Dear Readers, Onions are one of the most popular vegetables worldwide. Their pungency, versatility, their ease of cultivation, and their good storability make the onion a valuable foodstuff. But the benefits of onion have also proven itself as a medicinal plant and are often used as a traditional household remedy to treat insect bites, scars, cough, or earache.
Onions Benefits Amazing for Health
The onion is an ancient useful and medicinal plant
The onion is one of the oldest cultivated plants of mankind. It is said to have been cultivated in China for more than 5,000 years and an ancient Babylonian clay tablet cookbook reveals that it must have been a very popular herb and vegetable in ancient times.
In ancient Egypt, the union eventually became a cult object due to its spherical shape and concentric rings – a symbol of eternal life. The Egyptians were convinced that the pungent onion aroma could breathe life back into even the deadly one. So it is not surprising that in the tombs of the pharaohs, Onion benefits remains were found in the famous tomb of Tutankhamun.
Sources from ancient Greece, on the other hand, testify that the onion was already valued as a medicinal plant at that time, as a natural blood thinner. The Roman gladiators, on the other hand, rubbed themselves with the juice of the onion to strengthen their muscles.
And in the 16th century, the famous doctor Paracelsus stated that onion benefits are worth a whole pharmacy, and modern research has long since confirmed his assessment.
Fructans are effective against influenza viruses
It is interesting that onions contain no starch. Their carbohydrates, on the other hand, are in the form of so-called fructans. These are water-soluble oligo and polysaccharides that protect the onion from drying out but often lead to complaints such as fainting in people with a sensitive digestive system.
This is because the fructans are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and thus reach the large intestine unchanged, where they are broken down by bacteria. Of all the onion plants, mild spring onion benefits are best tolerated raw.
On the other hand, those who have no problems with onions can fully enjoy the highly positive effects of fructans on health. For example, studies by the University of Toyama in Japan have shown that fructans from onions are effective against influenza A viruses, i.e. against the flu.
In addition, fructans activate the intestinal flora, promote bowel movements, and increase the absorption of calcium and other minerals.
The onion benefits are rich in vital substances
100 grams of onions contain round:
7.4 mg vitamin C (8 percent of the recommended daily dose): Has an antioxidant effect as a radical scavenger.
156 µg vitamin B6 (8 percent of the recommended daily dose): Is important for amino acid metabolism.
4 µg vitamin B7 (4 percent of the recommended daily dose): Promotes the growth of blood cells, skin, hair, and nerve tissue.
162 mg of potassium (8 percent of the recommended daily dose): Is important for nerves and muscles.
50 mg sulfur (10 percent of the recommended daily dose): Promotes a healthy intestinal flora, supports the liver, and has a detoxifying effect.
The sulfur compounds contained in onion benefits are of particularly great medicinal value. Incidentally, they are also the ones who cause tears to flow when cutting onions.
Sulfur makes tears flow
The sulfur compounds in the onion are the sulfur-containing and antiseptic amino acid called (iso) alliin. It is located in the outer cell layers of the onion cells. Inside the cell, however, is the enzyme alliinase.
When these two substances come into contact when cutting the onion. The enzyme breaks down the amino acid into individual parts, creating a tear-inducing substance called propanethiol-S-oxide.
However, you can prevent tears by using a very sharp knife when chopping the onion. Simply putting on diving goggles with a nosepiece, or letting onion benefits sit in the fridge for a while before chopping.
It is In view of the health-promoting properties of the sulfur compounds. Namely especially for the cardiovascular system, one is happy to accept a few tears.
Onions are blood thinners and protect against heart attacks
Research has shown that the sulfur-containing substances in onions appear to nourish and care for the cell membrane of red blood cells. So that oxygenation and blood flow can be optimized.
At the same time, the sulfur compounds inhibit blood clotting, so that onions can prevent thrombosis. Both together ensure perfect health of the blood vessels and prevent cardiovascular problems.
And so the results of studies that state that a diet rich in onions can reduce the risk of heart attack are not surprising. The investigation at the Milan Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri” with more than 1,000 study participants.
While alliin can improve the flow properties of the blood and prevent vascular damage. Other ingredients such as quercetin lower blood pressure and work against inflammation.
The onion lowers cholesterol levels
At the same time, the sulfur compounds in the onion reduce cholesterol levels — so it seems like the onion really thinks of and eliminates all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Chinese researchers from Chung Shan Medical University Hospital have shown that onion juice, which is particularly high in quercetin, can be particularly helpful in this context. The study involved 24 subjects with slightly elevated cholesterol levels, who were divided into two groups.
While the first group received 100 ml of onion juice daily for 8 weeks, the second group received a placebo. It has been shown that taking onion juice can significantly reduce both LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood.
Daily: 1 medium-sized onion
In addition to the highly effective sulfur compounds, onions also contain other health-related substances: polyphenols. Yes, there are very few foods that rival onion in terms of polyphenol content. One of the most important polyphenols in onions is flavonoid quercetin. it has an anticarcinogenic effect.
In addition to the flavonoids, the red onion also contains other polyphenols, mainly the so-called anthocyanins, which are also responsible for the red color. They have anti-inflammatory and vascular protection effects, among other things.
When peeling the onion, remember that the polyphenols are particularly concentrated in the outermost rings. If you remove these, a red onion loses about 20 percent quercetin and nearly 75 percent of its anthocyanins.
In order to enjoy a sufficiently high amount of polyphenols from the onion, nutritionists recommend incorporating one medium-sized onion per day into the diet.
Onions reduce the risk of cancer
A number of studies have now shown that people who eat onions regularly are less likely to develop cancer. Dutch researchers from the University of Limburg showed back in 1996 that half an onion a day can reduce the risk of stomach cancer by 50 percent.
For example, half an onion per day should reduce the risk of cancer in the mouth and throat by 84 percent and ovarian cancer by 73 percent.
The onion protects against pancreatic cancer
In a study (March 2016), Czech scientists investigated which types of vegetables are best suited to preventing the particularly dangerous form of pancreatic cancer.
Sauerkraut took first place, broccoli came second and cooked onions took third place. This implies that even people who find raw onions less tingly can benefit from the protective effect.
dr Azeem and his team concluded that more than three servings of vegetables per week. Including the onion combined with citrus fruits can protect against pancreatic cancer.
The flavonoids in the onion are most likely responsible for this.
The onion supports diabetics
Scientists from Zhejiang University in China have looked closely at how onion benefits diabetics.
One of the most important effects of the onion is the hypoglycemic effect. The decreases in blood sugar levels, with sulfur compounds and flavonoids, in particular, play a major role here.
These substances help to reduce blood sugar, blood lipids, oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen radicals. Which, among other things, reduce the insulin resistance of the cells and, if necessary, increase the release of insulin.
Onions in folk medicine
As already explained at the beginning, the onion is an ancient household remedy that is indispensable in traditional medicine. There are numerous possible uses that have proven themselves over time and are still being passed on from generation to generation.
The onion can be eaten, but it is also beneficial to inhale the onion vapors, ingest syrup or juice, or apply them externally.
The areas of application include.
to cough
Sore throat
earache
Bladder and urinary tract infections
flu and colds
indigestion
states of weakness
rheumatic complaints
insect bites
wounds and scars
Onion juice and onion syrup relieve colds
Since the onion has a strong expectorant effect, it is nowadays primarily useful for colds. Also useful for coughs, bronchitis, colds, or asthma.
There are many recipes to harness the healing powers of the onion. In the form of juice and syrup, which loosens the mucus plugs in the bronchi, and makes it easier to expectorate.
By the way, it is very easy to make your own onion cough syrup:
Simply boil ½ kg of sliced onions in ½ liter of water with 350 g of whole cane sugar and 100 g of honey until thick, stirring constantly. You can take 4 to 5 tablespoons of it daily.
You can also cut an onion into small cubes, boil it in 2 liters of water and then inhale the onion vapors.
Onion sachets for throat, ear, and bladder infections
Finely chop the onion and wrap it in a thin cotton towel. Heat the onion bag. via water vapor.
You can then place the warm onion pack on the sore ear or throat. You can. use a scarf or a headband to attach the onion bag. The exposure time is about half an hour. Repeat this process three times a day.
Onion bags are also ideal for relieving the pain of urinating in bladder infections.
The onion helps with insect bites
If one of an insect by a wasp, it’s good to have onion benefits handy. Simply cut it in half and rub it into the sting area.
If you squeeze the onion a little, new juice will come out, and you can repeat the treatment of the insect bite. The pain should subside significantly after about five minutes.
In most cases, swelling can even be prevented with the help of the benefits of the onion.
Onion extract also heals stubborn scars
Scars consider unsightly and often remind those affected of a bad event for the rest of their lives. The onion is a tried and tested remedy to treat even rampant scars.
An onion extract ointment is often useful, which has a decongestant, germicidal and anti-inflammatory effect and prevents excessive connective tissue growth.
Even conventional medicine doctors appreciate the regeneration-promoting properties of onion extract. So that it has already been included in the official guidelines for the treatment of scars.
According to the German Dermatological Society, onion extract preparations can be useful both for postoperative scar prevention and during and shortly after wound healing.
In the Mediterranean region, where few dishes can do without the onion, it is rightly a symbol of happiness and health.
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