Garlic, a nutritional supplement, may help promote proper blood circulation in your body. It helps by lowering cholesterol levels in your arteries, according to MedlinePlus. This alone increases the flow of flood in your arteries and lowers the risk of heart disease. Other potential uses for garlic include the prevention of rectal cancer, stomach cancer, cancer of the lung, cancer of the prostate and breast cancer. Before taking this supplement talk to your doctor. Side effects of garlic may occur.
Gas
You may temporarily develop excessive gas in your intestines from taking garlic pills, Drugs.com reports. This may induce excessive flatulence. Gas may feel uncomfortable, but it presents only a non-serious side effect of the use of garlic as a supplement. Your stomach also may bloat during this period of increased gas symptoms as your body adjusts to the supplement. Talk to your doctor as he may have suggestions and recommendations for medicine to help alleviate the gas. You also may find over-the-counter anti-gas medicines that effectively treat this problem.
Vomiting
Vomiting may occur as a common side effect of using garlic pills, Drugs.com indicates. Taking garlic supplements with food can prevent this side effect. Garlic may irritate the lining of your stomach. It may cause you to feel sick or even vomit. If this common side effect persists, speak to your doctor.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea also may occur as a side effect to taking a garlic supplement. Your bowels may become irritated and inflamed, causing diarrhea to occur. Watery and loose bowel movement can occur at any time after eating the garlic or taking the supplement. You may experience these effects several times during the day for a few days as your body acclimates to garlic. Lie down and rest your intestines. Call your doctor if this doesn't seem to help.
Body Odor
You may experience body odor as a result of using garlic pills. The garlic will excrete itself in your sweat in the act of food digestion. After continued use of garlic pills, you may emit a general smell of garlic from your body. If you find it offensive, call your doctor and ask her what you should do as you suffer with this side effect.
Thinning of Blood
Garlic may thin your blood and may interfere with blood thinners if you take them, Drugs.com indicates. Garlic's blood-thinning properties help decrease blood pressure and improve your circulation, but if you already take medication to do this, adding garlic may cause you harm. Before starting any type of supplement, talk to your doctor first.
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