Is it more beneficial to eat garlic or take a garlic supplement to prevent colds

asks Modge:
A. Garlic's great stuff - it has antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. It also contains vitamin C and E, thiamine, potassium, calcium, cobalt, sulphur and zinc, and is a powerful antioxidant.

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There's no doubt that garlic helps prevents a cold: in a recent US trial, those who took a daily supplement containing allicin, the main active ingredient in garlic, were one third as likely to develop a cold as those who took a placebo. And, if they did catch a cold, they got over it more quickly.

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Q. So a supplement is the best choice
A. Not necessarily. Allicin is produced when garlic cloves are eaten or crushed. Chewing it is the best way to release the allicin, but that can be a bit smelly.

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Q. Why can't we have odourless garlic
A. Manufacturers have spent much time and money trying to produce an effective supplement which doesn't smell of garlic. However, the process of removing the smell reduces the�efficacy of the garlic: allicin is unstable when it's heated, so it's difficult to extract anyway.

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As a general rule, the supplements which haven't had the smell removed are stronger.

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Q. What should I look for in a supplement
A. Look for a quality product that contains 'standardised' ingredients. Enteric coated tablets are less irritating to the stomach.

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Q. Do garlic and garlic supplements have the same health benefits
A. Not always.

• Garlic supplements can help lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, reduce blood clotting and clear fatty deposits in blood vessels.
• Fresh garlic does all of the above, plus it has been found to kill the bacteria associated with stomach ulcers, (garlic supplements have no benefit with ulcers). You also get the benefits of all of the other ingredients.

Q. Are there any problems associated with eating garlic
A. The amount you would use in cooking is safe, but too much can irritate the stomach, producing heartburn and flatulence.

Large amounts shouldn't be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding because garlic stimulates menstrual bleeding.

And then, of course, there's the smell - chewing fresh parsley afterwards eliminates it.

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By Sheena Miller