Posted on August 6, 2008 in Latest News
It is difficult to imagine a kitchen without the deliciously pungent flavor of onion filling up the air. The role of onion in making various lip-smacking dishes throughout the world has made it ‘the second most important horticultural crop after tomato’. Onions not only add flavor to food but they also have many therapeutic uses.
Natural Benefits of Onion:
The sulfur-containing compounds (cysteine sulfoxides) in onion are responsible for its pungent smell and irritation caused to the eyes. Onions are a rich source of chromium that aids cells to respond favorably to insulin.
Various natural benefits of onions are listed below:
- Reduces Blood Sugar: It has been found that the compound allyl propyl disulfide contained in onions reduces blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin in the liver. In addition, the high chromium content in onions also plays a major role in making cells respond favorably to insulin. Studies have shown that chromium also aids in reducing fasting blood sugar, reduces insulin level, improves glucose tolerance, reduces total cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels etc.
- Reduces Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Regular consumption of onion reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases because of sulfur compounds, vitamin B6 and chromium present in it. These reduce heart attack and stroke by reducing high level of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino acid contained in the blood that increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke etc.
- Healthy Gastrointestinal Tract: Flavonoids contained in onions are suggested to play an important role in reducing damaging effects on the colon. A research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has suggested that quercitin, most studied flavonoids, can reduce the size as well as number of precancerous lesions in the intestinal tract.
- Keep Your Bone Healthy: A newly-found compound in onion named GPSC (gamma-L-glutamyl-trans-S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide) checks the activities of cells that removes bone tissues, called osteoclasts. In women approaching towards menopause, GPSC has also been suggested to play a major role in preventing osteoporosis in a research study.
- Checks Inflammation Caused by Bacteria and Fungus: Onions plays a major role in controlling the activity of enzymes that causes inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxanes. This reduces pain and swelling caused under conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory congestion from common cold etc.
- Prevents Blood Clot: Onions are considered as natural anticlotting agents. The sulfur contents contained in the onions suppress clumping of platelets thereby preventing blood clots.
The more pungent an onion is, higher the concentration of healthy phytochemicals in it. There is no known side effect except for the bad smell! One can eat moderate amounts of onion everyday to be healthy.
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