Here's the thing about the humble onion. It has so many layers, the list of its health benefits cover everything from cancer prevention to help with your aunty's osteoporosis. But while the studies are aplenty with the bigger health problems — finding one on body cooling is near impossible.
Still, getting to the bottom of this quandary can keep a food loving journalist up at night.
So of course, we sought out the most authoritative source on the subject. A nutritionist. But Dr Sheila Swarnakumari, a dietician at Frontier Lifeline Hospital says, "There's nothing based in scientific fact that the onion helps combat the heat in summer. It's usually vegetables like the cucumber or fruits like the watermelon that are recommended for their high water levels, which in effect can help to keep you hydrated on a hot day." Other experts in the field flatly called it a myth and was perhaps a tale grandmother's told their children, with no base in logic.
But our grandmothers do travel with us long after they are gone, don't they? Executive chef of the Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park, Praveen Anand has been in the culinary line for 30 years and doesn't hesitate for a moment when we ask about his beliefs on the perks of eating an onion raw. "I was raised in Andhra Pradhesh, so heat was a given whether in the air and on your tongue," he recalls. "So we would actually eat curd rice with chopped chunks of raw onion to double the cooling effect," he says adding, "And of course raw onion slices taste good with everything from dal tadka to Chicken 65."
He forgot to mention they are fat free as well. That's a freebie for any fitness junkie on the kitchen prowl.
Still not convinced though, we chose to take up the question with an specialist in alternative medicine. Dr Jayesh Sanghvi who runs the Nature Clinic in Nungambakkam had a response quite in contradiction to mainstream health experts. He says, "Onions are used homeopathic form to reduce body heat. Here the onion juice is extracted through a process called potentisation, which it makes its healing effects much more powerful." Apparently, he adds, "The concentration of the extract is so high that it actually needs to be diluted before it is dispersed in pill form to patients."
So there you go. Three onion opinions for the price of one.
If you think this intellectual pursuit has not helped — no matter. This is a quick hack your grandmother probably didn't think off back in the day. Paati probably said carry an onion in your pocket to beat heatstroke. We say, refrigerate your onion overnight...and then put it in your pocket. You'll feel instantly cool and here's the kicker. If you choose to chop a chilled onion, it won't make you cry!
Cooling Mechanics Unpeeled:
Onions, especially red ones, contain a chemical called quercetin, which is believed to have an anti-histamine effect. Histamine is the irritant that causes heat rashes and adverse reactions to insect bites and stings, so eating onions daily may help ease these summer complaints
5 OMG Onion Health Perks:
- The antioxidants in onions could be a good way to boost sperm health. A study carried out by Khaki A and colleagues showed that rats administered with onion juice had significantly increased sperm concentration along with increased sperm count as well as increased number of viable and motile sperms
- Onion juice can also cure burnt skin when applied topically.
- Quercetin, a compound present in onions acts as a sedative which can help reduce pain, depression and anxiety.
- The antioxidants and high organosulphur content of onions has been linked to a reduced risk of several cancers including prostate, kidney oral and breast cancer.
- Onions also help in the treatment of acne due to its anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.