onion

Onion
Biological name:Allium cepa
Family:Amaryllidaceae
Other names:कांदा (marathi),प्याज (hindi).
Onion is the bulb which is very sharp in color and flavor.onion plant has hollow,bluish green leaves and its bulb at the base of plant.Onion is bulb form.In India mostly two types of onion varieties are available i.e white onion and Red onion.As compared to red onions,white onions has much medicinal properties.
Because of the much medicinal characteristics white onions are used in various Ayurvedic preparations like kadha.
Also spring onion are used in various Chinese food preparations like soups,noodles,dired chicken items.
Onions are cultivated all around the world as food ingredient.onion usually served as cooked.In Maharashtra raw onion slices or chopped onion given with the misal pav.bhaji pav etc.
Onions are pungent when chopped and contain chemical substances which irritate the eyes.The average pH of an onion is around 5.5
Common types of onion:
Types of the onions are depends upon the color.
1) Yellow or brown onion: These are sweeter and are onions of choice for evwryday used in European cuisine.
2)Red or purple onion:These are the sharp pungent flavor and are the onions of choice for everyday use in Asian cuisine.
3)White onions:These are traditional and classic type of onion .these are milder in flavor.
chemical composition of onion:
Most onion cultivar are about 89% water 9% carbohydrates,1%protein.Onion contains low amount of essential Nutrients and have energy value 40 kilocalories in a 100 gram.
Eye Irritation:
Freshly cut onions often cause a stinging sensation in the eyes of people nearby.and often uncontrollable tears.This is caused by the release of volatile liquid syn_propanethial_S_oxide and its aerosol.which stimulates nerves in the eye.The gas is produced by a chain of reactions which serve as a defence mechanism.chopping an onion causes damage to cells which released enzymes called alliinases.These breaks down amino acid sulfoxides and generate sulfenic acid.A specific sulfenic Acid-1-propenesulfenic Acid is rapidly acts on by a second enzyme the lacrimatory factor,synthase producing the syn_propanethial _S_oxide.This gas diffuses through the air and reaches into eyes.lacrimal glands produce tears to dilute and flush out irritant.
Uses of onion:
*As a good sorce of vitamin C ,onion may the building and maintenance of collagen.collagen provides structure to the skin and hairs.
*Researchers have examines allium vegetables extensively in relation to cancer,especially stomach and colorectal cancer.A 2019  study in the Asia pacific Journal of clinical oncology.compared 833 people with colorectal cancer with 833 people who did not have the disease.The researchers found that the risk of colorectal cancer was 79% lower in those who regularly consumed allium vegetables such as onions.
*A particularly valuable flavonoids in onion is Quercetin which acts as Antioxidant which helps to prevention of cancer.
*Quercetin is helping to reducing the symptoms of bladder infections,promoting prostate health and lowering blood pressure.
*Quercetin has been found to relax the airway muscle and provide relif of asthma symptoms according to a 2013 study in American Journal of physiology.
*onion extract used in hair wax,hair oil for prevention of hair fall.
*onion oil  has also good result in patchy beard.

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