Onion better than artificial preservatives
Some components of the onion have antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, making it possible to use it to preserve food, says a new study.
"The antioxidant and anti-microbial properties of the raw onion make it a good candidate for use in food preservation," says researcher Jonathan Santas from the department of nutrition and bromatology at the University of Barcelona (UB).
Santas co-authored the study at the department of agrifood engineering and biotechnology at Polytechnic University of Cataluna (UPC).
The study shows that the flavonoids of onion, in addition to having beneficial properties for health, increase the life of foods, and so "they are a natural alternative to artificial additives used in food industry".
The results confirm that the yellow variety in particular is a good source of these types of substances and there is a positive correlation between the presence of flavonoids and their antioxidant capacity.
"The onion can be effective for delaying lipid oxidation in emulsions of oil and water - a model system of foods like margarines and mayonnaises - and it inhibits the growth of micro-organisms that alter foods," Santas says.
The scientific team analysed onions of the white and yellow varieties.
The researchers demonstrated that phenolic compounds in the onion prevent the development of bacteria, micro-organisms typically associated with the deterioration of foods, said an UB release.
Previous studies indicate that flavonoids have beneficial effects for health due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, vasodilatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.
The study was published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology.
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7 Tearfully-Pleasing Uses for Onions:
People, despite getting teary-eyed, enjoy the numerous culinary uses of the onion. The gas containing vegetable is both a primary ingredient and a flavor enhancer in many dishes. If you think its list of uses end at the kitchen, you better think again. It is proven to be a medicinal wonder, as well as a metal polisher and an insect repellent. With its number of alternative uses, the onion may induce tears of joy to any DIY pundit. Here are seven of its tearfully - pleasing uses.
1. Insect Bite Treatment - The onion’s enzymes are known for their anti-inflammatory effects, which makes the vegetable an unusually effective treatment. Rub some onion to a bee sting, mosquito bite or any insect bite. After a few hours, the pain, itchiness and swelling will subside.
2. Odor Remover - Chemical solutions, like pain and varnish, have strong odors that can adversely affect your health when inhaled. Instead of purchasing a pricey deodorizer, you might as well apply a mixture of onions and water on the smelly areas. The onion’s scent won’t completely eliminate the chemical stench, but it will surely bring the fumes to a more tolerable level.
3. Reliever for Burns - Burns sting and are prone to infection. Treat those inflammations by mixing onion slices with a little water. Apply the mixture to the affected areas and within a few hours, your burns will subside. Just reapply whenever necessary.
4. Insect Repellent - The gases emitted by the onion, when sliced, have strong odors and are known irritants. Naturally, household pests will shy away upon detecting those gases. Gather your onion waste and put it in a bowl. Place the bowl where you often see your much despised creepy-crawlies. Pretty soon, those insects will find other venues to terrorize, probably those without onion-based repellents.
5. Wart Remover - Mix onion slices with crushed aspirin and a little water. Apply the solution to the wart. The onion’s chemical content and the aspirin’s active ingredients will gradually soothe the wart and make it subside. To maximize the solution’s effect, apply some to a piece of duct tape. Stick the tape on the wart. After several hours, the lesion will be nothing more than a distant memory. (For other wart removal alternative, learn how to remove warts with duct tape)
6. Metal Polish - Mix several crushed onion slices with some water. Apply the solution to a dull metal object using a piece of cloth. The results may not come as quickly as commercial polishers, but the onion-based polish is good enough to be a worthy substitute.
metal polish
7. Acne Remover - Just like with burns and warts, an onion solution can be used to remove acne. The vegetable’s chemical components are harsh on zits, erasing them gradually upon application. Mix crushed onion slices with water and apply the mixture to your face. It is pretty effective, however it will probably do a number on your eyes. Just apply if the your eyes sting in the process.
Onions are among the vegetables known for their medicinal properties. Having them around keeps you safe from many skin conditions. Make sure you buy extra-bulbs for its non-culinary uses.
People, despite getting teary-eyed, enjoy the numerous culinary uses of the onion. The gas containing vegetable is both a primary ingredient and a flavor enhancer in many dishes. If you think its list of uses end at the kitchen, you better think again. It is proven to be a medicinal wonder, as well as a metal polisher and an insect repellent. With its number of alternative uses, the onion may induce tears of joy to any DIY pundit. Here are seven of its tearfully - pleasing uses.
1. Insect Bite Treatment - The onion’s enzymes are known for their anti-inflammatory effects, which makes the vegetable an unusually effective treatment. Rub some onion to a bee sting, mosquito bite or any insect bite. After a few hours, the pain, itchiness and swelling will subside.
2. Odor Remover - Chemical solutions, like pain and varnish, have strong odors that can adversely affect your health when inhaled. Instead of purchasing a pricey deodorizer, you might as well apply a mixture of onions and water on the smelly areas. The onion’s scent won’t completely eliminate the chemical stench, but it will surely bring the fumes to a more tolerable level.
3. Reliever for Burns - Burns sting and are prone to infection. Treat those inflammations by mixing onion slices with a little water. Apply the mixture to the affected areas and within a few hours, your burns will subside. Just reapply whenever necessary.
4. Insect Repellent - The gases emitted by the onion, when sliced, have strong odors and are known irritants. Naturally, household pests will shy away upon detecting those gases. Gather your onion waste and put it in a bowl. Place the bowl where you often see your much despised creepy-crawlies. Pretty soon, those insects will find other venues to terrorize, probably those without onion-based repellents.
5. Wart Remover - Mix onion slices with crushed aspirin and a little water. Apply the solution to the wart. The onion’s chemical content and the aspirin’s active ingredients will gradually soothe the wart and make it subside. To maximize the solution’s effect, apply some to a piece of duct tape. Stick the tape on the wart. After several hours, the lesion will be nothing more than a distant memory. (For other wart removal alternative, learn how to remove warts with duct tape)
6. Metal Polish - Mix several crushed onion slices with some water. Apply the solution to a dull metal object using a piece of cloth. The results may not come as quickly as commercial polishers, but the onion-based polish is good enough to be a worthy substitute.
metal polish
7. Acne Remover - Just like with burns and warts, an onion solution can be used to remove acne. The vegetable’s chemical components are harsh on zits, erasing them gradually upon application. Mix crushed onion slices with water and apply the mixture to your face. It is pretty effective, however it will probably do a number on your eyes. Just apply if the your eyes sting in the process.
Onions are among the vegetables known for their medicinal properties. Having them around keeps you safe from many skin conditions. Make sure you buy extra-bulbs for its non-culinary uses.
onions have a lot of uses.
Acne: Crush raw slices and mix with water, apply to the affected area. It may help for several reasons. The enzymes in it may act as a toner while other ingredients reduce swelling.
Bruises: There are a couple of ways to prepare an onion to help soothe the pain and inflammation of bruises. The first is to just slice it and apply the it raw to the bruise. The second is a little more ambitious, but could be equally effective. Dice half an onion and mix with salt. Get a cloth that is long enough and wide enough to cover the bruise, put the onion mix on the bruise and tie it on with the cloth. Leave overnight and the bruise should be much better in the morning.
Burns: To be honest, I can't imagine putting it raw on a burn, but it could work. There is an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving quality to onions.
Insect Repellent: This could work two ways. The first way is to actually eat a lot of onions. If you like them in your cooking, that shouldn't be much of a problem. The onions will alter the way your sweat smells and it is a turn off for bugs. The second is to rub the juice of a raw onion all over your body. Either way they may repel something else...other people.
Splinter Removal: I have a hole in my leg from a childhood tangle with a cactus garden. Mom would think she got it all out and it would swell up and she'd have to go at it with a sewing needle again. I was four, and I remember it vividly. Imagine how I feel to know that I don't have to use the dreaded sewing needle again!
Tape a piece of raw onion over the splinter. You can use a bandaid, tape or any other method to keep it stuck to the site. Wait an hour and check. Chances are pretty good you'll find the splinter no longer in you but now in the raw veggie. If it hasn't quite finished working, you can repeat with a fresh piece.
As an herbalist, I know a lot of remedies, but for me the best are the ones you can get easily...and probably already have in your house. My knowledge doesn't do you a lot of good if you can't get the ingredients.
Acne: Crush raw slices and mix with water, apply to the affected area. It may help for several reasons. The enzymes in it may act as a toner while other ingredients reduce swelling.
Bruises: There are a couple of ways to prepare an onion to help soothe the pain and inflammation of bruises. The first is to just slice it and apply the it raw to the bruise. The second is a little more ambitious, but could be equally effective. Dice half an onion and mix with salt. Get a cloth that is long enough and wide enough to cover the bruise, put the onion mix on the bruise and tie it on with the cloth. Leave overnight and the bruise should be much better in the morning.
Burns: To be honest, I can't imagine putting it raw on a burn, but it could work. There is an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving quality to onions.
Insect Repellent: This could work two ways. The first way is to actually eat a lot of onions. If you like them in your cooking, that shouldn't be much of a problem. The onions will alter the way your sweat smells and it is a turn off for bugs. The second is to rub the juice of a raw onion all over your body. Either way they may repel something else...other people.
Splinter Removal: I have a hole in my leg from a childhood tangle with a cactus garden. Mom would think she got it all out and it would swell up and she'd have to go at it with a sewing needle again. I was four, and I remember it vividly. Imagine how I feel to know that I don't have to use the dreaded sewing needle again!
Tape a piece of raw onion over the splinter. You can use a bandaid, tape or any other method to keep it stuck to the site. Wait an hour and check. Chances are pretty good you'll find the splinter no longer in you but now in the raw veggie. If it hasn't quite finished working, you can repeat with a fresh piece.
As an herbalist, I know a lot of remedies, but for me the best are the ones you can get easily...and probably already have in your house. My knowledge doesn't do you a lot of good if you can't get the ingredients.
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neetu jain
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Saturday, 25 December 2010 11:49
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Tuesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
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