Ruchira tells us how onion and garlic have been discriminated against, despite many health benefits. She exposes the frivolous reasoning for the same, exclusively for Different Truths.  

I have witnessed more than fifty revolutions of the Earth, yet for my dear life I am unable to figure out why there is so much bad blood, bordering   on acrimony for two ubiquitous natural food items – onion and garlic!

Indeed, there are myriad customs, fads, superstitions and myths that have cropped up around this (unfortunately) notorious pair across the Indian (read Hindu) society at large. The underlying reason being their powerful natural odour, which some people find unpleasant, without realising that certain naturally occurring, useful chemicals cause the conspicuous odours. There is nothing that one can do about it.

…there are myriad customs, fads, superstitions and myths that have cropped up around this (unfortunately) notorious pair across the Indian (read Hindu) society at large.

Nonetheless, traditional orthodox Hindus have always regarded their consumption no less than the seven deadly sins. What is more irksome is the holier-than-though attitude adopted by such individuals. I have often heard stray remarks made by cooks and /or domestic helps waxing eloquent about their employers, viz., ‘Saheb/Madam pyaaaz tak nehi khaate’. Even in up market buffet dinners separate tables are set up to serve “onion-garlic” less items so that there is no ‘touch’ involved with those who consume only shuddh, saatvik (immaculate) food. So, what is the big deal huh? Does this abstention ensure a place in paradise (after death) for the people in question?

There also appears to be a certain element of ethnic and cultural differences involved. Hindu old timers proffer this logic: onion-garlic is consumed by Muslims on a large scale as part of their daily diet. As the religious tenets of the two faiths were starkly different, onion-garlic crept into public psyche and came to symbolise all that was non-Hindu.

I remember my grannies and great aunts and many of their peers – upon finding a particular dish reeking of onion-garlic – remarking that it had been turned into a ‘Musalmani’ dish.

If the obnoxious odour happens to be a major irritant, I would like to remind the anti-onion-and-garlic brigade that many other vegetables too have similar pongs, radish being a prominent one…

If the obnoxious odour happens to be a major irritant, I would like to remind the anti-onion-and-garlic brigade that many other vegetables too have similar pongs, radish being a prominent one, followed by sarson ka saag (mustard greens), bamboo shoots, ripe papaya and more. How is it that people don’t recoil from them as they do when it comes to the deadly pair? Ludicrous, let me assure you.

The male chauvinists too had their field day. Hell-bent to deprive women of all rights, comforts and benefits, they conveniently linked onion-garlic to mourning and widowhood.  The moment a woman lost her husband, forthwith a lifetime ban was imposed upon her – which included onion-garlic among other items. Why? Because onion-garlic both tamasik (impure) by nature – as opposed to saatvik- would heighten widows’ libido and goad them into sexual adventures.

Does this imply that men and women who traditionally (and strictly) exclude onion-garlic from their diet are saintly creatures, utterly devoid of libido or carnal desires of any sort?

Does this imply that men and women who traditionally (and strictly) exclude

onion-garlic from their diet are saintly creatures, utterly devoid of libido or carnal desires of any sort? And all sexual offenders must be habitual consumers of high doses of onion-garlic, right?

These nerds appear oblivious of the latent usefulness of eating onion- garlic. For instance, onions are low in calories but high in nutrients, including vitamins C, B and potassium.  Research reveals that eating onions reduce risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and inflammation. Red onions contain anthocyanins, powerful plant pigments that ward off heart ailments and diabetes. Onions possess anti-bacterial anti-carcinogenic properties and boost bone density.

Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. It also contains traces other nutrients too. Garlic effectively controls and regulates hypertension and cholesterol.

Likewise, medicinal properties of garlic have been recognised by ancient Greek medical treatises as well as the Ayurveda. Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. It also contains traces other nutrients too. Garlic effectively controls and regulates hypertension and cholesterol. It also cures common cold besides helping to improve digestion.

So, the next time any of you turn up your nose at the prospect of consuming onion-garlic, think of the multiple health benefits you may miss out on. The choice is yours.

Photo from the Internet