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Why do onions make you cry?

Why do onions make you cry?? ?

  • We cooked onions the one night, and I was in the living room, while my dad was cuting them, yet my eyes started to water??? What makes this happen! Lol

  • Answer:

    .Onions absorb sulfur in the earth, which helps form a class of volatile organic molecules called amino acid sulfoxides. These sulfoxides are the real tear-jerkers when onions go under the knife, because of the effect known as "Reflex Crying".In the case of reflex crying, an external irritant, such as dust or smoke, triggers nerve endings in the cornea to communicate with the brain stem. The brain registers the irritation in the eye then alerts the lachrymal gland to stimulate tear production to flush away the invader.

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Its because the smell that onions give, and the onion itself includes a chemical which irritates the eye, therefore causing us to cry. Eventhough, you weren't the one chopping the onion, the smell still spread around the room.

Maha

Something to do with the strong smell...

Bob

Why not?

Big Cheese

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