In my quest for ways to combine my love of food, science and good health, I sometimes turn up surprising information. This new study reports that onions and shallots can help fight cancer. Apparently, the stinkier the onion, the greater the health benefit.

As for cooked onions, the researchers didn't test whether cooking affects their cancer-fighting ability.

The onion's cancer fighting abilities showed up best for colon cancer. Combined with apples, which are also know to be highly beneficial against colon cancer, something like an apple-onion salad can deliver a healthy one-two punch.

So tie on your apron, tuck in your napkin and don't forget your breath mints!