KEY POINTS:
Onions may make you cry, but eating them can have a positive effect on your memory, according to researchers from Japan's Hokkaido Tokai University.
They found that people suffering from memory loss reported improved recall abilities after eating lightly cooked pieces of the acidic vegetable, the Scotsman newspaper reported.
There are hopes the findings could help the fight against brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The scientists discovered an anti-oxidant in onions which appears to bind with harmful toxins in the brain and flush them out.
The compound, which contains sulphur, is activated when onions are slightly heated in a pan.
But experts have warned that overcooking can destroy the anti-oxidant's memory-boosting properties.
The sulphur-containing compound is also found in other members of the allum family, including garlic.
ONIONS - A SUPERFOOD
* Many archaeologists, botanists and food historians believe onions originated in central Asia. Other research suggests that onions were first grown in Iran and West Pakistan. Most agree that the onions have been cultivated for 5000 years or more.
* In addition to their memory-boosting benefits, it has been suggested onions are effective against the common cold, heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. They also increase circulation, lower blood pressure, and prevent blood clotting.
* In many parts of the world, onions are used to heal blisters and boils. A traditional Maltese remedy for sea urchin wounds is to tie half a baked onion to the afflicted area overnight.
* They make you cry because when they are sliced, the onion's cells split and allow enzymes to break down and generate sulfenic acids. These acids are unstable and decompose into a volatile gas, which travels through the air and eventually reaches the eye.
* To reduce the likelihood of tears, it is recommended onions are chilled for 30 minutes prior to cutting. Leaving the root end of the vegetable attached also reduces the amount of tear-inducing gases released.
* And the really good news: onions are high in energy and water content. They are low in calories, and have a generous amount of B6, B1, and Folic acid.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
