The benefits and harm of onions

Onions - a traditional vegetable in the gardens and kitchens of our continent.And there are several compelling explanations.

First of all, onions are quite cold-resistant vegetables. That is why from time immemorial it has been one of the main vegetable crops, which give a good harvest even in the northern regions.

The second reason stems from the first - onions are used in almost all dishes of Russian and European cuisine, with the exception of dessert. In cooking, this vegetable is commonly used in fish, meat, vegetable dishes, as well as in canning, pickles and preparations for the winter.

The healing properties of onions are another reason for its widespread use. Onions are an excellent doctor in the fight against colds and viral diseases. This postulate is known to everyone since childhood, but not many know what other benefits a habitual hot vegetable brings to a person. And, importantly, what harm it can cause if used improperly and dosages.

Before detailing all the pros and cons of onions, consider the structure of this wonderful vegetable. So imagine what you see is a common onion head. This is the fruit of onion-turnip. The onion turnip consists of a bottom where the root system is formed, and the upper part with open scales, from which leaves and a peduncle with seeds appear from the soil. The onion leaves are easily recognizable by their appearance: a bouquet of thin tubular feathers of bright green color, from the middle of which a hollow arrow with a seed head appears.

The bulb has membranous fleshy plates covered with dry husk. Base layers may be white-green or purple with divorces depending on the variety. They are used in food and contain the greatest amount of vitamins. Onion peel protects the delicate plates of the fruit from ingress of harmful substances, but may itself serve as a refuge for the larvae of pests.

For a simpler perception of chemical terms, select the predominant elements in the onion, which have an impact on the human body. The figures are based on 100 g of the product.

• Energy value - 41 kcal.
• The main element is water. Its content in ripe fruit reaches 89%.
• Sahara. Include sucrose, fructose, maltose - 8-14%.
• Proteins 1.5 - 2%.
• Carbohydrates 8.2%.
• Vitamins. Beta-carotene (provitamin group A), group B (folic, nicotinic acid), C (ascorbic acid).
• Macroelements. Potassium (146 mg), calcium (23 mg), phosphorus (29 mg), magnesium (10 mg), sodium (4 mg).
• Trace elements Iron (0.21 mg), manganese (0.129 mg), copper (0.039 mg), zinc (0.17 mg).
• Polyhydric alcohols. Phytosterol (15 mg).
• Organic acids - malic, citric.

The essential oils contained in the scales give the vegetable a pungent tear smell and pungent taste.

The biochemical composition in the molecular ratio varies depending on the variety, growing conditions, climatic zones and soil composition.

In the kitchen of every housewife will certainly find onion heads, because without him, cooking meals for dinners and dinners are rarely worth it. Culinary recipes for soups include boiled or fried onion turnips, and the baked onion adds a delicate flavor to the meat. Marinades, pickles, vegetable, meat and fish pies must contain this sharp ingredient in their recipes.

But besides culinary delights, onion turnips are also an excellent doctor, available all year round.

The main therapeutic property of the onion family is the content of volatile production - volatile essential substances, which kill the pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the vegetable is indispensable in the treatment of seasonal viral diseases. Inclusion in the daily diet of onion turnips prevents bleeding gums, ensures healthy teeth. Phytoncides cope well with intestinal parasites.

For the prevention of colds in the vegetable contains ascorbic acid and vitamin C. Their number in one onion head is comparable to orange or lemon. The bulb normalizes metabolic processes in the body, accelerates the metabolism, which has a beneficial effect on the health of the whole organism.

In addition to tonic properties, the bow has some qualities that can act to a point.

• Onion juice relieves inflammation in the auricle. Those who have experienced pain in the ears know how severe the pain can be. The first remedy for removing shooting pain in the ear is a compress from freshly grated onion gruel.
• Onion enzymes eliminate stress during busy schedules and frequent jet lag. Do not neglect the use of fresh vegetables on business trips at bedtime, so that the body receives full support and recuperates overnight.
• Fresh onion slices - first aid for bee stings or blood-sucking insects. Going to a picnic, do not forget to put at least one onion in the basket with provisions. The same method is also suitable for removing inflammation and abscesses on the skin.

• Vitamins contained in onion fruit, have a beneficial effect on men's health. Doctors recommend including onions in the diet of men of any age. For boys, it is useful in the early stages of puberty in adolescence; for older men, this hot vegetable helps to prolong the age of sexual activity. Onion fruit is a natural aphrodisiac, enhances sexual desire, reduces the risk of prostate diseases.
• No less useful bow and for women of all ages. Normalizes the menstrual cycle, reduces pain and cramps. During menopause, it supports the work of the female genital organs, slowing the aging process of the body. Enhances fertility, during lactation stimulates the glands, increases the production and quality of breast milk. During pregnancy it enriches the fetus with useful microelements, forms the neurological organs of the future baby.

Despite all the obvious benefits and benefits, onions can have side effects for people with certain diseases or disorders of the body.

• So, you should be extremely careful when consuming a raw product for people with chronic kidney and liver diseases.
• Onion enzymes often lead to burns and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In no case can not abuse the vegetable raw with ulcers and gastritis. The point here is not only in the sharp enzymes, but also in the general acidity of the vegetable.
• Often, they try to attach very small children to the bow, arguing that the bow is useful. However, kids instinctively shun this product. Up to three years, it is desirable to exclude the vegetable from the child's diet, and then gradually add to food in stew or boiled form.
• Despite the fact that onions are useful during lactation, it can significantly change the taste of breast milk. Therefore, if a child refuses to breast, pay attention to how often onion dishes are present in your diet. This may be one of the reasons.

• Asthmatics and allergies should be careful when eating raw onions (for example, in summer vegetable salads). Essential oils contained in white and red onions can trigger an acute attack of an allergic reaction or suffocation.
• Above it was said that vitamins in a vegetable can restore vitality during a period of increased working activity. It should be remembered here that we are talking about the use of the product before bedtime, as it relaxes the body and causes drowsiness.But during the working day or driving onion dishes should be abandoned to avoid not only drowsiness, but also unpleasant smell from the mouth.

Mention of the healing properties of onions can be found in sources and cultural monuments before our era. Ancient Chinese medicine, ancient Greek and Roman healers, Egyptian priests used the properties of onions to treat their fellow citizens from a variety of diseases.

The traditional medicine was considered onions in Russia. Traditional medicine offers some simple recipes that are easy to remember and quickly cooked in case of sudden illness or acute pain.

Soften cough, reduce swelling of the nasopharyngeal cavity and clean the lungs with an onion drink with milk and honey. In a crushed gruel of one onion, pour half a cup of hot milk and dissolve a tablespoon of linden honey in it. The infusion will be ready in 20 minutes, when the ingredients will saturate the milk with medicinal trace elements.

Often, problems with the ears arise from the cold wind, which entails a sharp sharp pain in the ear. The home first aid kit does not always have the means to cure such ailments, but the usual onion head is able to provide the necessary help. The onion is ground on a grater, the pulp is mixed with alcohol or vodka in a ratio of 1: 4 and a cotton compress is formed. They invest in the ear canal for several hours, but from the first minutes you can feel a decrease in pain.

Baked onion lobules are well pulling pus from boils, and also contribute to their early maturation. To do this, the onion is cut into two halves, fried in a hot frying pan to a golden color on one side or calcined in the oven to the state of roasting. After which the slices are applied to the suppuration site for several hours.

Cosmetological properties of an onion to improve the appearance of the skin and hair also deserve attention.

• Lighten freckles You can use a natural onion mask. Onion gruel is mixed with grated horseradish and sour cream, applied for 5 minutes in the morning and evening. It is important to ensure that the mixture does not get into the eyes, located in the nose and cheeks. Strictly observe the time, as the mask can dry out the skin of the face.
• Infusion of onion peel will help get rid of dandruff. In a liter of boiling water 50 g of the husk is brewed and after cooling down, the newly washed hair is rinsed. The procedure is carried out for several sessions to completely get rid of dandruff.
• Onion Compresses are Effective with strong hair loss. On the resulting bald spot impose a mixture of onion gruel, egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of heated (liquid) honey and 1 tablespoon of burdock oil. The procedure is repeated every 5-7 days. In a month the first small hairs will appear.
• Onion Enzymes well provoke the activity of hair folliclesHowever, such a procedure should be carried out on the affected hairless areas, but not to increase the total weight of the hair. Onion smell on the hair is very difficult to get rid of.

Onion stocks do not require any special storage conditions, like other vegetables and fruits. This vegetable may well be stored throughout the winter season until the next harvest. However, there are certain rules that will help avoid rotting and drying out vegetables.

It is advisable to clean the fruits from the beds in dry weather, let them dry on the newspaper for several hours, then shake off the remnants of the soil. If the vegetable is bought in a store or, especially, in a large batch in a warehouse, it must be bust. Any damage to the fruit suggests that the onion will not last long, and it should be used first.

Selected high-quality bulbs are laid in cardboard boxes or wooden boxes after drying. The basic rule is that a vegetable needs constant air circulation, so the tank must have air vents. By the grandmother’s method, the bulb is well preserved in the bundle or mesh.

A dark cool place in the closet or in the subfield of a private house, with stable temperature and ventilation, will be the best place for wintering a vegetable. With the condition that the pantry is not located near the bathroom, and there is no condensation in the cellar, as high humidity contributes to rotting.

Try the classic way of storing onions - braids or onion braids. They do not take up space, they can be hung from the ceiling or to the crossbars of the shelves. The fruits themselves will not clog and interfere with each other to absorb oxygen. The advantage of this method is ease of use. It is easy to cut the bulbs in the required quantity, and each time you can visually monitor the condition of the vegetable and use the onion started to germinate or deteriorate in time.

For more on the benefits and harm of onions, see the following video.