Fact Check: Can Garlic and Milk Eliminate Intestinal Parasites?

An Instagram reel claims that Garlic and Milk Eliminates Intestinal Parasites. The claim is FALSE

Claim

In an Instagram reel it is claimed that Garlic and Milk Eliminates Intestinal Parasites. In the reel by healthyyjevan, it is said, "Mixing onions with Coca-Cola is believed to improve memory and heart health. Combining tomatoes and sugar helps reduce facial blemishes. Mixing coffee with lemon may help reduce bloating and make your stomach look flatter. Garlic mixed with milk is said to eliminate intestinal worms. A blend of banana and honey can soothe dry cough. Follow for daily health tips and share this video."

The claim can be seen here.

Fact Check

The claim is False. There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support the claim that garlic and milk eliminates intestinal parasites.

What are Intestinal Parasites?

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in the human digestive tract and can cause a range of illnesses collectively known as intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). These infections are recognized as major global public health concerns, leading to significant illness and even death in affected individuals. Intestinal parasites are broadly divided into two main groups, protozoa, which are single-celled organisms, and helminths, which are worms. While IPIs are more prevalent in developing regions due to poor sanitation and hygiene, cases are increasingly being reported in developed countries as well, largely because of globalization of food, international travel, and migration.

What are the Health Benefits of Garlic and Milk?

Garlic a common culinary condiment, has long been used in traditional plant-based medicine, primarily due to its organosulfur compounds. These compounds have demonstrated significant biological and therapeutic properties, with their effectiveness depending on the method of preparation, use, and extraction. Garlic is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, which help maintain immune system balance by positively influencing immune cells and modulating cytokine proliferation and expression. These properties suggest its potential in treating infections and tumors. Additionally, garlic's organosulfur compounds offer vascular benefits, such as lipid metabolism regulation and antihypertensive and antiaggregant effects.

Milk is a nutrient-dense food, supplying energy and high-quality protein with a range of essential micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus in an easily absorbed form. Milk minerals are crucial for human health and development. They play a key role in healthy human nutrition and development throughout life. Milk is rich in nutrients that are essential for good bone health, including calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium, and phosphorus

Can Garlic and Milk Eliminate Intestinal Parasites?

The user’s claim that garlic and milk can eliminate intestinal parasites is false. While both garlic and milk have certain health benefits, there is no scientific research or medical consensus supporting their effectiveness in removing intestinal parasites.

Milk has certain health benefits. The research by Hanna Górska-Warsewicz et. al. highlights that milk is a rich source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium, and phosphorus, all of which play a crucial role in maintaining bone health. In addition to these essential nutrients, the study also notes that milk contains several bioactive components such as bioactive peptides, probiotic bacteria, antioxidants, vitamins, specific proteins, oligosaccharides, organic acids, highly absorbable calcium, and conjugated linoleic acid, which contribute to its overall functional and health-promoting properties.

Garlic may provide certain health benefits. A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, found that the sulfur compounds in garlic offer antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral benefits, which can reduce inflammation.

It can be concluded that the claim by the user is FALSE.

Dr. Ravindra B S, Director, Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru in a conversation with The Medical Dialogues Fact Check Team said, "The belief that consuming garlic with milk can eliminate intestinal parasites does not align with medical evidence. While garlic has demonstrated some antimicrobial and immune-modulating effects in laboratory and animal studies, these findings do not translate into proven treatment for human parasitic infections. Intestinal parasites in humans are caused by specific organisms such as roundworms, tapeworms, or protozoa, each requiring targeted, prescription-based antiparasitic therapy. To date, there are no well-designed human clinical trials confirming that garlic, milk, or their combination can effectively eradicate these infections. Depending on unproven dietary remedies may delay diagnosis and appropriate treatment, potentially leading to complications such as chronic anaemia, nutritional deficiencies, intestinal obstruction, or systemic involvement. Suspected parasitic infections should always be evaluated through stool examination and managed with evidence-based medications under medical supervision."

Dr. K Chandrakant, Consultant, Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru further added, "Garlic contains bioactive compounds like allicin that have shown antiparasitic activity in laboratory and animal studies, particularly against certain protozoa like Entamoeba and Giardia under controlled conditions. However, these effects don’t reliably translate into a clinically proven cure in humans. There is no high-quality evidence demonstrating that consuming garlic, milk, or a garlic-milk mixture will reliably eliminate intestinal parasites in people. Claims circulating on social media often overgeneralise early experimental findings or animal research. Actual parasitic infections in humans require diagnosis and standard antiparasitic medication, tailored to the specific organism involved. Natural foods like garlic may support overall gut health and have some immune-modulating effects, but they should never be used as a substitute for medical evaluation and proper treatment when parasitic infection is suspected."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

The claim that garlic and milk can eliminate intestinal parasites is false. Although both garlic and milk are nutritious and offer various health benefits, there is no scientific evidence or medical basis to support the belief that they can eliminate intestinal parasites.

Hence, the claim is FALSE.