Know the Benefits of Your Food: Onion

Health & Wellness Articles

Onions and allicin

Onions are a very common addition to meals from cuisines all over the world. Much more than simply a taste enhancer for delicious dishes, onions provide health benefits. They contain vitamin C and potassium, among other nutrients. Onions are also low in calories and provide different nutritional values depending on how they are prepared. The antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of onions make them one of the notable immunity boosters.

Onions contain allicin, which makes our eyes tear when we cut onions. Studies show that allicin has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and is toxic to a certain degree to some insects and microorganisms, making it a useful ingredient in the production of bactericides. Eating onions has proven to be quite effective at preventing colds.

Onions and quercetin

Onions also contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which is found in the highest concentrations in the outer, reddish layer of red onions. Aside from its antioxidant properties, quercetin also carries anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties.

In the process of human metabolism, free radicals are produced, which are known to be damaging to a certain degree to cell functions, thus promoting disease and aging. As a strong antioxidant, quercetin plays a crucial role in fighting free radicals, so as to achieve cell repair and delay aging.

As mentioned, quercetin also offers good protection against inflammation. Inflammation is the protective response of the body’s immune cells to harmful stimuli, but in some cases, it could trigger an excessive autoimmune response whereby the body attacks its own tissues and cells. That is why long-term inflammation can lead to many serious diseases. Therefore, although inflammation is a normal response of the body, we should not ignore it because of its potential to cause harm. Quercetin’s anti-inflammatory properties make it valuable in cancer prevention. Recently, quercetin has been used as an adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19, and studies have shown that quercetin has a certain remission effect against COVID-19.

Other health benefits

Onions are also rich in unique plant-based active nutrients that are useful in purifying the blood and reducing blood cholesterol, which is good news for diabetic, hyperlipidemia and obesity patients. Finally, eating onions can also help people protect their cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

Here is an easy and delicious recipe for scrambled egg with onion:

  1. Get a large red onion and 3-4 eggs.
  2. Wash, peel and slice the onion.
  3. Crack and beat the eggs in a bowl.
  4. Heat up oil in a pan and cook the eggs; make sure you do not overcook them and put them aside.
  5. Heat up some more oil and stir-fry the onion slices; adjust cooking time based on your texture preference.
  6. Add the scrambled eggs back into the pan and stir-fry them with the onion slices; add salt to taste and serve.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the humble onion has a special value. Grandmaster JinBodhi deeply cares about public health and shares a secret remedy for treating a persistent cough: Cough-Relieving Onion. This remedy can reduce inflammation, stop coughing and eliminate phlegm. 

Here is the Cough-Relieving Onion recipe.

Ingredients：

2 red onions （one is enough if it is large）

Steps：

  1. Peel, wash and cut onion into small pieces.
  2. In a big bowl, place a smaller bowl upside down and place onion pieces around the smaller bowl.
  3. Fill a pot with water, put the bowl of onion in it. Bring to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and continue steaming for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and continue steaming for 10 minutes.
  5. Gather the onion pieces into a cloth straining bag (such as cheesecloth), and then remove the smaller bowl.
  6. Squeeze the juice from the onion-filled bag into the big bowl and serve.

Reminders：

Consume this remedy twice a day (morning and evening) for several consecutive days for best results.

It is recommended to always have onions available at home if the taste and smell are not too strong for you. Remember to consume onions in moderation to avoid stomach discomfort. TCM practitioners believe that onions, which are warm in nature, should be consumed with care by those with a heaty body constitution and sensitive or itchy skin.

Follow Grandmaster JinBodhi’s Facebook page and YouTube page for more health-preservation tips.

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