Onion and garlic may help women reduce bone disease risk

Eating onion and garlic may help women reduce the risk of developing the crippling disease osteoporosis, according to research published here Wednesday.

Lettuce, tomato, cucumber and parsley may also help combat the disease, American researchers told the Scientific Journal, NATURE.

The researchers found that eating 500 mg of onion every day along with the other ingredients, can prevent the causes of osteoporosis.

Experiments on rats showed that a diet of onions significantly increased their bone mass and inhibited the onset of the causes of the disease, the journal reported.

Osteprosis causes brittle bones, leading to painful fractures, severe back pain and curvature of the spine.

Onions have a more beneficial effect than even calcium-rich milk, which women have been encouraged to drink to try to prevent the disease.

The effect on bones can be seen within 12 hours of eating onions, the researchers found.