Onion Benefits
The Health Benefits of Onions - They Don’t Just Make You Cry!
The health benefits of onions are abundant, but not everyone has a taste for them. Onions can be used in so many different dishes and recipes, and the onion is now produced just as much as any other vegetable in the world. Onions just don’t make you cry; they are extremely good for your health.
Onions are only second to tomatoes in their crop production which means a lot. There are so many different varieties that there is sure to be an onion out there for everyone. Each type of onion has its own color with its own unique flavor and level of potency. There are onions that are sweet, some that are mild and some that are just plain strong. Onions are versatile in that they can be eaten raw, cooked and fried being used in several different ways. In some dishes the onions can be minced or even roasted.
The benefits of onions go beyond the table, and they have been known to produce some great health benefits. With over 600 species of onions available, there are many minerals and nutrients found in them that are extremely beneficial to the body. Thiosulfinates are found in onions and is also known to be found in garlic. Allicin is the thiosulfinate found in onions which has been known to be helpful for certain skin conditions when used with vitamin E and aloe. Allicin is known to produce a pleasant scent and is more likely to be found in a sweeter onion.
Sulfides are also abundant in onions as well. Sulfides are just one component in sulphur that is good for many things. Sulphur itself is helpful in clearing up the skin, and is good to clean the body of impurities. Sulfides are chemical compounds but they are not harmful as we already know. Sulfides themselves are minerals like iron which is necessary to nourish the blood.
Because of the potency that onions have, early Americans used them to help treat colds and coughs, asthma, and even used them to ward off insects. Insects don’t like aromatic compounds so onion is plenty strong enough to use as an insect repellant. The benefits of onions for the Chinese have included using onions to treat bacterial infections, colds and other breathing problems too.
It is now known that the World Health Organization uses onions in the treatment of poor appetite as well as artherosclerosis. Artherosclerosis is more widely known as vascular disease, and is very common among those who are elderly. The condition occurs when the build-up of fatty materials occurs, namely cholesterol. The use of onions regularly in the diet could potentially help with keeping cholesterol at a healthy level. Anything that affects the arterial blood vessels is potentially very dangerous, so keeping an eye on your cholesterol is the key.
Onions have also been used to help those with bronchial spasms, and severe asthma so it’s no wonder that those who suffer from pneumonia could benefit if they are able to incorporate onion into their diet on a regular basis. Extract from onion has been proven to reduce allergy induced bronchial constriction in those who suffer from asthma.
Lastly, onions are now known for their ability to fight off harmful bacteria. This rich source is referred to as fructo-ogliosaccharides, and these are very aggressive at working on any harmful bacteria found in the colon. These are also extremely beneficial in reducing the risk of tumors in the colon. As people age, they end up showing more and more symptoms that lead their doctors to do colonoscopies to investigate any potential health problems. It might be wise for those of us who are aging to research the health benefits of onions first.