Know your onions | Inquirer Sports
Bare Eye

Know your onions

/ 12:25 AM February 28, 2012

(Note: The following piece was sent to your reporter here through text messaging.
It came in at least five installments, using three separate cell phone numbers which, we believe, belonged to super trader Sebastian Chua, a sportsman who’s fond of spreading cheer and goodwill. The only thing clear about the original source was that it emanated from Arizona (AZ). We have no way of checking the scientific merits of the claim, but there should be no harm trying. If onions could indeed work against bacteria, then we could also offer the fantastic prayer that they help prevent the spread of the pernicious political virus that continues to hobble down Filipino athletes, while fueling corruption in the national sports hierarchy.)
* * *
IN 1919, when the flu killed 40 million people, there was this doctor who visited many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died. The doctor came upon this one farmer and, to his surprise, everyone at his home was healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed unpeeled onions in a dish in the rooms of the home (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope.
She gave him one and when he did this, he did find flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, thereby keeping the family healthy.
* * *
I don’t know about the farmer’s story … but I do know that I contracted pneumonia and, needless to say, I was very ill. I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion, put it into an empty jar… placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from germs … sure enough it happened just like that … the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.
Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.
* * *
Now I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.
* * *
Anyway, lots of times when we have stomach problems, we don’t know what to blame. Maybe the onions are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria, the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu. This is the reason we shouldn’t eat onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open. It was explained onions are huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion. I was advised that it’s not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and keep it in your refrigerator.
* * *
Also dogs should never eat onions. Their stomach cannot metabolize onions. Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to cook it the next day. It becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause stomach infections.
Please pass this on to all you love and care.

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