Onions and the flu

January 6, 2011

ONIONS -- Who Would've Thought?

In 1918 when the flu killed 40 million people, there was a 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 one farmer, and to his surprise, everyone in the

household was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing

that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion 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 the

flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping

the family healthy.

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... (And no,

she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around

your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your

desk or even on top somewhere.. Try it and see what happens. We did it last

year, and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better.

If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case...Whatever, what

have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!

Now there is a P.S. to this, for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who

regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this

most interesting experience about onions: Thanks for the reminder. 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 one end on a fork, and then place the forked end 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 the 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 the black plague years ago. They have powerful

antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note: LEFTOVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS! I have used an

onion which has been left in the fridge. Sometimes I don't use a whole one at

one time, so I save the other half for later. Now with this info, I have

changed my mind. I will buy smaller onions in the future.

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, makers of

mayonnaise. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the

Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO. Questions about food poisoning

came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist. The guy who gave

us our tour is named Ed. He's one of the brothers. Ed is a chemistry expert

and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed

sauce formula for Mc's. Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz.

During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about

mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer

will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe.

" It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's

not really necessary. " He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point

that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the

quintessential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and

how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the

officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions

came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as

it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the onions,

and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked

onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.

He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your

refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit,

that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put on

your hotdogs at the baseball park!)

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll

probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put it on your

sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a

potato salad will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial

mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

So, how's that for news? Take it for what you will. I (the author) am

going to be very careful about my onions from now on. For some reason, I see a

lot of credibility coming from a chemist and a company that produces millions of

pounds of mayonnaise every year.

Also, dogs should never eat onions.. Their stomachs cannot metabolize

onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it to cook

the next day. It becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates

toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile

secretions and even food poisoning.

Please pass this on to all you care about.

January 6, 2011

Just thought I would share that my mom had some major tooth pain just last

Saturday. She had a big swollen bump at her gumline and thought she was going

to have to get a root canal. Since it was the weekend and the dentist was

closed she started to eat onions and garlic with every meal, because of their

anti-bacterial qualities, and by Monday the swelling and pain were gone.

I'm always interested in anything that is natural and helps me avoid taking

medicine, or worse, giving it to my kids.

Barbara

>

> ONIONS -- Who Would've Thought?

>

> In 1918 when the flu killed 40 million people, there was a 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 one farmer, and to his surprise, everyone in the

household was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing

that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion 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 the

flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping

the family healthy.

>

> 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... (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

>

> The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls

around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or

under your desk or even on top somewhere.. Try it and see what happens. We did

it last year, and we never got the flu.

>

> If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the

better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild

case...Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!

>

> Now there is a P.S. to this, for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who