Onions-Shallots – A versatile  vegetable-Nature heals – herb -Food -healing power

The onion (allium cepa), which is also called a bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus allium. Onions are used in soups,sauces and for seasoning foods. The small bulbs and shallots are pickled in vinegar or brine. Onions, and other allium species (over 900 types of onion), are highly valued herbs possessing a lot of culinary and medicinal values. Some of their beneficial properties can be seen after long-term usage.Onion is an important and indispensable item and can be found in almost every kitchen around the world. It is an important condiment and vegetable for Indians. The green leaves and bulbs are eaten either raw or used in the preparation of several recipes. It holds a great position in the Indian food market on account of its special characteristics of pungency and indispensability.

Onion -A traditional medicinal herb and its health benefits -Some nutritional highlights of onions

Onion is useful for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, especially since it diminishes the risk of blood clots. Onion protects against certain infections and stomach cancer. Onion improves lung function, especially in asthmatics. The more pungent varieties of onion appear to possess the greatest concentration of health-promoting phytochemicals

Onions – Blood cholesterol

Onions act as blood thinners and also relax blood vessels. It has been proven by experts that blood changes caused by fat were effectively counteracted by an intake of raw onions. It also brought the blood cholesterol down. Onions can restore the clot dissolving function of the blood. Onions are potent antibiotics. Raw onions raise HDL cholesterol. They also have antitoxin properties. Russian researchers have established that onion and garlic have strong antibacterial properties.

Onions – Cancer prevention-Heart diseases

Onions are rich in the powerful compound diallyl sulphide, which gives them their strong smell and helps prevent t cancer  by blocking the effects of carninogens (cancer-causing particles) in the body.  Onions also contain numerous flavonoid, such as quercetin, and these antioxidant compounds help prevent blood clots and protect against heart disease and cancer.

1. To help keep our blood free of clots, and make the most of the health benefits of onions, eat them both raw and cooked.
2. Prescribing onions to heart patients is a routine thing amongst cardiologists.
3. Here are some of the things that onions can do for our heart:
(i) Boost beneficial HDL cholesterol
(ii) Thin the blood
(iii) Retard blood clotting
(iv) Lower total blood cholesterol
(v) Lower triglycerides
(vi) Lower blood pressure.

Helps dental disorders-burns-bites-asthma-piles

Onion juice is applied to burns, bites and stings. Thorough mastication of an onion a day can help protect teeth from a number of dental disorders. Onion juice taken with ginger juice and honey is good for asthma, pulmonary disorders, piles and correct low menstrual flow

Onions also contain numerous flavonoid, such as quercetin, and these antioxidant compounds help prevent blood clots and protect against heart disease and cancer.  The vegetable also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action and can help minimize the nasal congestion of a cold.  In addition, onions are very rich in chromium, a trace mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, and are a good source of vitamin C and other trace elements.

Onion – In cooking – Non spice  item that are used to thicken-flavour-culinary uses

Onion is used to thicken and flavour food. Onion can be used ground, boiled and ground, fried and ground, finely chopped, grated or in any other form. It is even eaten raw in salads. Its pungent odour is caused by the sulphuric acid which volatilises rapidly when its tissues are broken

Other medicinal and health properties-benefits on onions

• Onions have potent antibacterial activity, destroying many disease-causing pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella.
• Can help regulate insulin response
• A small piece of onion can work against the side effects of fever if it is kept on the forehead.
  Onions can improve digestive system. If we have digestion problem, then onions can cure it by increasing the release of digestive juices.
• We can protect ourselves from osteoporosis and atherosclerosis by consuming onions daily
• Use onion juice on hair or scalp to get rid of lice and hair fall. This is one of the most prominent benefits for hair.

White onions are the most nutritive, the yellow ones less so, and the red ones even less. Fresh onions will have the best effect. Onion juice should never be taken alone. It should be taken with some food or drink.

Did you know :If you cook onions quickly at high heat, you destroy a large percentage of the beneficial sulphide compounds that they contain

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