Introduction: Onions are a love-it-or-hate-it vegetable. They are a must-eat for many long-lived people, as they can soften blood vessels and lower blood viscosity. However, housewives dislike them because they make you cry when handled, and their pungent taste isn't for everyone. In fact, onions have many other secrets you don't know about.
1. Bone-strengthening and calcium supplement. Onions are rich in calcium, comparable to high-calcium vegetables like bok choy and cabbage. They also contain magnesium and potassium, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is ideal for good calcium absorption.
2. Improving intestinal health. Like vegetables such as burdock and asparagus, onions contain oligosaccharides, which are not digested in the stomach and small intestine but are broken down in the large intestine as food for beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium.
3. Promotes weight loss and relieves constipation. Onions are rich in dietary fiber, which increases satiety and promotes bowel movements. Additionally, the bifidogenic factors produced by onions also contribute to intestinal smoothness.
Fried Onion Rings
4. Cuts through greasiness. Pairing high-fat dishes like steak, braised pork, or grilled fish with onions not only removes the gamey smell but also cuts through the grease, reducing the body's absorption of fat.
5. Antibacterial properties. Onions contain volatile allyl sulfide, which has antibacterial and inhibitory effects and can repel pests. Therefore, onions are a vegetable with zero pesticide residues.
6. Cancer prevention. Onions are rich in quercetin and selenium. The former inhibits the activity of cancer cells and stops their growth, while the latter is a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative damage in the body.
7. Prevents colds. With its slightly pungent and warm nature, onions can dispel wind and cold, preventing colds and alleviating symptoms like nasal congestion and a runny nose caused by colds.
8. Reduces body inflammation. Prostaglandin A found in onions is a potent vasodilator that helps reduce body inflammation, regulate blood pressure, and lower blood viscosity.
Onions with Wood Ear Mushroom
9. Lowers serum cholesterol. The soluble dietary fiber in onions reduces the body's absorption of cholesterol, lowering serum cholesterol levels and thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
10. Whitens and beautifies the skin. The glutathione in onions can inhibit melanin formation and improve skin conditions like eczema and urticaria. The flavonoids it contains can reduce damage to the skin from UV rays.
With so many benefits to eating onions, aren't you tempted? Don't worry about the tears from chopping them; those are tears of joy! Onions are even better eaten raw, but cooked is also fine. Finally, here are some common ways to eat onions:
1. Raw. Wash and slice the onions, soak them in water and refrigerate overnight. The next day, take them out and toss with a little oyster sauce to remove the pungent taste. The crisp texture is great.
2. Cooked. Use them as a versatile side dish. You can just toss a handful of onion slices into any dish, especially meat dishes. It removes the gamey taste while adding more depth of flavor.
From today on, for your health and beauty, eat onions every day!
Spicy Stir-fried Onion with Squid