Originally published July 25 2005
Onions protect against many health ailments
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Onions contain a great deal of the flavonoid quercetin, which has been associated with reduced risk for many chronic diseases and health problems including cataracts, cardiovascular disease, breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung and bladder cancers, and onions also contain naturally-occurring chemicals that are linked to reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
- -- Anonymous Onions are low in calories yet add abundant flavour to a wide variety of foods.
- With only 30 calories per serving, onions are sodium, fat, and cholesterol free, and provide dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and other key nutrients.
- Higher intakes of fruits and vegetables have been associated with a variety of health benefits.
- Other sources are tea and apples, but research shows that absorption of quercetin fromonions is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples.
- Studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
- In addition, onions contain a variety of other naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Onions not only provide flavour; they also provide health-promoting phytochemicals as well as nutrients.
- Studies have indicated that quercetin helps to eliminate free radicals in the body, to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation (an important reaction in the atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease), to protect and regenerate vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant) and to inactivate the harmful effects of chelate metal ions.
- Further research at the Agricultural University on Wageningen showed that daily consumption of onions may result in increased accumulation of quercetin in the blood.
- Platelet aggregation is associated with atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
- Onions may be among the vegetables that will be prized not only for their addition our cuisine, but for their value-added health characteristics," said Irwin Goldman, Associate Professor of Horticulture of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- These compounds have a variety of health-functional properties, including anticancer and antimicrobial activities.
- Onions range in size from less than 1 inch in diameter (creamers/boilers) to more than 4 ½ inches in diameter (super colossal).
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