For such a common vegetable, onions have quite the reputation. There are countless claims, assumptions, and myths about the humble onion, and some of them have been traced back for centuries.
We’re here to set the record straight on just a few of those rumors you may have heard. They’re not all false, but most of them are!
5 Common Onion Myths
Myth: Onions Fight Colds and the Flu
Onions are often said to help fight sickness, to the point that some people even swear by sleeping with an onion in their sock. Unfortunately, we can’t show you any studies that actually support this, and all the evidence seems to be anecdotal (though passionate). We will say, when you’re feeling especially miserable and you want to do something (ANYTHING) to feel better, there’s no harm in sleeping close to an onion. But there’s not much of a reason to, either.
Some people say you get the same benefits from leaving some diced onions in bowls around your house to absorb pathogens. The truth is, these common sicknesses are passed from contact, and onions cannot kill pathogens that are airborne. Our best advice is to skip the onion remedies and wash your hands more often. Your house will smell better this way, too.
Myth: Onions Help with Hair Growth
Have you ever heard that onions can promote hair growth? That rumor probably started from this study, but there are a few important things to note. Everyone in that study had a specific disease (alopecia areata), there were only 23 participants, the study results were never duplicated, and the measurement methods were unclear. All that to say, we should probably consider the hair growth help more of a rumor rather than a remedy. Disappointing, but we still encourage eating onions often.
Myth: New York Was Previously Nicknamed the Big Onion
We just have to come right out and say it … this myth is actually true! Before New York was The Big Apple, the iconic city used to be known as The Big Onion. This was a reference to the layers of culture throughout the neighborhoods of New York’s Lower East Side. A sportswriter later nicknamed New York The Big Apple, and, well, we can see which name stuck. But other states still offer some recognition of the onion! Both Texas and Georgia recognize the onion as their official state vegetable. We’ll take it.
Myth: Tricky Tricks Stop Onion Tears
Have you ever tried something totally strange to skip the crying when you cut an onion? It’s often said that holding a matchstick between your lips while you cut an onion will help fight off those pesky tears. Or maybe you’ve heard that you should eat a slice of bread while you chop, or only breathe through your mouth, or chew gum, or bite a wooden spoon, or…
Whatever the old wive’s tale might be, there are only a couple of tricks that might actually help. The reason onions make you cry when you’re slicing them is a result of the sulfur — when you cut through the onion’s cell walls, that acid transforms into a vapor that your eyes then work to wash away. If you really want to avoid this, these are the only tricks to know: use sharp knives (to minimize damage to cell walls) or refrigerate the onions before slicing (to slow down the chemical release). The matchsticks were a strong effort, though.
Myth: Onions Have No Health Benefits
Just because we often fry onions doesn’t mean we should sell their health benefits short! These humble vegetables are a high-quality source of nutrition. Onions have high levels of antioxidants, they’re antibacterial, and they offer anti-cancer compounds. Eating onions can prevent bone loss (thanks to quercetin!), and they’re great for gut health and heart health. Onions are also helpful in regulating blood sugar and circulation. Sulfur in onions can even help with collagen and keratin, helping with hair growth! Wait… are we back to perpetuating that myth?
The point is, onions offer some great health benefits. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
If you’re ready to put the myths aside and start using high-quality onions, contact us today to learn more about Gills Onions!