Nutritional and health benefits of onions

Onions are a common guest on our daily tables and taste delicious. Let’s learn about their health benefits.

onion

Also known as shallot, bulb onion, etc., it is an imported product introduced from abroad. It is native to western Asia and was discovered and eaten by people more than 3,000 years ago. Because of its strong adaptability, it quickly spread to all parts of the world. After onions were introduced to my country, they were planted all over the country in the past two centuries, especially in the fertile land and abundant rainfall in the south of the Yangtze River. Onions grow more luxuriantly than local traditional vegetables, so people simply threw away the word "foreign" and called it shallot.

Onions have a strong aroma and have been highly valued since ancient times. European and American countries call them the "Queen of Vegetables". A gourmet said: "Without onions, there would be no culinary art". During the American Civil War, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army, Pellant, appealed to the Army Department: "Without onions, I cannot mobilize the army." It turned out that many soldiers suffered from dysentery. The next day, the Army Department sent a train of onions to rescue the army from dysentery, and the combat effectiveness of the troops was quickly restored and greatly increased. A German monarch once said: "If you don't eat onions for a day, you will be in a bad mood all day." The city of Bern in Switzerland celebrates the traditional "Onion Festival" every year when onions are harvested.

Onions are rich in nutrients

It is rich in calcium, iron and multiple vitamins, as well as carotene, thiamine, niacin and other vitamins. In particular, it contains an oily volatile liquid called "propylene sulfide". This is a glycoside that has the function of killing multiple pathogens. The important value of onions lies mainly in their lipid-lowering effect. In the early 1970s, there was an interesting story: a Frenchman gave leftover onions to a horse suffering from coagulopathy, and soon found that the horse's blood clots disappeared and the disease was cured. This unexpected therapeutic effect attracted the attention of medical scientists. Later, pharmacological studies confirmed that onions contain an onion essential oil that can lower the cholesterol of patients with hyperlipidemia and increase the activity of fibrinolytic enzymes in patients with hyperlipidemia, which is very beneficial for improving atherosclerosis. American scientists have also found that onions contain prostaglandin A, which can reduce the peripheral vascular resistance of the human body, lower blood pressure, and stabilize blood pressure. It has a softening effect on blood vessels and has the function of vasodilation. Onions also contain more glutcystine, an anti-aging substance that can delay cell aging. These are beneficial to the elderly, and long-term consumption can prolong life. Onions are mild in nature and sweet in taste. They have the effects of clearing away heat and reducing phlegm, detoxifying and killing insects, and harmonizing the stomach and relieving gas. Modern medical research has shown that onions have a conditioning and therapeutic effect on high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and even cancer.

Onion dishes can be cooked alone or used as a seasoning base. It is a popular vegetable that is deeply loved by people. It should not be over-fried to avoid the volatilization of effective ingredients.

Here are some proven onion diet recipes.

Onion beef shreds: Ingredients: 150g onion, 100g beef, ginger, refined salt, vegetable oil, starch, MSG. Preparation: Cut onion and beef into thin shreds, put beef shreds in a bowl, add starch and mix well, put vegetable oil in the pot; when it is 70% hot, add ginger and beef shreds and stir-fry, add onion shreds after they are cooked, add salt and MSG to taste. Function: replenish qi and increase strength, promote gastrointestinal motility, reduce fat, and prevent cancer.

Spicy onion slices: Ingredients: 500g onion, chili oil, pepper powder, salt, MSG. Preparation: Slice the onion, blanch it in boiling water, drain and let it cool, add seasoning and mix well before serving. Serve with meals and eat in several portions. Functions: Good for the stomach, sterilization, lowering blood lipids, cancer prevention and treatment.

Onion fish fillet: Ingredients: 150g onion, 250g fish meat, 5g pepper, 10g ginger slices, 20g sweet bean paste, 30g bean paste, appropriate amount of salt, MSG, salad oil. Preparation: Remove the stems and skin of the onion, wash and slice it, and set aside; cut the fish into thick slices, sprinkle with salt and set aside. Put oil in a wok and fry until it is 50% cooked, add the fish fillet and fry until it is cooked, remove it, leave a little oil in the wok, add garlic slices, ginger slices, bean paste, sweet bean paste, onion slices, fish fillet, fry until the onion is cooked, then add MSG and stir well, remove from the wok and serve. Function: replenish qi and resolve phlegm, clear away heat and detoxify.

Stir-fried bitter melon with onion: Ingredients: 150g onion, 150g bitter melon, 100g shredded ginger, appropriate amount of salad oil, Sichuan salt, and MSG. Preparation: Wash the bitter melon, remove the seeds, and cut into shreds; remove the stems and skin of the onion, cut into shreds for later use. Heat the oil in a wok until it is 50% to 60% hot, add shredded ginger, Sichuan salt, shredded bitter melon, and shredded onion and stir-fry until hot, add MSG and stir well, remove from the wok and serve. Function: clear heat and resolve phlegm, detoxify and improve eyesight.

Onion Chicken Slices: Ingredients: 250g chicken breast, 150g onion. Preparation: Slice the chicken breast into thin slices horizontally, add ginger, cooking wine, salt, sugar, MSG and wet starch, and mix well. Peel and wash the onion, and cut into strips. Add 20g vegetable oil to the wok, heat until 60% cooked, pour in the onion strips, stir-fry for a while, add water and salt and cook for another 1 minute after the aroma overflows. Put the onion strips into a plate. Put the wok on high heat, add 30g vegetable oil, and when the oil is 60% cooked, add the chicken strips, use a spoon to spread it, stir-fry it thoroughly, pour in the onion and stir-fry for a while, add a little MSG and serve. Function: Strengthen the body, replenish the body, promote blood circulation and reduce fat.

Although onions have many benefits, some people still need to be careful. People with eye diseases should eat less onions, especially raw onions.