Onion is a truly global vegetable. The French love onion soup, onions are indispensable in pasta dishes, the Greeks are best at seasoning with onions, and Indians particularly enjoy eating raw onions. In China, onion is also a common vegetable in daily life, with high nutritional value and remarkable effects, making it the "versatile hero" of the vegetable world.
1. Bactericidal, Anti-cold
Onions always have a spicy taste, a substance that has a bactericidal effect. When bactericides are excreted through the respiratory tract, urinary tract, and sweat glands, they can stimulate the walls of these cell channels to secrete, thus also having effects like expelling phlegm, diuresis, sweating, and antibacterial防腐.
2. Promotes gastrointestinal motility, increases appetite
Onions contain allicin, which has a rich aroma. When processed, its pungent smell often makes people cry. It is this special smell that can stimulate gastric acid secretion and increase appetite. Animal experiments have also shown that onions can increase gastrointestinal tension and promote gastrointestinal motility, thereby acting as an appetizer, and have a significant effect on loss of appetite caused by atrophic gastritis, insufficient gastric motility, indigestion, etc.
3. Cancer Prevention
The anti-cancer effect of onions comes from its rich selenium element and quercetin. Selenium is an antioxidant that can stimulate the human immune response, thereby inhibiting the division and growth of cancer cells, and at the same time can reduce the toxicity of carcinogens. Quercetin, on the other hand, can inhibit the activity of cancer cells and stop their growth. A survey shows that people who often eat onions have a 25% lower chance of getting stomach cancer and a 30% lower chance of dying from stomach cancer than those who don't. Many other studies have confirmed that moderate consumption of onions can reduce the risk of various cancers such as colorectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer.
4. Lowers Blood Pressure
Onion is the only plant that contains prostaglandin A. It is the only known food containing prostaglandin A and a natural blood thinner. Prostaglandin A can dilate blood vessels and reduce blood viscosity, thus lowering blood pressure, reducing peripheral vascular resistance, and increasing coronary blood flow, preventing thrombosis. It also counteracts the effects of blood pressure-raising substances in the body such as catecholamines, and promotes the excretion of sodium salt, thereby lowering blood pressure. Regular consumption has a health-care effect on patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
5. Lowers Blood Sugar
Many studies have found that eating onions regularly can also improve blood sugar levels and prevent bacterial infections. Because onions contain organic compounds similar to the blood sugar-lowering drug tolbutamide, and can produce quercetin in the human body, which has a strong diuretic effect. Diabetic patients can eat 25~50g of onions per meal to achieve a better effect of lowering blood sugar and diuresis.
6. Improves Constipation
The sulfur components of onions combine with proteins or intestinal bacteria in the large intestine to form hydrogen sulfide, which can promote intestinal peristalsis. The rich soluble dietary fiber can stimulate the intestines to make them more active, and oligosaccharides can also inhibit the proliferation of bad bacteria in the intestines, effectively improving the common constipation symptoms in women.
7. Increases Bone Density
Many studies have found that eating onions helps to increase bone density, which is especially important for postmenopausal women with decreased bone density. Another study showed that postmenopausal women who eat onions daily can reduce the risk of hip fractures. The sulfides rich in onions also play a very important role in the formation of human connective tissue.