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How to cut onions and not cry - simple tips. Why do onions cry

The reason for the tearing of the onion lies in the lachrymator - a special substance that is released when the onion is cut and dissolves in human tears and water. With all this, sulfuric acid is formed, which causes irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye.
This discovery was made by the American chemist Eric Block.

Onions, garlic, leeks and shallots are members of the Alliums plant group. Since ancient times, these species have been at war with those who want to eat them. The defensive strategy of many onions is very complex. Their cells contain enzymes that can break down certain molecules, such as a particular type of amino acid.

In the normal state, these 2 substances are in different parts of the cell and do not come into contact. But cutting or biting off a piece of garlic or onion, a person destroys the cells, and the mixing intensifies. In this case, chemical reactions begin that lead to the formation of sulfur compounds. Initially, amino acids already contained several sulfur atoms, but when cells are destroyed, amino acids interact with enzymes.

As a result of the reaction, insecticides appear that give the plant an unpleasant taste and repel insects. Such protection is sometimes quite effective.

The chemical composition of the "weapon" depends on the type of plant. Meanwhile, the sulfuric acids of an ordinary onion are poisonous, unstable and quite easily interact with the enzyme, turning into thiopropanol-S-oxide (C3H6SO). The latter is a good insect repellant.

This substance is even better than sulfuric acid, since it is this compound that makes cooks cry. Since this substance is very volatile, it rises quite easily to the eyes, which are trying to defend themselves: they secrete tears and wash off the foreign mixture from the shell of the eye.

The most unpleasant is that a small part of thiopropanol-S-oxide, coming into contact with water, turns into sulfuric acid. Fortunately, this dose is negligible, but it is better not to neglect precautions, since we are talking about the strongest acid in existence.

How to cut an onion and not shed tears?

Here is a list of the most popular and extraordinary ways to deal with "onion" tears. Practice shows that they all work.

Hang onion peels over your ears.
Sprinkle the cutting board lightly with salt.
Light a wax candle next to a cutting board - this changes the composition of the sulfur so that it won't cause tears.
Choose a thin and very sharp knife, without cloves, for cutting onions. Rinse your knife frequently with cold water before and during cutting.
Smell something with a strong smell (such as coffee beans) as soon as you feel a burning sensation.
Cut the onion next to the sink and turn on the faucet. Wipe your eyes with a handkerchief soaked in water and rinse your hands.
Before cutting the onion, put it in the refrigerator or freezer for 15-20 minutes (cooling the onion reduces the release of harmful substances). You can also cool the peeled onion under running cold water for several minutes.
Soak the onion in warm salted water for a few minutes before slicing.
Place half of the cut onion on your head.
Ventilate the kitchen: use a table fan or open the window.
Take water in your mouth. When you feel a burning sensation, change the water.
Buy special goggles designed for cutting onions.
Do it with goggles: snowboarding, swimming. The kit can be supplemented with a clothespin on the nose.
Buy yourself a chopper.
Talk more - read excerpts from your favorite works or poems by heart. This way you will create air movement. Bulb vapors will not stagnate near the eyes and nose.
Try to breathe only through your mouth so that onion juice does not irritate the nasal mucosa. If you can’t breathe through your nose, tie your nose with a handkerchief or sing while cutting.
Wear a gas mask or snorkel mask. This method has quite a lot of fans.
Stick out your tongue while cutting onions. Moisture on the tongue absorbs the chemicals before they reach your eyes.
Chew parsley.
In the process of cutting, whistle or blow on the bow, driving away the substances of volatile sulfur from the nose and eyes in a similar way.

Choose the method that suits you best and cook your favorite dishes with pleasure and without “onion tears”.

Have you ever wondered why you cry from onions? I am sure, even if they did not try to find out the reason, nevertheless, tears flowed when cutting onions. After all, few people can boast of having ceramic knives in the house that allow you to cut onions and not cry. Moreover, it turns out that such ceramic knives deprive our body of a very important and beneficial action: onion tears.

Everything turned out to be very interesting and even beneficial for health.

When we take an ordinary knife and cut an onion, we thereby violate the integrity of the onion cells. As a result, substances stored in different cells and differing in composition are mixed. As a result of this mixing, sulfur-containing onion gas is formed. It is this gas that causes tears.

When onion gas containing sulfur begins to evaporate, it enters the mucous membrane of the eyes. The mucous membrane of the eyes is irritated, tears begin to form.

Sulfuric onion gas is mixed with tears. As a result, sulfuric acid is formed, which causes burning. And burning even more stimulates the production of tears. It turns out a vicious circle, which can be destroyed either by the cessation of the release of onion gas, or the cessation of the release of tears, as well as both.

Onion Tears Are Beneficial

Strange as it may seem, onion tears bring tangible benefits to the body. The tear released during the processing and cutting of onions destroys microbes. Tears act on the shell of the eye as a bactericidal agent. And it is the onion that contributes to their release.

Therefore, we will not envy the owner of modern ceramic kitchen knives. Let them envy us that we not only cook food by cutting onions, but also get noticeable health benefits.

Why do you cry when you cut onions?

The fact is that when slicing, onions release this substance into the air and cause streams of tears in us, or rather, it irritates the mucous membrane of the eyes and thereby causes tears, but if you don’t want to suffer from onions, then just rinse the knife with water while cutting the head then there will be no tears.

everything is simple. The onion contains a volatile substance, which, when it gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, forms sulfurous acid.

Here only a gas mask will help or sealed goggles.

Personally, I cry when cutting onions. Moreover, so much that you have to rinse your eyes with running water.

As for the reason, onions contain volatile sulfur compounds, which form sulfuric acid upon contact with the mucous membrane of the eye. Its concentration is very small and cannot bring any harm to the eye. But here it causes tearing.

Why do you think we don’t cry, even if we surround ourselves with whole onions around us? That's right, only when cutting onions does this phenomenon occur. Cutting an onion with an ordinary knife, we damage the cells and the contents mix with metal molecules and other foreign elements, forming an onion gas that contains sulfur. He then, volatilizing, and irritates the mucous membrane of our eyes. When combined with air, no reaction occurs, only with metal and other elements that react. Cutting a well-washed onion with a ceramic knife minimizes the contact of substances that react with each other and there is no such effect.

It's all about phytoncides, which release onions and garlic when cut. This is a volatile substance and irritates the mucous membrane of the eyes. Phytoncides secrete any plants, this is their defensive reaction. their immunity, but the bow is a champion in this regard. You can periodically wet the knife in cold water, then this will help reduce the lachrymation of the cook. Or you can just choose a variety of onions that almost does not make you cry, there are some, I cut 3-4 onions and nothing happens. And here is a rustic onion, right away. plunges me into sorrowful cryquot ;.

Onions contain a substance that begins to be released when exposed to it.

And exposure involves cutting onions on a kitchen board.

The substance affects the eyes, tissues

And this impact makes people cry.

True, there are exceptions - the wrong bow, or strong people.

To avoid crying while cutting onions, dip the knife in water before cutting.

Lachrymation is caused by a substance called a lachrymator. This volatile substance dissolves well in water to form sulfuric acid. Thus, getting on the mucous membrane of the eye, the gaseous lachrymator dissolves in moisture and releases acid, which causes burning and the release of tears, further - more, the lachrymator again gets into the tear and already from the tears it begins to burn the eyes.

To get rid of this or at least minimize the effect of the lachrymator on the eyes, you need, firstly, to constantly moisten the knife under cold water, and secondly, to cut the onion correctly. What does right mean?

Berm the onion and, together with the husk, cut it in half from pole to pole. Next, we moisten the half in water, peel the husk and cut the onion into thin half rings also in the direction from pole to pole, that is, ALONG the bulb along the fibers. This will release less juice, and with it, less lachrymator.

For example, I never I don’t cry over onionsquot ;, although I still have the height of a man, but nonetheless.

This is due to the fact that there is a tear substance in the onion, which, when it gets on the mucous membrane, irritates it and provokes the appearance of tears. There are many methods to ensure that the onion does not cause tears: wet the knife and put on glasses.

When chopping onions, many people cry, and this is not surprising, since the sulfur compound is released during the cutting process: thiopropanal-S-oxide. It causes eye irritation and tearing.

To reduce the activity of the irritant, you can put the onion in the freezer for at least ten minutes. During this time, the beneficial properties of onions will not disappear anywhere, and it will be possible to work completely without tears. Some experts advise when cutting this vegetable light candles nearby. They explain this by saying that the wax candle neutralizes sulfur, which helps to avoid tearing.

I use a simple method when slicing onions - periodically wet the knife in water, and this helps me not to cry, but to work calmly with this useful vegetable.

Question to a psychologist

Hello! My name is Natalya. 17 years. I'm in college, but lately it's been weighing on me (I went there mostly at the insistence of my parents). I am studying to become an English teacher, but I am extremely dissatisfied with my studies.
By myself, I am open to people I know. I used to be depressed, but now it has passed and I have a rather positive outlook on life, although sometimes I can be sad.
Two days ago, I cut my hand again. I used to do it regularly, then my friend found out and forbade it, I listened to him and gave it up, although sometimes I wanted to take a blade / knife and cut again.
As soon as I felt pain and it seemed that my head was about to burst, I cut my hands and it became easier. I don’t feel pleasure from pain, in those moments I don’t feel it.
The whole reason is my best friend. We have been talking for two years, and I fell in love at first sight and still ... I don’t expect reciprocity as such, he is in love with his ex-girlfriend. Now, we have a very strange relationship, we kiss, but at the same time remain friends.
Recently, my mother saw my cuts, this is the second time. I accidentally took off my jacket and she saw. I honestly explained to her, because there is no point in lying. Now she wants to take me to a psychologist. I do not know what to do. I won't go to a psychologist, I don't need it!
Just help me figure it out.
What should I do about cuts? (After all, I got rid of this habit for a year, I’m afraid everything will start again, because I don’t communicate with that friend anymore, and everything was under his influence. I was normal ...)
What to do with your best friend?
What to do with mom?
Thank you very much in advance!

Hello, Natalia! let's see what's going on:

I used to do it regularly, then my friend found out and forbade it, I listened to him and gave it up, although sometimes I wanted to take a blade / knife and cut again.

to begin with, it is important to realize that THESE actions BELONG TO YOU and only you are responsible for your feelings, thoughts and actions! and you DO NOT need to shift it to others - that your friend forbade you - and YOU listened to him - ONLY YOU can decide whether to hear someone or not - and the choice is only YOURS!

As soon as I felt pain and it seemed that my head was about to burst, I cut my hands and it became easier.

Your ACTION DOES NOT correspond to the source - YOU only turn yourself off from PAIN, reject it, suppress it, BUT IT NEVER goes anywhere and NEVER FROM this - and you need to learn to accept PAIN in yourself, realize it, release it - in a constructive way - after all, THIS is an indicator of YOUR attitude towards to herself! SO YOU love yourself that YOU MAKE PAIN yourself - and accordingly you allow and accept PAIN FROM others!

FROM the fact that YOU hurt yourself and cut your hands - NOTHING in life changes - it is important to learn how to act!

What should I do about cuts?

You can hardly do anything with the existing ones! and the path is accepting your feelings! your pain! ask yourself the question - what can YOU do to help yourself? look for NEW patterns of behavior - START taking action, taking responsibility, and actually taking steps!

What to do with your best friend?

What do you get from a relationship with him? PAIN! YOU choose it yourself - to suffer next to him and torturing yourself - showing both him and yourself that YOU deserve it! and hear yourself and finally accept AND his feelings - that HE DOES NOT need a relationship with YOU! accept this pain and look around - why torture yourself? YOU choose - either suffer or LIVE! Do you want to experience more pain? or you can learn to hear yourself, accept and respect, as well as love! How you treat yourself is how others treat you! DO NOT wait for a young man to change - HE IS SUCH AND YOU know it - make the choice YOURSELF!

What to do with mom?

What about your relationship with your mom? if it is difficult for YOU to realize what is happening, why you cut your hands, take responsibility for your feelings, thoughts and actions and do not know how else to work with your feelings - THEN take your mother's support and go in person to a psychologist - awareness and work ON yourself - rather, THIS is power! STEPS ONLY FOR YOU!!

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In the article we discuss why it hurts the eyes. You will find out the causes of this symptom, and why headache and tearing may appear along with pain. We will tell you how to treat eyes, and how to do it using folk remedies.

Why hurts eyes

The modern way of life of people leaves its mark on the state of health of the visual apparatus. A long stay at a computer, phone or TV leads to overwork and discomfort. It is worth noting that pain in the eyes is not an independent disease, it is a symptom that indicates a violation of the visual apparatus. Most often, it occurs when the tissues of the anterior sections of the eyeball are damaged.

Causes of pain in the eyes

A number of factors influence the appearance of discomfort in the eyes, tearing, cramps or pain. Among the causes may be viral and infectious diseases, overwork and even disorders of the nervous system, which is accompanied by a headache.

Causes of pain in the eyes:

Overwork- from prolonged work with documents or from a computer, headaches, pain in the eyes and tearing occur. Take regular breaks from work to prevent eye fatigue.
Use of contact lenses or glasses- Incorrectly selected optical devices cause a feeling of discomfort and pain in the eyes. Prolonged wearing of glasses or lenses that are not suitable for the parameters leads to a nagging headache.
Foreign bodies in the eyes- cause discomfort, tearing and pain. Grains of sand or villi can get stuck under the upper eyelid, which can lead to eye injury, so they must be removed with extreme care.
Increased dry eyes- often found in people who continuously sit in front of the monitor screen. Constant concentration on the screen makes you blink less often, therefore, the process of natural moisturizing of the eye is disrupted, which leads to dryness and pain, it occurs.
Increased sensitivity to light- leads to pain in the eyes. Most often, this manifests itself in the morning after waking up and when going outside from a dark room.
Eye injuries such as burns (thermal, chemical, and ultraviolet), bruises, and impacts lead to the most adverse effects on eye health. They are accompanied by pain, tearing and redness. Always use protective goggles for sun protection. Eye injury can also be obtained at work, for example, after welding. That is why you should not neglect personal protective equipment.

What diseases cause pain in the eyes:

Viruses (herpes, adenovirus, measles, influenza and acute respiratory infections)- cause a feeling of pain in the eyes, redness and lacrimation. After recovery, the symptoms go away on their own.
Eyelid lesions- also lead to the appearance of pain in the eyes. Uveitis and blepharitis are accompanied by increased lacrimation.
Glaucoma- accompanied by pain and pain in the eyes and leads to a decrease in vision. This is a serious disease, the condition of which should be monitored by a specialist.
Inflammatory diseases (conjunctivitis and keratitis)- accompanied by tearing, pain in the eyes and purulent discharge. Often patients complain of a feeling of sand in the eyes.
demodicosis- calls . This tiny mite infects the eyelashes, causing severe itching.
Disorders of the nervous system- lead to eye and headaches. Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve requires observation by a neurologist.
Allergic reaction of any origin- can lead to increased tearing and pain in the eyes. To determine the allergen and select the right treatment, you should contact a specialist.
Infectious diseases (sinusitis or sinusitis)- accompanied by pain in the eyes and increased lacrimation. At the same time, a rather severe headache is felt, which gives into the eyes.

Headache and eyes hurt

When your eyes hurt and your head hurts, this may indicate overwork of the eyes or nervous strain. These symptoms often appear after a long stay in a static position (uncomfortable posture when reading a book, working at a computer for a long time), while the muscles of the cervical region become numb, and vasospasm occurs. In addition to breaks in work, it is recommended to periodically do exercises and knead the cervical spine.

If strong pulsating or shooting has been added to the cramps in the eyes, then you should consult a specialist, because this may indicate more serious diseases - increased intracranial pressure, risk of stroke, aneurysm and others.

Cutting for dry eyes

Often, doctors are faced with complaints from patients about the feeling that sand has got into their eyes.. This symptom can be caused by various diseases.

Causes of pain in the eyes, like sand:

dry eye syndrome;
conjunctivitis;
blepharitis;
hyperthyroidism;
lupus;
rheumatoid arthritis;
taking certain antidepressants.

Cuts eyes - what to do

Do not think that pain in the eyes is a harmless symptom. If you have eliminated irritating factors and let your eyes rest, but the pain still does not go away, then you should seek advice from an ophthalmologist. He will help determine the cause of the symptom and select the right treatment.

To eliminate cramps after overwork or dry eyes, drugs in the form of drops (Clerz, Vidisik, Vizin) or moisturizing gels (Korneregel, Actovegin) are used.

To alleviate the condition of the eyes in case of viral diseases, Oftalmoferon is used, which is suitable for the treatment of small patients.

As prescribed by a doctor, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are used to eliminate pain in the eyes - tetracycline ointment or chloramphenicol. They are used for eye injuries, for the treatment of burns and inflammatory diseases (conjunctivitis, keratitis).

To quickly relieve a headache, you can use painkillers (Analgin, Spazmalgon or Aspirin). In addition to the use of drugs, you should take a good rest, get some fresh air or do a relaxing head and neck massage to improve blood circulation.

Drops from pain in the eyes

Depending on the causes of pain in the eyes, the drops are divided into moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.

Moisturizing drops are designed to eliminate dryness and pain in the eyes, due to overwork. For these purposes, Taufon, Vizin, Vial, etc. are used.

Lexin, Alkain and Inocain drops will help relieve inflammation and reduce pain.

For the treatment of serious eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis and others, antibacterial drops Tobrex, Maxitrol, Fucitalmik are used.

You will learn more about pain in the eyes in the video:

Folk remedies

In order to relieve irritation and reduce pain in the eyes, you can make compresses, lotions and drops based on herbs.

Lotions from resi

Ingredients:

Linden leaves - 1 tablespoon.
Chamomile leaves - 1 tablespoon.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over the leaves of linden and chamomile, let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Strain the infusion and cool.

How to use: Soak a cotton pad in the resulting infusion and apply to the eyes for half an hour. This procedure can be repeated several times during the day.

Result: Lotions relieve irritation and relieve pain in the eyes.

Rezi drops

Ingredients:

Plantain leaves - 1 tablespoon.
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon.
Cornflower petals - 1 tablespoon.

How to cook: Mix the ingredients, brew in a glass of boiling water, strain.

How to use: Cooled drops apply 4-5 times a day, 3 drops in each eye.

Result: Eye drops will help eliminate pain, redness and tearing.

Freshly squeezed dill juice can also help relieve stinging eyes. Soak a piece of gauze or a cotton pad in the juice and place it on your eyes for 20 minutes.

Prevention of pain in the eyes

To prevent the appearance of pain in the eyes, tearing and, it is necessary to observe the regime of work and rest, get enough sleep and follow the rules of personal hygiene.

Good nutrition and regular exercise, including exercises for the eyes, will help to avoid unpleasant symptoms. Visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year and do not neglect personal protective equipment when working in hazardous industries, as well as during prolonged exposure to the sun.

What to remember

Pain in the eyes can occur against the background of various diseases and disorders of the visual apparatus.
If eye and headache are added to the cramps, then you should immediately contact a specialist.
To eliminate pain in the eyes and relieve pain, drops or ointments are prescribed. You can make compresses, lotions and homemade eye drops on your own.
You should not postpone a visit to the doctor if pain in the eyes has been bothering you for a long time. The specialist will help determine the cause and prescribe the correct treatment.

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