Onions, also known as green onions, are closely related to garlic, have a similar pungent taste, and have similar chemical structures. Onions contain almost no fat, and their essential oil contains a mixture of sulfur compounds that lower cholesterol. According to reports, onions are the only plants known to contain prostaglandins and also contain ingredients that can activate the activity of blood-lytic fibrinolytic proteins. These substances are strong vasodilators, which can reduce the resistance of peripheral blood vessels and cardiac coronary arteries, counteract the effects of catecholamines and other blood pressure-boosting substances in the human body, and promote the excretion of sodium salts, thereby lowering blood pressure. It can be said that onions are a good vegetable and medicine for cardiovascular patients such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Therefore, onions have been valued since ancient times.
Every 100g of fresh onions contains approximately 88g of water, 1.1g of protein, 8.1g of carbohydrates, 0.9g of crude fiber, 0.2g of fat, 0.5g of ash, 0.02mg of carotene, 10.03mg of vitamin B, Vitamin B20.02mg, vitamin C8mg, vitamin E0.14mg, potassium 147mg, sodium 4.4mg, calcium 40mg and various trace elements such as selenium, zinc, copper, iron and magnesium. In addition to general nutrients, onions also contain bioactive substances such as bactericidal, diuretic, lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive and anti-cancer substances. Allicin and a variety of sulfur-containing compounds in onions can kill a variety of bacteria and fungi in a short period of time; certain bioactive ingredients in onions can promote the excretion of sodium and water from the kidneys and have a diuretic effect; onion oil has The effect of lowering blood lipids; the K factor (potassium/sodium ratio) in onions is high (33.42) and contains prostaglandin A1 that can relax blood vessels, reduce peripheral and coronary vascular resistance, and oppose catecholamine substances, thereby lowering blood pressure; onions have the effect of lowering blood pressure; The tolbutamide it contains has the effect of lowering blood sugar; the high selenium content in onions has anti-cancer effects. In recent years, clinical medicine and research have proven that onions have a variety of high physiological and medicinal values. In nutritional diet therapy, they are praised as a multi-functional nutritional and health food that lowers fat, lowers blood pressure and fights cancer. It enjoys the reputation of "Queen of Vegetables".
Onion is a special vegetable that combines nutrition, medical treatment and health care.
Onions have extremely high nutritional value.
The fat bulbs contain 8.5% sugar, 9.2% dry matter, and 5 mg of vitamin A, 9.3 mg of vitamin C, and calcium per 100 grams. 40 mg, 50 mg of phosphorus, 8 mg of iron, and 18 kinds of amino acids, making it a rare health food.
Modern medical research also shows that onions contain the trace element selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant. Its special function is to enable the human body to produce a large amount of glutathione. The physiological function of glutathione is to transport oxygen for cell respiration. As the selenium content in the human body increases, the incidence of cancer will be greatly reduced. Therefore, onions are another health food.
Onions also have a hypoglycemic effect, because onions contain organic substances similar to the hypoglycemic drug tometamidine, and can produce dermatin with a strong diuretic effect in the human body. For diabetic patients, 25 to 50 grams of onions per meal can effectively lower blood sugar and diuretic effects.
In addition to stimulating appetite and aiding digestion, the phytoncides in onions also stimulate the secretion of the duct walls when they are excreted through the respiratory tract, urinary tract, and sweat glands, so they are expectorant, diuretic, and Sweating, preventing colds and antibacterial and antiseptic effects.
In addition, there is the "Queen of Vegetables--Onion", which is good for the body and can also lose weight.
Onions are imported products, so they are named with the word "foreign" and are now widely planted in various parts of our country. The therapeutic value of onions was discovered very early and has been confirmed by modern research. In summary, it has four main functions:
1. Appetizer. Onions contain allicin, which has a strong aroma. During processing, the pungent smell often makes people cry. It is this special smell that can stimulate gastric acid secretion and increase appetite. This is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine belief that "onions are pungent, and pungent flavors can stimulate appetite." Animal experiments have also proven that onions can increase the tension of the gastrointestinal tract and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, thus acting as an appetizer. It has a significant effect on inappetence caused by atrophic gastritis, gastric insufficiency, indigestion, etc.
2. Sterilized onions contain a greasy volatile liquid called "propylene sulfide", which has the effect of killing a variety of germs and microorganisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus, Diphtheria bacilli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Escherichia coli. and trichomonas sensitivity. Therefore, it can be used to prevent and treat infectious diseases, enteritis, dysentery, trichomonal vaginitis, etc. It is said that during the American Civil War, many soldiers contracted dysentery, which greatly affected the combat effectiveness of the troops. The commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army at that time reported the situation to the Ministry of War. In the end, three trains of onions were sent to save the situation in time.
3. Lipid-lowering Onions contain onion essential oil, which can inhibit cholesterol in high-fat diets and increase the activity of fibrinolytic enzymes in patients with hyperlipidemia, thereby reducing blood viscosity and improving atherosclerosis. In addition, scientists also found that onions contain prostate a and sulfonylurea butyric acid, which can reduce peripheral vascular resistance, soften blood vessels and lower blood sugar respectively. These functions are of great benefit in preventing and treating geriatric diseases, especially hyperlipidemia, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes.
4. Anti-cancer Onions contain a lot of selenium. Selenium can stimulate the body’s immune response, increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate, inhibit the division and growth of cancer cells, and also reduce the levels of carcinogens. toxicity. At the same time, onions also contain an anti-cancer substance called "quercetin", which can inhibit the activity of carcinogens and prevent the growth of cancer cells. A survey shows that people who regularly eat onions are 25% less likely to suffer from gastric cancer than those who don't eat them, and there are 30% fewer deaths from gastric cancer.
In addition, onions are rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, A, thiamine, niacin, calcium, iron and other elements. They have high nutritional value and can treat vitamin deficiency; because they also contain More glutamine can delay cell aging and make people live longer if they eat it for a long time.
Because of its special therapeutic value, onions are widely praised. European and American countries and ancient Arab countries have praised it as the "Queen of Dishes" and "Holy Object". Switzerland has even established the "Jade Onion Festival" and "Onion Art Festival"
If cooked and eaten, it is nutritious It must be greatly discounted. It is recommended to eat it raw. Don’t eat it on an empty stomach. You can eat it with lunch or dinner. Just don’t eat too much at one time