h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Onions - A3941778
Author: Master B - Me and the farmer get on fine - U190397

My ambition: to have the most linked-to entry in the Guide.

All suggestions welcome. I'm sure there must be some onion trivia that I've missed.

B

Great Entry!

Indeed, where would we be without the onion? Nowadays I eat raw onion rings on sandwiches with soft cheeses and meat. It's good to read that onions seem to help with toothaches. That's why I'm doing it. Raw veggies help to clean the teeth, I noticed.

What about the nutricious value of the onion?

Are you sure about vichysoisse being a leek and fish soup? I've always made it with leeks and potatoes.

You're right - I'll change that.

And add litte bits about teeth cleaning and nutrition. Ta, both.

B

Also, onions contain an antibiotic which is active against a range of pathogenic bacteria including E.coli,, salmonella and the causative organisms of gastritis and stomach ulcers. They may be protective against stomach cancer by decreasing the conversion of nitrates to nitrites in the stomach.

Onions are also rich in quercetin, a potent anti-oxidant and sedative (present in shallots, yellow and red onions, but not white onions).

Quercetin has been found to block an androgen hormone activity which is involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer (Carcinogenesis, April, 2001)

Ref onions,teeth,bad breath - apparently chewing an onion for three to 8 minutes completely sterilises the lining of the mouth (presumably ddue to the antibiotic action).

Onions and crying:

Apparently trickling cold water onto the wrists for a few seconds as soon as you feel any discomfort, works. Has anyone tried this?

I imagine it would work the same way as the pan of boiling water that I mentioned in the Entry.

B

n.b. The crying response is caused by
propanthial -S-oxide. This seems to be produced by a recently discovered enzyme called lachrymatory-factor synthase. This is different to an enzyme that was hitherto thought to be responsible, called alliinase.

Hmmm...propanoic acid sounds like a reasonable explanation.

I'll change that, then.

B

P.S. there shouldn't be a hypen between propanthial and the S; so it should be propanthial S- oxide.

My fault!

I did have some notes on this - coz I've had it in mind to write an Entry on garlic - but I can't find them at present

I think Mikey has already beaten you to the garlic Entry; that's lurking somewhere in PR too.

I'm a physical chemist, not an organic chemist, so claim ignorance of all these complicated hydrocarbons.

B

Excellent, Master B!

I agree with radioactive about cold water - running cold water over the wrists before slicing onions works every time. No more tears.


az

Well, I'd better add it then.

B

I know about Mikey's Entry, and one or two others. I was going to focus on therapeutic properties, antibiotic action etc.

Raw onions are also a natural diuretic, aren't they?

az

This site shortly to become The Hitchhiker Guide To The Garlicky.

B

Damn. Why are my best jokes always simulposts?

B

Amy the Ant, "Are you sure about vichysoisse being a leek and fish soup? I've always made it with leeks and potatoes."

Master B, "You're right - I'll change that."


Well that's got to be a first! Master B changing a glaring error in one of his entries at the first time of asking

Contentious errors, on the other hand, take a bit more time to think through.

B