Garlic:This perennial herb, belonging to the lily family, is grown for its strong-flavored, edible bulbs. It has been traditionally used to help lower blood pressure. Early research indicates that eating garlic might decrease the risk of various types of cancer, particularly those affecting specific organs. Some side effects of garlic include bad breath, body odor, stomach upset, and allergic reactions, which are more likely to occur with raw garlic. Garlic can also inhibit normal blood clotting, much like aspirin. Therefore, caution should be exercised if you are planning surgery or dental procedures, or if you are taking anticoagulant medications like warfarin (Coumadin).Moreover, garlic has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of saquinavir, a medication for treating infections. Its impact on other drugs has not been extensively researched.
