Eating onions can help hayfever sufferers
Last year the UK’s 15 million hay fever sufferers braced themselves for what was forecast to be one of the worst pollen seasons ever, however there was some welcome news from an unlikely source – the everyday onion.
An onion a day keeps the doctor away
The health benefits of onions are frequently overlooked or even unknown. Containing powerful compounds such as Quercetin and Chromium, studies reveal that this kitchen staple has many hidden talents making it the diamond of the vegetable world.
Quercetin, which is recognised as being a more potent antioxidant than vitamin E, is a multi-tasking flavonoid which helps to keep the body in peak condition, aiding to fight a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to colon, prostate and breast cancer. Onions are an effective source of this increasingly valued compound; in fact, absorption of Quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and three times that from apples.
Onions also contain very high levels of chromium which helps maintain a positive hormone balance and to combat PMS.
Founder of the The Food Doctor, author, broadcaster and health journalist Ian Marber comments: "The term superfoods tends to be applied to nearly everything these days, but the humble onion does offer far more benefits than most vegetables owing to its potent antioxidant and probiotic effects."
Experts believe that as little as two to three onions per week can have a significantly positive impact on health. And even better news, onions don't have to be eaten raw to maximise their health benefits - Quercetin is relatively stable while being cooked so retains all its powerful goodness to aid overall wellbeing.
Top reasons to eat british onions
Quercetin: Quercetin belongs to a class of water-soluble plant pigments called flavonoids. It is the most studied flavonoid because it is among the most abundant; a more potent antioxidant than vitamin E, according to some research. Quercetin has displayed considerable anti-inflammatory activity, restraining both the production and release of histamine and other allergic and inflammatory sources. Moreover, Quercetin has shown outstanding anti-tumour properties, further underlining its positive effects in combating certain cancers including colon, prostate and breast cancer. This flavonoid has been shown to halt the growth of tumors in animals and to protect colon cells from the damaging effects of certain cancer-causing substances; cooking meats with onions may help reduce the amount of carcinogens produced when meat is cooked using high heat methods, such as on the barbeque (Quercetin appears to survive the heat of cooking). Quercetin may also help reduce symptoms like fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Flavonoids: Flavonoids promote a healthy heart; Onions are rich in flavonoids which help reduce the risk of heart disease. In studies, onions have been singled out as one of a very small number of fruit and vegetables to promote a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease. Of the more than 100,000 individuals who participated in these studies, those whose diets most frequently included onions, tea, apples and broccoli - the richest sources of flavonoids - benefited from a 20% reduction in the risk of heart disease. The term flavonoid refers to a class of plant secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or reproduction of organisms. Flavonoids are most commonly known for their antioxidant activity. Flavonoids are also commonly referred to as bioflavonoids in the media - the terms are equivalent and interchangeable, for flavonoids are biological in origin.
Chromium: A natural cure for PMS; onions contain very high levels of chromium which helps to maintain a positive hormone balance and combat PMT. Further on, Chromium is a molecule that helps cells respond appropriately to insulin therefore reducing cholesterol. Clinical studies of diabetics have shown that chromium can decrease fasting blood glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin levels, and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while increasing good HDL-cholesterol levels. Basically, chromium helps to prevent those annoying mid-afternoon energy slumps as well as.
Natural Prebiotics: Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that when consumed, stimulate the growth and function of certain "good" bacteria in the gut (probiotics). These foods (prebiotics) contain non-digestible sugars such as lactulose and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). By acting as a food source for "good" bacteria, prebiotics selectively promote the growth of "good" bacteria thereby increasing their population in the intestine. Common food sources of prebiotics include: onions, garlic, banana and asparagus. Prebiotics encourage the friendly bacteria to flourish, helping to support our natural defences; research to date has demonstrated that prebiotics can improve common and chronic complaints such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), acne, food allergies, Chronic Fatigue and depression.
GPCS: A study by the University of Bern in Switzerland suggests that onions help maintain healthy bones by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts - the cells that break down bone - due to a peptide compound newly identified in onions known as GPCS (L-glutamyl-trans-S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide). Onions may be especially beneficial for women at increased risk of osteoporosis due to the menopause.