Garlic and Onion

[Guest guest]

I found this article. I thought it was interesting so I am posting

it for those wishing to hear a little more about this subject.

Enjoy.

 

 

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Onions and Garlic in Vegetarian Diets

 

In Singapore, and probably around the region, many vegetarians,

especially Chinese vegetarians, abstain from what is commonly known

as the five pungent or spicy-scented vegetables, namely onions,

garlic, leek, chives and shallots. This culture is strongly

influenced by ideas in certain religions and has a long history.

Though most Indian vegetarians enjoy lots of onion and garlic, many

yogis preach the abstention.

 

It is widely accepted that the definition of a vegetarian is someone

who does not eat meat or fish. Most vegetarians under western

culture adore onion and garlic. While it certainly does no harm to

the animals, a following of vegetarians believe that it harms the

body and the mind. On the other hand, medical science widely

published the beneficial effects of onions and garlic for our

health. We hope to look at both sides of the story in greater

details.

 

Those who avoid onion and garlic believe that eating them raw leads

to lewd indulgence; when eaten cooked, they enhance agitations,

anxieties and aggressiveness in our mind. Monks and yogis, who often

meditate, swear by the unrest in their mind, and even get diarrhea

upon consumption of such food. Some of these beliefs seem to be in

agreement with western medical science, where onion and garlic are

known to be common food aphrodisiacs. It is up to the individual to

believe or decide on the desirability of such effects. But one thing

for sure, onion and garlic do often cause lingering bad breath.

Chewing on parsley and the seeds of cardamom pods are well-known

remedies.

 

It is also believed that onions and garlic are harmful to our five

organs, namely the lungs, heart, spleen, liver and the kidneys, by

dissipating their vital energies, the primeval breath, or what the

Chinese called " qi " . From the scientific point of view, that is

something too abstract and difficult to prove. What medical science

do know about onions and garlic is that they are high in

antioxidants, which helps to lower our risk of cancers. Onions

contain vitamins B and C together with calcium, iron and potassium.

Like garlic, they contain cycloallin, an anticoagulant which helps

protect against heart disease. Garlic is known to lower blood

cholesterol, and many garlic enthusiasts take them in tablet form.

However these benefits cannot possibly be of much interest to

vegans, who naturally do not have to worry about blood cholesterol

or heart disease.

 

In the maze of conflicting and confusing views, the best doctor to

listen to is ultimately our own body. The truth is we are all

different. If your body reacts adversely to onions and garlic, you

should certainly avoid them. If you enjoy them with no side effects,

go ahead and enjoy. More importantly, we should be true to ourselves

and let the stages unfold, no matter it is a vegetarian diet without

eggs, or dairy, or onions and garlic, or one towards a raw food.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, that is a good article.

 

smartgirl27us <thesmartfamily3 wrote:

 

I found this article. I thought it was interesting so I am posting

it for those wishing to hear a little more about this subject.

Enjoy.

 

 

*************************************

Onions and Garlic in Vegetarian Diets

 

In Singapore, and probably around the region, many vegetarians,

especially Chinese vegetarians, abstain from what is commonly known

as the five pungent or spicy-scented vegetables, namely onions,

garlic, leek, chives and shallots. This culture is strongly

influenced by ideas in certain religions and has a long history.

Though most Indian vegetarians enjoy lots of onion and garlic, many

yogis preach the abstention.

 

It is widely accepted that the definition of a vegetarian is someone

who does not eat meat or fish. Most vegetarians under western

culture adore onion and garlic. While it certainly does no harm to

the animals, a following of vegetarians believe that it harms the

body and the mind. On the other hand, medical science widely

published the beneficial effects of onions and garlic for our

health. We hope to look at both sides of the story in greater

details.

 

Those who avoid onion and garlic believe that eating them raw leads

to lewd indulgence; when eaten cooked, they enhance agitations,

anxieties and aggressiveness in our mind. Monks and yogis, who often

meditate, swear by the unrest in their mind, and even get diarrhea

upon consumption of such food. Some of these beliefs seem to be in

agreement with western medical science, where onion and garlic are

known to be common food aphrodisiacs. It is up to the individual to

believe or decide on the desirability of such effects. But one thing

for sure, onion and garlic do often cause lingering bad breath.

Chewing on parsley and the seeds of cardamom pods are well-known

remedies.

 

It is also believed that onions and garlic are harmful to our five

organs, namely the lungs, heart, spleen, liver and the kidneys, by

dissipating their vital energies, the primeval breath, or what the

Chinese called " qi " . From the scientific point of view, that is

something too abstract and difficult to prove. What medical science

do know about onions and garlic is that they are high in

antioxidants, which helps to lower our risk of cancers. Onions

contain vitamins B and C together with calcium, iron and potassium.

Like garlic, they contain cycloallin, an anticoagulant which helps

protect against heart disease. Garlic is known to lower blood

cholesterol, and many garlic enthusiasts take them in tablet form.

However these benefits cannot possibly be of much interest to

vegans, who naturally do not have to worry about blood cholesterol

or heart disease.

 

In the maze of conflicting and confusing views, the best doctor to

listen to is ultimately our own body. The truth is we are all

different. If your body reacts adversely to onions and garlic, you

should certainly avoid them. If you enjoy them with no side effects,

go ahead and enjoy. More importantly, we should be true to ourselves

and let the stages unfold, no matter it is a vegetarian diet without

eggs, or dairy, or onions and garlic, or one towards a raw food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at

http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to

http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to

provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a

qualified health professional.

 

edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health

professional.