Why does parsley counteract bad breath?
The experts say it’s the chlorophyll — the green pigment in plants responsible for photosynthesis — that gets rid of bad breath. Chlorophyll tablets have been recommended for reducing odors, but their effectiveness has not been entirely proved. The exact mechanism is not known, says LaBorde. Why do you tear up from an onion? And how can it be stopped? According to Pintauro, when you slice an onion, you disrupt cells in the vegetable that contain an enzyme (lachrymatory-factor synthase) that catalyzes the production of volatile irritants. The synthase enzyme converts the sulfoxides (amino acids) of the onion into sulfenic acid. The unstable sulfenic acid then rearranges itself into syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which gets into the air and comes in contact with your eyes. “Once it hits the eye, it turns into a mild form of sulfuric acid, which causes burning,” adds Don Schaffner, a food science professor at Rutgers University. The lachrymal glands become irritated, and the eyes tear. Pintaur
