various dishes by many cultures around the world.
They are also very versatile because they can be used to cook
different kinds of meals and they are even useful for natural
medicine.
Onions are part of the allium family of vegetables and herbs, which
also includes chives, garlic, scallions, and leeks. Allium vegetables
have been cultivated for centuries for their characteristic, pungent
flavors and for their medicinal properties.
They vary in size, shape, color, and flavor. The most common types are
red, yellow, and white onions. Flavors can be sweet and juicy to
sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which they
are grown and consumed.
The nutrients contained in onions make them not only flavorful, but
also helpful.
One cup of chopped onion contains approximately:
a) 64 calories
b) 15 grams of carbohydrate
c) 0 grams of fat
d) 3 grams of fiber
e) 2 grams of protein
f) 0 grams of cholesterol
g) 7 grams of sugar
h) 10% or more of the daily value for vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and manganese.
i) They also contain small amounts of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium
, phosphorus and potassium and the
antioxidants quercetin and sulfur.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF ONIONS
1)Healthy Heart
If your heart is healthy, you can protect your body from many chronic
diseases. Some studies show that sulfur can reduce hypertension and
this can be found both in onions and garlics. Also, sulfur is good in
thinning blood naturally to prevent the platelets from clustering,
which is one of the causes of increasing heart attack and stroke risk.
2)Fight Cancer
Onion extract is rich in a variety of sulfides, which provide some
protection against tumor growth. Some studies have showed, regular
consumption of onions helps to reduce the risk of several cancers such
as Colorectal cancer, oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, stomach cancer,
esophageal cancer, and ovarian cancer. It is suggested to consume one
onion serving per day (approximately 1/2 cup).
3)Improved Immunity
Onions contain both vitamin C and phytochemicals that increase the
effectiveness of vitamin C in your body. What does that mean? A
healthier, more effective immune system, that's what.
4)Good for Skin
The onions help in stimulating the circulation of blood in the mucous
membrane. It can be applied as poultice to boils, bruises, wounds,
etc. Onion juice mixed with honey also can be the best home remedy for
acne.
5)Cure Ear Disorders
As per one report, though research is limited, most parents swear by
onions to cure ear ailments. They insist that onion juice can work
great to relieve earache . One way to do this is to heat up the onion,
extract some of the juice, and pour a few drops into the infected ear.
And this remedy, believe us, goes back to the 19 century.
All you need to do is place the onion in an oven at 450 F. Let it be
for 15 minutes or until it becomes soft. Take out the onion – once
it's cool, cut it in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. You
can strain the juice once, and using a medicinal dropper, pour a few
drops of the juice into your infected ear.
An alternative is to place onion packs on the infected ear. Though
the remedy is not scientifically proven, some people believe they
might work
6)Digestion
Onions are high in fiber , which is good for maintaining a healthy
and regular digestive system.
Fiber prevents digestive pain and breaks down food can keep it moving.
7)Stimulate Hair Growth
Onion is rich in sulfur which is one of the essential nutrients in
promoting hair growth.
A study has shown that applying onion juice on scalp twice a week
for 2 months will stimulates hair regrowth
8)Improve Sleep
Onions contain prebiotics, which, as per a study, can improve sleep
and even reduce stress. When the beneficial bacteria in the gut digest
the prebiotic fiber, they multiply and improve gut health – and more
importantly, release metabolic byproducts. These byproducts can
influence brain function and induce sleep.
9)Prevent Blood Clots
Onions contain a compound called rutin, which can help prevent blood
from clotting. In numerous mice studies, rutin was found to be the
most potent anti-thrombotic compound.
Clots occur in the arteries and veins – in arteries, the clots are
platelet-rich while in veins they are fibrin-rich.
The rutin in onions helps block an enzyme (protein disulfide
isomerase), which is released very quickly when blood clots form.
10)Enhance Brain Health
Research suggests that the antioxidants in onions bind with the
harmful toxins in the brain and flush them out of the body. And the
sulfur-containing compounds in onions can slow down age-related memory
loss. The extracts of onions have been found to maintain the
hippocampus. However, a part of these memory fighting properties might
be lost upon cooking. Hence, try your best to eat the fruit raw.
Another sulfur-compound in onions, named di-n-propyl trisulfide,
improves memory impairment.
Onions are also believed to treat dizziness, epilepsy, and vertigo –
though we have limited research on this.
11)Lowers Blood Pressure
The sulfur in onions acts as a natural blood thinner and it prevents
blood platelets from collecting. This is good for lowering blood
pressure and preventing risk of heart attack or stroke, because you
are more susceptible if blood platelets clog up.
And remember quercetin? Of course you do.
Well it also helps prevent plaque buildup in arteries which is also
good for preventing heart attack and stroke.
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