ONIONS  

Benefits:

• Helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Helps to prevent blood clotting.

Drawbacks:

• Raw onion makes your breath smell.
• Can cause wind.
• May trigger migraine in susceptible people.

If research backs up some of the current thinking on onions' health-giving properties, they could eventually be valued as a medical super food and not simply as a tasty base for countless savoury dishes.

Scientists are not yet able to endorse many of the claims, but it does appear that eating raw onions may help to reduce blood cholesterol levels. This is thought to be because they increase levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL's) that shift cholesterol away from the artery walls and hence reduce the risk of ‘furred-up’ arteries.

It also seems that both raw and cooked onions may contain a substance that helps stop blood from clotting and even stimulates the break down of existing clots. This is good news for anyone who suffers from poor circulation and even heart disease. The sulphur compounds that give onions there smell are also under investigation to see if they can inhibit cancer-cell growth.

Return To The Following Index Pages:

1. Fruit
2. Vegetables
3. Herbs & Spices
4. Vitamins & Minerals