Red onion: beneficial properties, use in cooking and traditional medicine

The beneficial properties of red onions have been known for a long time. It is widely used both for culinary purposes for preparing savory snacks and as an ingredient for various salads, and in traditional medicine recipes.

Content:

• Composition of red onion
• Beneficial effects of red onion
• Use in traditional medicine recipes
• Contraindications for use

Composition of red onion

Qualitative composition of red or otherwise purple Luke very diverse. It contains almost the entire vitamin complex:

• Vitamin A
• B vitamins
• Ascorbic acid
• Vitamin PP

No less varied in purple Luke and a set of microelements. It contains:

• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Chromium
• Sodium
• Sulfur

In addition to all of the above, this vegetable has a very high content of anthocyanins, which actually give it a rich purple color. The largest amount of all useful compounds is contained in the upper covering scales. Purple onions are also rich in quercecin, a special flavonoid with unique medicinal properties.

Beneficial effects of red onion

The most well-known health benefit of red onions is their ability to lower cholesterol. This effect is due to the vitamin complex and antioxidants included in its composition, which also help resist various infections and inflammatory processes.Antioxidants also have the ability to prevent the development of diabetes, cancer, and slow down the natural aging process of the body.

Contained in purple Luke querticin has a decongestant, diuretic and antispasmodic effect. But this beneficial effect is manifested only with regular consumption of onions. This is due to the fact that querticin has the ability to accumulate.

Various sulfur compounds included in this vegetable contribute to the production of a special amino acid in the body - cysteine. It helps eliminate toxins, improves collagen synthesis, which leads to a significant improvement in the general condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Also, sulfur compounds fight “bad cholesterol” and promote the production of “good” cholesterol, eliminate excess fat deposits and have a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.

This purple vegetable also contains a lot of another valuable microelement - chromium. It has the ability to lower blood sugar levels and increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, which significantly reduces the likelihood of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Adherents of a healthy lifestyle claim that regular consumption of purple onions for 40 days can reduce cholesterol levels by almost a quarter and significantly improve the condition of blood vessels in the brain.

Use in traditional medicine recipes

Purple onions are widely used in folk medicine. Below are the most popular recipes using it. For colds and flu, use a mixture of onion juice and honey in a 1:1 ratio.

For severe and chronic coughs, it is recommended to replace honey with goose fat. This mixture is used as a rub at night. It should be applied to the chest area.

Onions are also used as an anthelmintic. To do this, peel a medium-sized onion and pour in 200 g of warm boiled water. After which it is left for 8 hours to infuse. You need to drink this infusion 100 g on an empty stomach for 5 days. For stomach problems and hemorrhoids, use a mixture of onion juice and flower honey taken in equal proportions. Take it orally, 1 tablespoon before each meal.

For irregular menstrual cycles, onion peels from 4-5 large onions are used, from which a decoction is prepared. To prepare the husk, add 400 g of hot water. After which it is boiled for 20 minutes in a water bath. The resulting broth is filtered. It should be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach for 15 days.

The following remedy is used as a diuretic. Several medium-sized onions are very finely chopped or crushed using a blender. The resulting slurry is poured with 200 g of warm water and left to infuse for 8 hours. Drink 50 g of infusion 3 times a day.

Contraindications for use

Except useful properties Red onions also have a number of contraindications. It is recommended to eat no more than 100 g of this vegetable at one time, and this is even if there are no significant health problems. The following categories of people should limit their consumption of purple onions:

• With liver diseases
• With impaired renal function
• With Colitis
• With stomach diseases in the acute stage
• With skin problems

As you can see, there are significantly fewer contraindications to consuming this vegetable than its beneficial properties. But still, before using any traditional medicine using purple onions, it is best to consult a doctor.

Video about the beneficial properties of red onions: