Anyone who has ever cut onions, knows what happens then - the eyes start to cry, we cry! But why is that? As long as the onion is uncut on the kitchen board, there is neither the flavor nor the tear factor. However, as soon as it is cut, the cells of the onion release substances that form a gas that rises into the eyes. Each cell of an onion contains two compounds. In the outer cell layer, it is a sulfur-containing amino acid, the iso-alliin, inside the cell is the enzyme alliinase. When you cut the onion, the two substances come into contact and the enzyme breaks down the amino acid into separate parts. This produces the triggering irritant. In the eyes, the flow of tears is immediately stimulated, so that the substance is washed out of the eyes again.
How can you find a remedy?
- Cutting the onion while sitting. Since the onion is rising vertically, you do not cry when sitting.
- Dip the peeled onion into the cold water, cut it in half, place it with the cut surface on the board and cut both halves into slices starting from the top and then cutting them into cubes.
Protect yourself against the onion odor on hands and on kitchen boards, by rinsing everything that comes into contact with the tuber - hands, knife, board - before and after the onion cutting cold. And against the onion smell in the mouth you eat best parsley.
What good are the "sharp" ingredients?
According to the scientists, the onion is also used therapeutically to combat cold and fever, and its medicinal properties are exploited, as the onion's "spicy" ingredients have a biologically proven protection: onion protection against hungry invaders such as rats or voles Wear: It has an antibacterial, germicidal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and analgesic.