Onions for Your Health
Onions have long been used as a food source. Used in soups, stir-fries, salads, dips and many more dishes, they have been eaten cooked, raw, and dried. There are many different types, they range in flavor from mild and sweet to very strong. These members of the lily family are grown all over the world.
Did you know that onions have also been used as a medicine? They have qualities that make them antibacterial and antimicrobial. They can eliminate bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Bacillus subtilis. In Chinese medicine, they are recommended for coughs, bacterial infections, angina, and respiratory problems. The Early American settlers used them to treat asthma, colds, and coughs as well as to deter insects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that onions can treat a poor appetite and can prevent atherosclerosis. They recommend that onion extract can help relieve symptoms of bronchitis, colds, coughs, and asthma. They even help prevent tumors of the colon.
Onions contain sulfides that are very similar to those found in its cousin, the garlic. These sulfides may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies done in India have shown that people who ate lots of onions and garlic had lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure than those who did not eat these foods. They are a natural anticoagulant and can help prevent blood clots.
They can help prevent cancer of various types. The sulfide compounds help protect you from developing tumors. People who eat a lot of them in their diet develop less stomach cancer than those who do not eat them regularly. This is especially true when they eat the stronger flavored varieties. Milder verities are not as effective due to lower amounts of sulfides. They are safe to eat while taking pharmaceuticals. They may make anticoagulants more effective, so tell your care provider if you eat a lot of onions. They can adjust your dosage.
With so many health benefits, why do not more people eat them? Even people who do not like the taste of them may like them caramelized. Add them to soups, casseroles, and gravies. Caramelizing makes them more palatable to many people. There are lots of recipes that use them in one form or another. You can always add them to more recipes if you wish. they are very versatile… you should be able to find a recipe to please almost anyone.
You can sometimes add them without others noticing by chopping them finely before cooking. French onion soup is a dish that most people will eat even if they profess not to eat them. Serve it up in an attractive onion soup bowl and they will be begging to dip their spoon into that bubbly cheese on top. There are many ways to fit them into your diet!
They are a very beneficial part of your diet. Add more to your menu if you do not already eat them regularly. They add more flavor to roasts, sauces, and soups as well as many other recipes. Keep some caramelized onions on hand to add whenever you need more flavor in a recipe.
Easy French onion soup can be topped by either a slice of toasted French bread or toasted croutons. Both have been dried or toasted first and they will each sop up the delicious broth of the soup, making a thick, soft layer of deliciousness sandwiched between the soup and the hot cheese.