Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The One Thing You Should Eat When You Want to Freshen Your Breath

The One Thing You Should Eat When You Want to Freshen Your Breath

Fighting mouth odor is as easy as hitting the produce aisle.

Next time you go a little overboard with the garlic bread or garlicky salads and sauces, forget the mouthwash and hit the fruit aisle of the supermarket instead. A new study published in the Journal of Food Science found that the breath reek that happens after you consume raw garlic (thanks to a compound in this herb that can't be broken down during digestion) is best neutralized by raw apple.

MORE: 8 Ways to Beat Bad Breath 

In the study, researchers had volunteers eat raw garlic, then measured levels of certain stink-producing garlic compounds when they exhaled. Next, the volunteers were given several types of food to see how each would affect the malodor. Raw apple "deodorized" the garlic compounds best, with lemon juice, mint, green tea, parsley, and spinach coming in as runners up. Members of the research team think all of these were effective because they contain compounds called polyphenols, which previous research suggests may break down compounds in garlic.

MORE: The Health Benefits of Onions and Garlic 

This garlic-fighting ability just adds to a long list of awesome things apples can do for you—such as help regulate blood fat levels and provide healthy, filling fiber. It's not a bad idea to stash one in your purse. That way, you'll be armed against any bad breath emergencies.

MORE: 11 Foods You Shouldn't Ever Refrigerate

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