What Can You Get from Onions?
Author: Paula Jimenez
Grocery shopping is one of the favourite past times of domesticated folks just like me. And while going about my normal routine in the grocery, I was picking out the freshest onions from the produce section when I remembered a discussion I had with my niece on the benefits of raw onion. Yum, I’m sure your eyes watered at the idea of biting into a succulent, fresh, raw onion – or maybe not. If you’re not a supporter of onion, maybe I can convince you otherwise with this article (the same way my niece has become an onion supporter).
Ready to discover the wonders of onion and find out how a simple little raw onion may help your health in a big way? Get those onions ready! The onion’s real name is Allium cepa and is part of the Lilliaceae (or Lily) family. They are grown throughout the world but my personal favorite is the Valdalia onion grown in Georgia, US.
Way back to 4000 BC, it’s been said that onions have been used for medicinal reasons, especially a cure-all for many illnesses. Vapors of onions were utilized to alleviate pain during World War 2. That’s right, they didn’t use a large amount of the medicines we now have, so onions were used. But you must also consider that during those years, times were so bad, onions were dirt cheap so why not use them for medicinal purposes right? But hey, before you start chopping onions to get healthier, go to a doctor first.
Raw onions contain volatile oil, allicin, alliin, flavonoids, phenolic acid, and sterols. By just looking at those ingredients, how come you have to wonder about its power?!
In 1/2 cup of chopped fresh onion you can find:
Calories 16
Carbohydrates 4 g
Vitamin A 498 IU
Fat 0 g
Protein 1 g
Vitamin C 10 mg
Saturated Fat 0 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Iron 1 mg
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 8 mg
Cartenoids 867 mic g
The World Health Organization (WHO) declares that onions can be used as the treatment of weak appetite and to prevent atherosclerosis. Additionally, the WHO recognizes the use of onion extracts for alleviating coughs, colds, asthma and bronchitis.
Here are other uses of onions:
1. Helps in breathing problems just like colds, flu, cough, bronchitis, hoarseness, and mild fever.
2. Onion poultice helps skin problems by emptying pus in suppurating wounds
3. Drinking onion juice will help relieve cystitis
4. Flatulence? Try to eat some raw onion.
5. Prevents oral infections and tooth decay
6. Functions as a warm juice in the ear canal for earaches
7. Helps increase the HDL cholesterol in the blood stream, and decrease bad cholesterol. It also helps boost the capability of blood to break down clots.
So you see? There are plenty of advantages to eating raw onions aside from just mixing it with your favorite meal to enhance flavor. But don’t forget, always confer with your doctor first before doing anything as it may compromise your health. Have fun with your raw onion and don’t fail to remember to brush your teeth!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/what-can-you-get-from-onions-6009170.html
About the Author
New Hope Medical Center is one of the leading Alternative Cancer Treatment Centers in America today. The Holistic Cancer Treatment Center offers Hope to patients suffering from liver, colon, and most types of Cancer.
