Onions are vegetables. They are plants in thegenus Allium. When people talk about onions, they usually mean garden onions. Onions have bulbs, which are edible, in most species. They have a strong flavour, and a very distinctive smell.
Onions have been grown for a very long time. They were probably first grown in Ancient Egypt, together with leek and garlic, but maybe earlier. Now, most of the world’s cultures eat onions.
Health Benefits of Onion
Health benefits of onion are available due to presence of sulphur compounds and quercetin, in traces of essential oils. These are very effective antioxidants that aid in neutralizing the free radicals present in the human body. Onions have been used from many centuries by human beings for medicinal purposes. Onion also contains mineral components such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, selenium and phosphorus. The antibacterial properties of onion teemed with antifungal uses have made it a household name. The onion plant can be grown on well-drained and moist soil. You can even grow them in your own backyard or garden and reap its health benefits. They form an important part of culinary preparations. They are also known as ‘companion plants’, for other types of vegetables.
Some of the valued health benefits of onions are as follows:
- Good Oral Health: Onions are often used to prevent tooth decay and oral infections. Chewing raw onions for 2 to 3 minutes could possibly kill all the germs present in the mouth area.
- Treatment for Heart Ailments: Onions aids in thinning of the blood, which in turn prevents the red blood cells from forming clumps. These blocks could lead to heart disorders or cardiovascular diseases.
- Glowing Skin: Onion juice mixed with honey or olive oil is said to be best treatment for acne condition.
- Treatment for Cough: Consuming equal mixture of onion juice and honey can relive sore throat and cough symptoms.
- Used as Insect Repellent: You can apply onion juice to reduce the pain caused due to honey-bee bite. Fresh onion juice or paste can be used for external applications for insect bites and scorpion stings.
- Boost Sexual Drive: Onions are said to increase the urge for healthy sexual life. One table spoon of onion juice along with spoonful of ginger juice, taken trice a day can boost the libido and sex drive.
- Treatment of Anaemic Condition: Even anaemic conditions can be improved by eating onions along with jaggery and water.
- Relieves Stomach Ache: Onions have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that give relief to upset stomach and related gastro syndromes.
- Treating Urinary Disorders: For those suffering from burning sensation during urination, onions can provide considerable relief. The patient should drink water boiled with 6 to 7 gm of onion.
- Prevention of Cancer: Onions are rich in active compounds that successfully inhibit the development of cancerous cells.
- Relieving Earache: A few drops of onion juice may actually prove immensely beneficial to individuals suffering from acute earache. The ringing sound in the ear may be cured by applying onion juice through cotton wool.
- According to Peace Health, onions have been useful for treating various human diseases such as tumours, persistent coughs and cold. Medicine practitioners consider this plant form as a perfect home remedy for relieving disease syndromes. Peace Health further states that onion consumption can help in prevention of stomach and breast cancer.
- Onions Consist of Sulphur Rich Compounds- The medical studies reveal that these sulphur compounds stop biochemical chain formations that could possibly lead to an asthmatic condition. Onions facilitates the melting of phlegm in a patient suffering from severe cough. Fresh onion juices are said to be applied to patients who become unconscious, for bringing vigour and energy back into the patient.
