{"id":6661,"date":"2015-11-19T18:56:36","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T18:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=6661"},"modified":"2015-11-19T18:59:46","modified_gmt":"2015-11-19T18:59:46","slug":"the-health-benefits-of-onions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=6661","title":{"rendered":"The Health Benefits of Onions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"onions\"<\/a>Onions have a variety of known health benefits. They are a major source of polyphenols and flavonoids which act as powerful antioxidants. They protect cells and body against damage caused by free radicals.<\/p>\n

Onions are heart-healthy, good for regulating blood sugar, and have anti-inflammatory properties that make them useful on many levels. They\u2019ve also been shown to lower the risk of some forms of cancer, making onions one of nature\u2019s bona fide miracle foods.<\/p>\n

Cardiovascular benefits \u2013 The acrid smell of the onion is due to its sulfur content\u2014and this sulfuric aspect is what lends the onion its heart-health benefits. The sulfur in onions helps prevent blood clotting problems, making it one of nature\u2019s blood thinners. Onions are also great for cholesterol management and lowered triglycerides in animal studies.<\/p>\n

Anti-inflammatory properties \u2013 The sulfuric nature of onions wins again with regard to reducing inflammation. A key component in the bulbous portion of onions called \u201cOnionin A\u201d has anti-inflammatory properties, making it an ideal diet addition for those who wrestle with inflammation issues on a regular basis. You can also add more foods that reduce inflammation to your daily nutrition.<\/p>\n

Blood sugar regulation \u2013 Onions are high in the mineral chromium, which plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels. In a 2010 study published in Environmental Health Insights, scientists found that the blood glucose levels of the study participants was significantly lowered for several hours after consuming a serving of red onion. You can find more foods to control blood sugar levels in my article about the best foods to control type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

Bone health \u2013 Calcium and vitamin D are well-known for their promotion of good bone health. Well, add onions to the list, too! A study published in Menopause in 2009 found that women of menopausal age\u2014both pre- and post-menopausal\u2014who ate onions on a daily basis had higher bone density than their onion-shunning peers. Read more about bone health in my article about 4 steps to prevent osteoporosis.<\/p>\n

Cancer protection \u2013 If the reduction of the risk of developing cancer isn\u2019t a reason to eat your fill of onions, I don\u2019t know what is. Research performed at the University of Maryland found that onions appeared to have cancer-fighting properties, reducing the risk of developing ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers as well as lung, colon and prostate cancers. This is because onions both contain and play a role in facilitating the body\u2019s ability to absorb a substance called \u201cquercetin,\u201d which has cancer-fighting abilities. You can find more foods that protect against cancer development in my previous article.<\/p>\n

Improving digestion \u2013 Onions are rich in fiber which improves digestion and bowel movement. They also contain a special type of soluble fiber which promotes good bacteria growth in your gut.<\/p>\n

Home Remedies Using Onions<\/p>\n

Hard science has shown many benefits of onions, but there are \u201cold wives\u2019 tales\u201d and anecdotes passed on through the generations that sing even more praises of these delicious root vegetables.<\/p>\n

In spite of being pure hearsay and not being backed by scientific research, many people swear by the following folk remedies. Why not give them a try and see for yourself?<\/p>\n

Clearing irritant from the eye<\/p>\n

Anyone who has ever cut an onion in an enclosed room knows that it\u2019s sure to make you cry unless you jump through hoops to prevent the acrid sulfur emanating from the cut onion from reaching your eye, such as putting on fans or submerging them in cold milk or water.<\/p>\n

This can be an annoyance, but it can also come in handy if you have debris or other irritant caught in your eye. In this case instead of rubbing your eye and risking worsening your condition:<\/p>\n

Cut an onion in half.
\nTake half the onion and hold it directly below the irritated eye\u2014careful not to touch!
\nLet the tears flow and help to clear the debris from the eye.
\nTreating vomiting<\/p>\n

Gobbling down an onion may be the last thing you want to do when you\u2019re feeling nauseated. However, if you feel like you\u2019re going to vomit or have been vomiting, onions may be able to help. Try this:<\/p>\n

Grate and strain the liquid from one whole white onion.
\nBrew a mug of peppermint tea.
\nMeasure out two teaspoons of onion juice and drink it down.
\nAfter five minutes, drink the mug of tea.
\nRepeat this process until vomiting stops and nausea ebbs away.
\nOnions for wart removal<\/p>\n

With so many wart removal cures available over-the-counter that contain strong acids or freezing implements that can harm healthy skin around the wart and cause painful irritation, why not try for a gentler method that comes from nature\u2014and is far less expensive than the pricey chemical alternatives.<\/p>\n

Cut a sliver of onion flesh just the same size as the wart.
\nPlace the onion onto the wart and secure in place with a small bandage.
\nChange the onion piece and bandage daily.
\nWithin days, the wart will be gone.
\nAnother option is to use Apple Cider Vinegar for wart removal.<\/p>\n

Onions for removing earwax and earache<\/p>\n

If you have an excess buildup of earwax or suffer from earache, you may resort to extreme measures from time to time to keep it under control. If drugstore remedies haven\u2019t worked for you, why not give an onion a chance to do what chemical concoctions have failed to do? Here is how to use an onion for removing earwax:<\/p>\n

Carve up an onion, reserving the innermost core.
\nCut the core of the onion into an ear-canal sized plug, making sure it is long enough to grip easily.
\nPlace the onion core into your ear and leave it in place overnight.
\nWhen you awaken, remove the onion piece and cleanse the ear. Your wax will come right out!
\nAnother option is to use this homemade garlic mullein oil for ear infection treatment.
\nRelieving sore throat and cough<\/p>\n

Using onions for treating the symptoms of common cold is an old home remedy which is attributed to the chemical compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and quercetin that research shows to have potential anti-inflammatory, anti viral and antioxidant properties. You can use onions make this easy and effective homemade syrup to relieve sore throat and cough that contains only 3 ingredients.<\/p>\n

Improving hair growth<\/p>\n

Onion juice can help you re-grow your hair and make it stronger. This is attributed to the sulfur content which is one of the main building blocks of hair. It improves blood circulation and provides the hair follicles with sufficient nourishment.<\/p>\n

Onion also has anti-bacterial properties, so it helps with scalp infections that might contribute to hair loss. You can find more information about this subject including instructions in my article on How To Make Onion Juice For Hair Growth & Strong Hair.<\/p>\n

Onion kills intestinal parasites<\/p>\n

The sulfur compounds in onions are anti-parasitic. Onion juice is very effective for intestinal worms, especially tapeworm and thread worms. Drink 2 tsp. of onion juice twice a day for 2 weeks. You can also consume other foods and herbs that naturally kill intestinal parasites.<\/p>\n

Boosting your immune system<\/p>\n

The antioxidants in onions protect the body against free radicals and help encourage a strong immune system. You can prepare at home this wonderful health tonic which combines some of nature\u2019s most potent plants, including onion, and brings them together in a powerful concoction. This master tonic has been credited with healing not only common colds and infections, but also chronic conditions and antibiotic-resistant infections. It is 100% natural and works as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal substance. It boosts your immune system and helps you combat even stubborn diseases.<\/p>\n

Relieving wisdom teeth pain<\/p>\n

Chewing on onion is another tested home remedy. If chewing proves to be too painful for you, place a slice of onion on the sore area. Alternatively, you can extract some onion juice and dab it on. Shallots, red and yellow onions tend to be more effective compared to white and sweet onions. There are also other home remedies to get rid of wisdom tooth pain that you can try at home.<\/p>\n

Onion relieves mosquito bites<\/p>\n

Onion slices are a commonly used method for reducing the swelling and itching of mosquito bites. Simply place a fresh slice of onion on the affected area for a few minutes until the itching subsides. Then rinse with water. Or you can try other natural ways to relieve mosquito bites<\/p>\n

Source: www.http:\/\/www.healthyandnaturalworld.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Onions have a variety of known health benefits. They are a major source of polyphenols and flavonoids which act as powerful antioxidants. They protect cells and body against damage caused by free radicals. Onions are heart-healthy, good for regulating blood sugar, and have anti-inflammatory properties that make them useful on many levels. They\u2019ve also been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[994],"class_list":["post-6661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","tag-onions"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/onions.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oswh-1Jr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6661"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6664,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6661\/revisions\/6664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}