Allium sativum · Onion family (Amaryllidaceae)
Hi, I'm Garlic! I'm small and a bit smelly, but cooks everywhere love me.
Garlic pills may lower cholesterol and blood pressure a little in grown-ups who have too much.
🟡 Scientists think so
In grown-ups with diabetes, garlic pills may lower blood sugar Sugar from food that travels in your blood to give your body energy. a little.
🟡 Scientists think so
Many people eat garlic to avoid colds. Only one study checked this, so scientists are not sure.
🟠 Still being studied
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Garlic cooked in family meals is fine for kids. Garlic pills are for grown-ups, and raw garlic should never be put on the skin.
⛔ Avoid
If garlic ever made you itchy or swollen, stay away from it.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Garlic pills can make bleeding last longer. People taking blood-thinning medicine must ask their doctor first.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Before an operation, tell the doctor if you take garlic pills.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Garlic in food is fine for mums expecting a baby. Garlic pills need a doctor's OK.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
Garlic grows under the ground as a round bulb. The bulb is made of small pieces called cloves. Each clove is wrapped in thin, papery skin.
Raw garlic tastes hot and strong. When you cook it, it becomes sweet and soft. People have eaten it for thousands of years.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
Garlic smells strong only after you cut or crush it. That is when its smelly natural substances are made.
You can grow a whole new garlic bulb from just one clove!
Garlic is a cousin of onions and leeks.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
What are the small pieces of a garlic bulb called?
Each piece is a clove, and each clove can grow a new plant.
When does garlic start to smell strong?
Cutting or crushing garlic makes its smelly natural substances.
Is it a good idea to tape raw garlic to your skin?
Raw garlic can cause chemical burns on the skin.
🏅 You earned the Garlic badge!
Almost! Read the page again and retry — you can do it! 💪
Print it, cut it out and collect them all!
Allium sativum
Heart & blood vessels
Blood sugar
Colds & coughs
🤩 Garlic smells strong only after you cut or crush it. That is when its smelly natural substances are made.
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Heart & blood vessels | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | Garlic supplements may reduce total and LDL cholesterol A kind of fat in the blood. Too much can block blood tubes. to a small extent in people with high cholesterol, and limited evidence suggests a small reduction in blood pressure in people with hypertension[1]. |
| Blood sugar | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | Garlic supplements may reduce blood glucose to a small extent in people with diabetes[1]. |
| Colds & coughs | 🟠 Early evidence (lab or animal studies only) | A Cochrane review found only one eligible trial (146 people): a daily garlic supplement for 12 weeks was linked to fewer colds, but the evidence is insufficient and claims rely largely on poor-quality studies[2]. NCCIH also notes very little research on garlic and the immune system[1]. |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Vegetables
If you have too much…
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Home & garden
Fun facts
