How Healthy Are Onions? - Benefits And Risks Of Onions. Onions Are Of The Allium Linage Of Vegetables And Herbs Like Garlic, Chives, Scallions And Leeks. Are In Various Colour, Shape, Size And Taste. Onions Are Packed With Nutrients But Can Be Risky To Certain Health Conditions.
The Origin Of Onions
Onions were grown in Iran, Afghanistan and China since 5000 years ago. Were they spread to the Roman Empire Egypt and Greece. Nero the Roman emperor was said to love onions as a remedy for colds.
The pharaohs of Egypt was said to brought them into the crypt as food and medicine for the workers during the Egyptian pyramids it was also found that onions were used to pay the builders.
Today Onions have gone round the globe. It is very hard to found a country without Onions and it is quite funny to see a kitchen without the use of Onions.
How Healthy Are Onions?
For many years now onions have been known for many medical properties. Onions have been known for very good natural remedy for certain health conditions. The Chinese and the Indians was said to use onions as a remedy for asthma and bronchitis. They were used for prevention during the cholera epidemics.
Types Of Onions
There are various types of Onions.
The Yellow Onion
This slightly golden yellow Onion is the well know basic onion in most kitchen. It is more popular and common. It has golden yellow skin and white in the inside.
The Sweet Onion
The sweet onion by originally is from South America, like the name post it is very sweeter than other onion and are somewhat larger and not as prickly in the eye like the others. Their layers are also very thick and seem differently better in dishes.
The Red Onion
Red onion looks more atractive. It is a lot softer in taste, it smells less and quite ideal for eating raw.
The Spring Onion
The spring onion is a young onion that also know as pipe onion. It can be eaten in both the white and the green part. It taste a little bit like leek. It can also be eaten both raw or fried.
The White Onion
The white Onion is whitish both inside and outside and a bit small in size with thinning skirts and the have a very good flavour in dish.
The Shallot
Shallot is oval shaped and somewhat smaller and more refined. The taste can be compared to that of the red onions.
How To Store Onions For Safe Consumption
The best place to keep Onions is a cool, dry, dark and well ventilated place. Don't keep Onions in the fridge. Do not keep Onions close to the potatoes so that the ethylene gas don't spoil them quickly. Do not keep cut Onion apart and use one half while you keep the other half for future use.
That is not healthy due to the fact that onion is antibacterial therefore when you cut Onion open it attract a legion of bacteria which died on the surface. By consuming such Onion it like consuming poison.
It is better to finish an Onion at ones or throwaway the other half or better still, instead of cutting the Onion peal the rappers to the amount you need.
Nutritional Values Of Onions
Onions are very nutritious high in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. They also contain little amounts of magnesium, calcium , iron , folate, phosphorus and potassium, and the antioxidants quercetin and sulfur.
The Potassium ensures the formation of good cell function, fluid balance, kidney function, nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
The B vitamins and vitamin C are also found in onions. Both folate (folic acid, vitamin B9) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) are very important for the body metabolism, nerve function, and the red blood cell production.
The C Vitamin is a powerful antioxidant, it protects cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules). The nutritional value of onions is dependent or varies base on the method of preparation (raw onions contain nutrients greater than than fried onions).
The Health Benefits Of Onions.
1. Onions For The Heart
The antioxidants and compounds that fight inflammation, lower triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels which is contains in onions reduce the chance of developing heart disease.
Due to the presence of the flavonoid antioxidant quercetin, which concentration is very high in onions, heart-healthy food because it protect against blood clots and reduce high blood pressure.
2. Bone Health In Women In And After Menopause
Study published in the journal 2009 Menopause found that daily consumption of onions improves bone health in women in menopause and those who have passed menopause. The study reviels that Women who often ate onions 20% reduce the risk of a broken hip thanf those of their counterparts who did not ate onions.
3. Onion Against Cancer
In general all vegetables in the family of Allium have been trace to reducing the risk of cancer, such as prostate cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and colon cancer. Onions are also found to be a source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C that helps fight the formation of free radicals that causes cancer.
4. Onions For Skin And Hair
The high content of vitamin C, which is very necessary in the build-up and maintenance of collagen, gives structure to the skin and hair.
5. Onions Against Tooth Decay
Eating raw onion may improve healthy tooth and general oral health. Chewing raw onion eliminates bacteria that has the ability to cause tooth decay and thereby strengthens the teeth. According to naturalsociety.com "hewing an onion for two to three minutes kills almost all germs in the mouth.
6. Onions For Sleep And Mood
The high content of folate (folic acid) in Onions helps reduce the symptoms of depression. The folate in onions also ensure that Homocysteine which prevents blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain from accumulating.
The excess of this chemical called homocysteine also interferes with the production of the feel-good hormones such as the norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine which regulate the appetite, mood and sleep.
7. Onions Against Blood Sugar Level
The content of chromium in onions ensure regulation of blood sugar. And the sulfur in onions helps lower blood sugar as it continues to induce the increased insulin production.
A study in the a 2010 journal Environmental Health Insights found that this is particularly helpful for patients with diabetes mellitus (diabetes).
Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus who ate red onions had lower glucose values for up to four hours. A 2014 meta-analysis in the journal Nutrition showed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus get better normalized liver enzymes with lower glycemic levels as they consum raw onions.
8. Onions Against Asthma
Due to the presence of quercetin in onions, onions may have antihistamine effects. This antioxidant seems to prevent immune cells from releasing histamine in test tube studies. These appears to be chemicals that cause allergic reactions .
Therefore scientists suspect that the antioxidants may reduce histamine and other allergic or inflammatory chemicals in the body. So this appears to be a good treatment for asthma.
Health Risks Of Eating Or Processing Raw Onions
1. The Gas From Slicing Onion
If you have slice Onion before you will notice a kind of gaseous substance released from the Onion. This gas reacts with the fluid in the eye. The heat of the gas varies according to the onion type.
Most of the times, most users take advantage of the tear ducts effects of onion gas as treatment for their eyes as they believed that onion has antibacterial properties.
But many people can't withstand it because it seems to harsh for the eyes and the so tend to avoid it.
Many techniques have been device to avoid it, some major techniques are:
*stick your tongue out while slicing,
*chop the onion under running water,
*hang a wet towel over your shoulder while you chop the Onion,
*putting on goggles while you chop the Onion.
*cut the onion near a cloud of steam,
This prevents the gases from making contact with the eyes.
2. Allergy
Though Onions is a very healthy food and the risk in consuming Onions is very low. However, an excessive consumption of onions is risky for those that have allergy to onions.
3. Stomach Disorder
Some people have problem with eating Onions. The content of carbohydrates in onions cause flatulence, bloating and delayed digestion. Eating raw onions aggravate heartburn in people who suffer from acid reflux or heartburn.
4. Medication
The very high content of vitamin K in the green onions excessive increase or eating green onions raw disrupts the action of blood thinning medicine.
Conclusion - How Healthy Are Onions? - Benefits And Risks Of Onions
Onions are very healthy food, they are highly rich in vitamin, and minerals, they are antibacterials and they fight against free radicals in the body and improve the body's health.. However, if proper precautions are not followed in the consumption of onion it may be risky to the health.
Do not cut onion and store in fridge with other substance or vegetables.
Do not use open surfaced onion leftover from past use. These are things that result to food poisoning.
Do not eat raw onion when you suffer from chronic heartburn or acid reflux.
Finally the best and healthy way to use Onions is to read and follow the *for* and *against* in *The Health Benefits Of Onions* listed above.
For other conditions or allergy also read and follow the *Health Risks Of Eating Or Processing Raw Onions* for safer use of the healthy Onions.
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