Never mind the tears they bring, onions are an ace ally in your fight against disease. A prized member of the lily family, they lavish you with health benefits while adding oodles of taste to your food. Not to mention you can buy a bundle from the grocery store for mere pennies.
Some of the health benefits of onions
- The phytochemicals in onions, along with their vitamin C, help improve immunity.
- Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating blood sugar.
- For centuries, onions have been used to reduce inflammation and heal infections.
- Do you enjoy sliced onions with your food? If yes, rejoice! Raw onion lowers the production of bad cholesterol (LDL), thus keeping your heart healthy.
- A powerful compound called quercetin in onions is known to play a significant role in preventing cancer.
- Got stung by a honeybee? Apply onion juice on the area for immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.
- Onions scavenge free radicals, thereby reducing your risk of developing gastric ulcers.
- Those bright green tops of green onions are rich in Vitamin A, so do use them often.
- The latest research report in the authoritative journal Nature suggests that onions are the best vegetable to help prevent osteoporosis.
- Cardiologists at Harvard Medical School pointed out that half a raw onion a day can increase your good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, by 30 percent.
And more
In addition, drinking red wine with chopped onion soaked for a week in the refrigerator can be effective for the treatment of gout. Also, they emit a substance that can purify indoor air.
Which type of onion is the healthiest? Researchers from Cornell studied 11 onion varieties and found that shallots and Western yellow onions were the healthiest for their phenolic and flavonoid content.
A great way to enjoy onions is to slice them really thin, squeeze some lemon juice on top and add a little salt. Sprinkling a few freshly washed cilantro leaves adds fragrance and flavor to this simple, quick salad, without which no dinner is complete.
