful acid enters your bloodstream… Saying whether a food is an acid, is acidic, or has acid in it is, in itself, meaningless in terms of distinguishing whether or not it is harmful. Lots of food is acidic - citrus fruits are a big one - crammed full of citric acid and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Coca-cola - acidic. Tomato juice - acidic. ---
**Author:** ![john\_b\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@john\_b\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john_b_2)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/64 "2013-09-11T07:05:50Z")
No, garlic is very healthy for you and aside from its odor it has no bad side effects that I can think of. It’s a member of the allicin family, as are onions, which have properties similar to garlic, and which I personally prefer to use in cooking. They’re both excellent natural anti-biotics, thin the blood. Whenever something comes along that’s high touted there’s always someone who wants to “bring it down”. I suppose it’s high time for garlic to take some big hits 🆒 Don’t believe a word of it. Do some reading on your own. Google garlic, look it up in Wiki, at Sloan-Kettering’s website for herbs and alternative healing. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/65 "2013-09-11T10:02:39Z")
> [@diji](#): > > If you were to inject garlic you’d die shortly. if you have a leaky gut or weak stomach/intestinal linings then garlic can hurt you. garlic is an acid that physically burns mucous membrane. if any of this _ **powerful acid** _ enters your bloodstream then it can even damage brain tissue itself. this being said, cooking garlic for a few minutes greatly reduces the risks. With a pH of 5.8, I wouldn’t classify [garlic](http://www.foodscience.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/fdaapproximatephoffoodslacf-phs.pdf) as a powerful acid. It’s weakly acidic. Could you list the source(s) for your other statements diji? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/66 "2013-09-11T12:58:58Z")
> [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > I think you’ll find it true, not just of this forum, but nearly every other forum on the Internet, that it is “uninviting” to people who seek intelligent answers to stupid questions. It isn’t everywhere you can get an extra helping of snark 4 years after you posted though. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/67 "2013-09-11T17:41:26Z")
> [@saje](#): > > Why the hell would anyone inject garlic? Dude, haven’t ever tried freebasing garlic, aka “Olive Gardening”? What a rush! ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/68 "2013-09-11T18:27:57Z")
Well this just sucks. Seeing this thread reminded me that I just cracked the last bottle of Garlic-Q BBQ sauce (from The Garlic Survival Company), so I hop online to order more and find out THEY’VE QUIT MAKING IT! Shit. I love the label - “If the recipe call for 2 cloves of garlic and you put in 2 cloves of garlic, this is NOT your bbq sauce.” Dammit all. I need a beer. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893/69 "2013-09-11T18:47:20Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Dammit all. I need a beer. Better not inject it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-garlic-toxic/511893.md?page=3)