Whenever I order a Middle Eastern salad from my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant I always request that they withhold the onions. Eating onions in the raw is not my thing for two reasons. The first reason is that onions cause the kind of bad breath, which is not easily erased with a toothbrush and toothpaste. The second reason is that I do not particularly like the taste. However I do cook with onions to add flavor to my meals. The other day while I was doing research on herbs and vegetables I ran across tons of information on the health benefits of onions. This information was repetitive but it made me realize that the next time I order that Middle Eastern salad I should perhaps insist that they not leave out the onions. Here is why.
Did you know that onions contain phytochemicals called flavanoids, which help vitamin C in its function in the body? Flavanoids improves the integrity of blood vessels and decreases inflammation. This is all very helpful to our cardiovascular system by promoting heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease. Onions are also a good source of nutrients, vitamin B6 and C, chromium, folate, maganese, potassium, copper, and phosphorus.
Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant which combats a variety of illnesses and onions are very good source of it. According to the journal "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology" quercetin reduces the size and amount of precancerous lesions in the intestinal tract. Eating onions just two or three times a week can lower the risk of colon and ovarian cancer significantly. The quercetin and vitamin C found in onions help promote a healthy immune system. These two substances also act as anti-inflammatory agents, which reduce the effect of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The chromium found in onions is a substance that helps maintain proper hormonal balance in the body. It also helps cells respond to insulin which aids in lowering blood sugar.
Onions also contain a substance called growth plate chondrocytes. This substance promotes bone health by preventing the function of osteoclasts. These are cells that break down bone tissue. Onion contain prebiotics and are a good soure of fiber. Prebiotics encourage the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system. This helps promote proper digestion.
For those of you whom onions have been a staple ingredient in your diet thumbs up to you! You're quite a few steps ahead. For the non onion lovers like myself we probably should rethink those taste buds and begin to reap the benefits!
