Onions

Tradition says: Onions are considered to be a wonder food in many cultures. In Middle Eastern traditional medicine, they were prescribed for diabetes. During the early 20th century in the United States, William Boericke, MD, recommended onions for respiratory and digestive problems in his influential medical treatise, Homeopathic Materia Medica. Believing that onions would help improve athletic performance, ancient Greek Olympians drank their juice, and rubbed them on their bodies before competitions.

Research proves: New studies have confirmed the health benefits of onions. Their thiosulfinates (sulfur compounds responsible for their smell) reduce diabetes symptoms and protect against cardiovascular disease. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in onions, prevents the inflammation associated with allergies and also protects against stomach ulcers and colon, esophageal, and breast cancers. Also, a 2010 study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that quercetin extract increased endurance by 13%.

Get the benefit: To get the most out of onions health benefits, choose red or yellow onions. “The more colorful, the better,” says Michael Havey, PhD, a USDA geneticist and University of Wisconsin professor of horticulture. Heat diminishes the thiosulfinates, so eat onions raw or lightly cooked, Havey adds. “Make them a regular part of a vegetable- and fruitfilled diet.”

Kitchen Cures That Are Doctor-Approved  was originally published on elev8.com

« Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 Next page »