I too chop up garlic and swallow it down whole. I KNOW this has a tremendous effect.
Garlic capsules are expensive and garlic cloves are cheap as garlic cloves!
Allicin is released when chopping and I would imagine also when it is broken down by enzymes.
If you want to go the whole hog, chop it up then press/squeeze it a little with the side of the knife and then swallow. Maximum allicin guaranteed!