Onion
Onion is a bulbiferous annual or biennial crop. The bulb is the product consumed. The underground bulb is reddish or whitish, depending on varieties, but we also have brown and pale yellow varieties
The onion plant can grow up to 100cm above the ground. The flowers are small and whitish in clusters of unique inflorescence.
Nutritional properties from onion
The color of onion is indicative of its properties biochemically. White onions are the strongest. The yellow, with red or purple is the oldest of all, but not as strong in terms of pungency.
Beside the flavor, the onion also provides a host of biochemicals and nutrients that are germane to human health, either preventively or curatively. Like garlic, onion is rich in sulphur containing compounds which impact the heavy odor.
These sulphur containing compounds are responsible for the odors as well as the medicinal or therapeutic values of onions.
Onions like garlic are rich in allicine, diallyle sulphide, diallye disulphide. It also has chromium, a trace mineral that helps cells to respond to insulin. It has vitamin C, phenols and plenitude of antioxidants flavonoids, especially quercetin.
The higher the concentration of these biochemicals that are health-giving, the stronger is the odor. So the milder varieties are usually not as medicinal as the pungent ones.
The more the phenols and flavonoids the variety of onions has, the more the antioxidant activity. Note that the phytonutrients and the active ingredients in onions are what make onions very medicinal and therapeutic.
Health Benefits Of Onion
There is sufficient scientific proof that daily consumption of red onion recipes is beneficial health wise.
Cholesterol Lowering
It has been proven that the consumption of onions either raw or cooked or prepared in other forms has the capacity to lower cholesterol.
Onions contain saponins and these are the phytochemicals responsible for its cholesterol reducing ability. It boosts or increases the level of good cholesterol in the blood.
Total Wellbeing
It is a feeling that one has good health generally with good cardiovascular systems, good sugar level, lack of stress, good blood pressure, and adequate BMI. Constant consumption of red onion gives you this feeling.
Prevent Blood Clotting In The Blood Vessels
Blood clot dissolving activities are increased so that the challenges of vascular blockage by clots of blood are reduced or avoided all together.
It makes for free flow of blood thereby promoting cardiovascular health and overall good circulatory system.
