Onions: benefit and harm
Onion is a perennial plant, originally widely distributed in the countries of Central and South Asia.Later it was grown in Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Afghanistan.
Interesting! Outwardly the shape of the bulb resembles another root crop - turnip.That's why the people called the "onion" bow.
Plant life cycle - 3 years.In the first year a small bulb grows from a seed up to 2 cm in diameter. The next year, when sown, a full-grown bulb grows out of it, giving green narrow leaves.At the final stage, an arrow is formed with small inflorescences-seeds on the tip.
Varieties of onions are different, they are distinguished by the form of branching of leaves, by nesting and even to taste.
Ingredients and nutritional value of onion
Nutritional information 100 g :
- Caloric value: 41 kcal
- Proteins: 1.4 g
- Fats: 0,2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.2 g
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- Dietary fiber: 3 g
- Organic acids: 0.2 g
- Water: 86 g
- Mono and disaccharides: 8.1 g
- Starch: 0.1 g
- Ash: 1 g
Gaskets:
- Calcium: 31 mg
- Magnesium: 14 mg
- Sodium: 4G
- Potassium: 175 mg
- Phosphorus: 58 mg
- Chlorine: 25 mg
- Sulfur: 65 mg
Vitamins:
Microelements:
- Iron: 0.8 mg
- Zinc: 0.85 mg
- Iodine: 3 μg
- Copper: 85 μg
- Manganese: 0,23 mg
- Chromium: 2 μg
- Fluorine: 31 μg
- Boron: 200 μg
- Cobalt: 5 μg
- Aluminum: 400 μg
- Nickel: 3 μg
- Rubidium: 476 μg
Like most vegetables, onions contain a lot of vitamins and trace elements. Among them, the most attention deserve:
- vitamins - A, B6, C, E, D, PP;
- microelements - potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron;
- essential oils;
- polysaccharides;
- amino acids.
Use of onion
Onion is valued for its taste, health and nutritional properties.To some extent this is due to its availability.Fresh bulbs are used in cooking for the preparation of salads, hot meat dishes, sauces, and also in home canning.
In folk medicine, onion is widely known as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating agent.Inhalations with the juice of this plant are recommended for adults and children with ARVI, flu, angina, bronchitis.
Science has proven the positive effect of onions on vessels.Physicians include it in the dietary diet for atherosclerosis, stroke, ischemia and hypertensive heart disease, but only under the condition of hot heat treatment.
Onions are an excellent detoxifier.He at the cellular level cleanses the body of accumulated slag, toxins and other poisonous substances.
Interesting! On the English traveler F. Chichester, who suffered from cancer, in the mountains of Switzerland, a snow avalanche struck.He was forced to eat for several months partially preserved supplies of food, among which were mainly onions and garlic.When they returned to their homeland, they did not find any traces of a malignant tumor.
Onions are also prepared with topical topical preparations.Thus, onion gruel accelerates the healing of burns, boils, hemorrhoid cones and other pustular skin diseases.
In addition, there are several other non-traditional ways of using onions in medicine:
- to increase potency and sperm production;
- as an antidote for biting dangerous insects;
- for vision recovery.
Harm to onion
Important! In raw form, onions are not recommended for people with liver and cardiovascular diseases.Boiled and steamed onions can not hurt.
Since the essential oil of onion secrete substances that irritate the mucous membranes, people with gastric and intestinal diseases should be cautious about this product.Juice of onion increases acidity, and also causes increased gas formation.
Several centuries ago, the eyes were buried with the onion juice.Allegedly, he helped improve eyesight.But now there are many new, modified drugs that will make the procedure less painful and more effective.
Important! Wrongly prepared onion drops for the eyes can simply destroy the upper layer of the cornea of the eyeball.
Recipes of traditional medicine and cosmetology
Onion on cough
In 1 liter of water, cook 4 medium bulbs exactly 1 hour.After that, cool the bulbs and crush them, adding to the mass of 1 glass of sugar and 2 tablespoons.L of honey.Take medicine for 1 tbsp.L every time after eating.
Onion for healing wounds
Grate 1 onion on a grater, add 1 tsp of dry marigold inflorescences and 1 tsp of oak bark.Pour the mixture 200 ml, infuse 10-12 hours.From the resulting solution, make gauze lotions 2 times a day.
Onion hair mask
2-3 onion bulbs in a blender, add 2 tbsp.L honey, 1 tsp red pepper.The resulting mass is rubbed into the scalp, then left for 10-15 minutes, covering the head with a film.This mask activates hair growth, and also helps to strengthen and nourish hair follicles.